Big Dipper were formed in Boston from the ashes of Volcano Suns by bassist Steve Michener and guitarist Gary Waleik. They hired vocalist Bill Goffrier of the Embarrassment and released the bouncy, catchy, punk-poppy EP Boo-Boo (Homestead, 1987). Heavens (Homestead, 1987) spawned Younger Bum and All Going Out Together, two exemplary popcore refrains. The only reason Big Dipper were not as famous as Lemonheads is that they didn't have as cute a singer. Craps (Homestead, 1988) and Slam (Epic, 1990) were vain commercial sell-outs (the latter includes the ballad Love Barge and the Talking Heads-style techno-funk Another Life).

Waleik and old-buddy and former Volcano Suns bassist Bob Weston gathered more of Boston's rock elite for The Clown Sessions (Rockville, 1993), credited to Crush Sr: Drummer Bob Fay (Sebadoh) and vocalist Ron Ward (Blood Oranges) complete the line-up for a set of improvised, cerebral art-rock.