The Make Up is an American post-punk band from Washington, D.C., formed in 1995. The group featured Ian Svenonius (ex-Nation of Ulysses) on vocals, James Canty on guitar and organ, Steve Gamboa on drums, and Michelle Mae on bass. In late 1999, guitarist Alex Minoff (Golden, Extra Golden) joined until the band's breakup in early 2000.
The Make Up fused garage rock, soul, and a self-styled liberation theology into a unique genre called "Gospel Yeh-Yeh." Their energetic live shows often incorporated the audience as a "fifth member," blending music with participatory performance. The band released four studio albums, two live albums, a compilation of singles and B-sides, and several vinyl singles on independent labels like Dischord, K Records, and Southern Records.
Afterward, Svenonius, Mae, and Minoff formed Weird War, releasing three albums on Drag City. Svenonius also pursued solo work under the name David Candy and recorded with Chain & the Gang, Felt Letters, and Escape-Ism. Canty played with Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and French Toast.
The Make Up reunited in 2012 for All Tomorrow's Parties and has since toured sporadically in the U.S. and Europe, with Mark Cisneros (Des Demonas, Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds) replacing Gamboa on drums
