An intelligent alternative pop duo with folk and country leanings (although they often relied on synthesizers and drum machines, even while playing live dates), Timbuk 3's Pat and Barbara K. MacDonald wrote many better songs than their surprise 1986 hit "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades." The pair met while Barbara attended the University of Wisconsin, and began writing and performing their songs. After a brief sojourn in New York, where they played on the street for tips, the couple settled in Austin, Texas. While in Austin they became regulars at clubs such as the Hole in the Wall and the Austin Outhouse. They recorded a demo and made an appearance on MTV's The Cutting Edge, which led to a recording contract with I.R.S. Records. Using a boom box for their rhythm section, the MacDonalds began making appearances on other television programs (playing acoustic and electric guitars) and recorded their debut, Greetings from Timbuk 3, in 1986. It reached number 50 on the album charts, largely on the strength of the sparkling first single, "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades," a danceable novelty song that climbed to number 19 on the singles chart. The album was a mixture of similarly light fare and darker, more serious themes, as was the 1988 follow-up Eden Alley. The MacDonalds were joined by Wally Ingram on drums following the release of Edge of Allegiance, and by Big Shot in the Dark they had evolved into a full band with the addition of bass player Courtney Audain. Timbuk 3 eventually split up in the mid-'90s following the dissolution of the MacDonalds' marriage. Pat formed the record label Ark 21 in 1997 and embarked on a solo career. ~ Rovi Staff, Rovi