History
Following the breakup of Archers of Loaf in 1998, Bachmann's next project was a solo venture he named Crooked Fingers. The first release, a self-titled record, was released by WARM in 2000. It was followed shortly after by a second album on WARM, Bring on the Snakes . He also contributed a track to Badlands: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska .
Crooked Fingers signed to Merge, and released Reservoir Songs EP in 2002, composed of cover songs of artists such as Neil Diamond and Queen. In 2003, they released Red Devil Dawn , their first full-length for Merge.
They released Dignity and Shame in 2005. Bachmann brought a full band on the road with him in support of the album and delighted audiences by having all the musicians pull their instruments off stage and into the crowd for a few numbers.
In October 2008, the band released the album Forfeit/Fortune independently, declining to sign a deal with any label and instead pursuing a direct-to-retail approach supported by sales at shows, the band's website, iTunes, and eMusic.
2011's "Breaks in the Armor" returned the band to Merge Records, and featured the addition of Bachmann's wife Liz Durrett to the lineup for the final record.
Crooked Fingers toured the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, both as a solo act and with a full band. They were featured on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic and on National Public Radio's World Cafe in May 2005. On the 2005 U.S./Canada Tour, Matt Gentling, former member of Archers of Loaf, played the bass. The rotation of members in the band included Lara Meyerratken, R.L. Martin, Jo Jameson, Neil Swank, Barton Carroll, Kyle Johnson, and Dov Friedman, Miranda Brown, Elin Palmer and Tim Husmann.
Archers of Loaf is an American indie rock band originally formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1991. The group toured extensively and released four studio albums, one compilation, numerous singles and EPs, and a live album which was released after the band broke up in 1998. In 2011 the band began a reunion tour that coincided with the reissue of four of its albums by Merge Records. In July 2022, the band announced the release of their first album in nearly twenty-five years, Reason in Decline, released also via Merge Records in October of the same year.
Merge Records is an independent record label based in Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in 1989 by Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan. It began as an outlet for music from their band Superchunk and music created by friends, and has expanded to include artists from around the world, with records reaching the top of the Billboard music charts.
Icky Mettle is the first studio album recorded by the indie rock band Archers of Loaf. It was produced and engineered by Caleb Southern at Kraptone Studios in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and released by Alias Records on September 7, 1993. A deluxe reissue of the album was released by Merge Records in 2011.
Azure Ray is an American dream pop duo, consisting of musicians Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor. Formed in Athens, Georgia in 2001, they later moved to Omaha, Nebraska and became part of the Saddle Creek Records music scene, which also included Bright Eyes, The Faint, and Cursive. Azure Ray's music has often been featured in film and television, including Six Feet Under, Grey's Anatomy, and The Devil Wears Prada.
Bring on the Snakes is the second studio album by the indie rock band Crooked Fingers. It was released in February 2001. It was recorded and produced in Fall 2000, in Pittsboro, NC, by Brian Paulson.
Reservoir Songs is an EP recorded by the indie rock band Crooked Fingers and released in 2002. A five song EP which collects some of the band's favorite covers which they had been playing for the past couple of years on tour, it marks the first release for Crooked Fingers on the Merge Records label. It was recorded January 11–15, 2002 in Atlanta, GA and mastered by John Golden with additional production by Andy Baker.
Dignity and Shame is the fourth album recorded by the indie rock band Crooked Fingers. This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. It has been billed as a concept album based on the lives of bullfighter Manolete and Spanish actress Lupe Sino. Lara Meyerratken is featured on lead vocals on four songs.
White Trash Heroes is the fourth studio album from the indie rock band Archers of Loaf, released in 1998 by Alias Records. In 2012 the album was reissued by Merge Records on two CDs with new, re-imagined art by Casey Burns.
Maria Diane Taylor is an American singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama. She is also a member of the duo Azure Ray with Orenda Fink. Taylor plays several instruments, including the guitar, drums, and piano and has collaborated or performed with such artists as Bright Eyes, Phoebe Bridgers, Moby, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Joshua Radin, and more.
Orenda Fink is an American singer, musician, and writer. Perhaps best known as half of the duo Azure Ray, Fink is also a member of Art in Manila, O+S, Closeness, and High Up, and has played with or appeared as a guest on records by Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst, Moby, The Faint, Pete Yorn, and others. She is married to Todd Fink of The Faint.
Azure Ray is the debut and eponymous studio album by American duo Azure Ray, consisting of Maria Taylor and Orenda Fink. It was originally released on January 16, 2001 by Warm Electronic Recordings.
Eric Bachmann is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer. He rose to prominence as the frontman of Archers of Loaf and Crooked Fingers. Originally a saxophone major at Appalachian State University, Bachmann’s music is distinctive for its creative and innovative arrangements. In addition to the guitar, he plays the piano and banjo regularly on tour. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and grew up throughout the Southern United States. He currently lives in Athens, Georgia.
Alias Records is a small American indie-rock record label based in Lexington, Kentucky.
To the Races is an album by Eric Bachmann, of the bands Crooked Fingers and Archers of Loaf. It was released on August 22, 2006.
Liz Durrett is an American singer-songwriter born in Rome, Georgia and now based in Athens, Georgia.
Vee Vee is the second studio album by the American indie rock band Archers of Loaf, released in March 1995 by Alias Records. The album received very positive reviews from critics.
All the Nations Airports is the third studio album recorded by the indie rock band Archers of Loaf. Although the band was still signed to Alias Records the album was released by Elektra Records in 1996, making it the first to be distributed by a major label.
Archers of Loaf vs. The Greatest of All Time is the first EP by North Carolina indie rock band Archers of Loaf. The EP was recorded shortly after their first album Icky Mettle, and the styles are very similar.
The Weeks are an American rock band Florence, Mississippi, United States.
Breaks in the Armor is an album by the American alternative rock band Crooked Fingers, released in 2011. It was released the same year as the reunion of Archers of Loaf, Eric Bachmann's previous band.
