Grifters (band)

Last updated
Grifters
Also known asA Band Called Bud, The Grifters
Origin Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Genres Indie rock
Alternative rock
Art rock
Years active 1989–2001
2013–present
LabelsShangri-La Records
Sub Pop
Darla Records
Simple Machines
Doink
MembersStan Gallimore
Tripp Lamkins
David Shouse
Scott Taylor
Past membersJohn Stivers
Roy Berry

Grifters is an indie rock/alternative rock band based in Memphis who have released albums on Darla Records, Doink, Sonic Noise, Shangri-La Records, and Sub Pop Records. The band released five studio albums from 1992 to 1997. In the years following 1997, the band had breaks in activity with some members pursuing other musical projects and with the band sporadically touring in the years after. However, in recent years they have continued to tour on a consistent basis and have stated interest in recording new material. The band has released and reissued some of their material on Bandcamp. [1]

Contents

History

Founding, early years and Sub Pop records: 1989–1997

"Dave got the band going about eight and half years ago. He found Scott through a lot of tapes and just decided he wanted to work with this weirdo, basically..."

— Tripp Lamkins on founding the band (Sept 1997)

The band originally formed in the late 1980s as A Band Called Bud, with vocalist/guitarist Scott Taylor, bassist Tripp Lamkins, and vocalist/drummer Dave Shouse who founded the band and became its leader. [2] After being renamed Grifters (after the novel by Jim Thompson) by 1990, Shouse joined Taylor on guitar, with Stanley Gallimore taking over on the drums. Songwriting duties were shared between Shouse, Taylor, and Lamkins. For several years in the 1990s, they recorded primarily at Easley McCain Recording and were closely affiliated with Memphis's Shangri-La Records label. Jeff Buckley was a vocal supporter of The Grifters and was close friends with the band. [3]

The band released its first album on the Sonic Noise label in 1992, titled So Happy Together. The album had a very abrasive lo-fi sound with considerable noise, an approach to recording that was later avoided on subsequent releases. Following this, One Sock Missing succeeded in 1993 on Shangri-La Records. The album was similar to the first, albeit featured less lofi and noise signifying the cleaner sound that would become standard on later material. The album was much more successful than the first and garnered the band its first positive critical reception. Soon after, Crappin' You Negative was released in 1994 and garnered even greater critical acclaim, featuring an even mix of lo-fi and commercial production. The album is highlighted as the "pick" of the artist's discography by Allmusic, signifying it as their favorite release of the band.

The band then released Ain't My Lookout in 1996, the first on Sub Pop records. The band developed a clean and commercial sound on the album, with the lo-fi qualities of past material being devoid on this release. Following this, the band released its fifth and final album, titled Full Blown Possession in 1997 on sub pop records. The album largely continued the clean and commercial sound of their recent albums. [4]

Disbandment and side projects: 1997–2001

Following the breakup of the band, each member pursued different projects. Dave Shouse worked on his side project Those Bastard Souls started in 1995, later to become his primary band. The project also featured vocalist and violinist Joan Wasser (Joan as police woman), drummer Kevin March (Dambuilders/later GBV member), Michael Tighe (Jeff Buckley collaborator/guitarist) and bassist/pianist Matt Fields (Red Red Meat).

Those Bastard Souls released two albums, its first in 1996 as an anonymous solo project of Shouse titled Twentieth Century Chemical. With the second titled Debt and Departure in 1999, featuring Wasser, March, Tighe and Fields first introduced on the album. The project became inactive in 2001. The Grifters would tour on a sporadic basis in the following years, but with no more new material since the late 90s.

Recent years to present: 2001–present

The band had a reunion tour in 2013, followed by another in 2014 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Crappin' You Negative. As of 2021, the band continues to tour and has shown interest in recording new material. [5] [6]

Discography

as A Band Called Bud:

Albums

EPs

Singles

Various-artist compilation appearances

Bootlegs

Other formats

Videos

Film appearances

Members

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So Happy Together is the first full-length album by Memphis indie rock band Grifters. The album was noisy and lo-fi, even by Grifters standards. It was released on the now defunct Chicago label Sonic Noise.

<i>Crappin You Negative</i> 1994 studio album by Grifters

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<i>The Eureka E.P.</i> 1995 EP by Grifters

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"Well, after much touring, little band practice, a new young'un, 38 more Pavement comparisons, & the inevitable demise of the flower shop van, we bring you-an e.p. Hope no one feels slighted, but having 6 or 7 fewer songs to tear our greying hair out over will probably keep us together a long while. It was a pretty good year though. Touring with bands like Rodan(r.i.p.), Ruby Falls, Dambuilders, The Strapping Fieldhands, GBV, Ed Hall, Versus, Red Red Meat, & Jawbox kind of makes being away from Memphis worthwhile not to mention getting to meet so many good people all over the world. We sincerely love you and look forward to seeing you all again this year. And we will. Maybe we'll even have that lunch we're always talking about."

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Full Blown Possession is the fifth and last full-length album by Memphis indie rock band The Grifters, released in 1997.

<i>The Kingdom of Jones</i> 1991 EP by Grifters

The Kingdom Of Jones is the second 7" EP by indie rock band The Grifters. Shangri-La Records re-released the first two Grifters singles in 1996 as The Doink Years 10" and again on CD in 2006. The song "Snake Oil" features the debut of Stan Gallimore on drums, establishing the Grifters as four-piece for the rest of their career.

The Doink Years is an album released by The Grifters in 1996.

<i>Disfigurehead</i> 1990 EP by Grifters

Disfigurehead is the first 7" EP by Memphis indie rock band the Grifters. The band was still a trio and the dynamics were not dissimilar from their A Band Called Bud incarnation, except that the production was more polished and the effects were toned down so that the guitars had a rougher edge.

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References

  1. ↑ "Crappin' You Negative, by Grifters". Grifters. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  2. ↑ "Grifters unravel the origins of their experimental but timeless sound". Orlando Weekly.
  3. ↑ "The Earl - The Grifters". www.badearl.com. Retrieved 2020-08-13.
  4. ↑ "interview by Jason Gross of Perfect Sound Forever (Sept 1997)". Furious. Sep 1997.
  5. ↑ "Grifters". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  6. ↑ "Crappin' You Negative, by Grifters". Grifters. Retrieved 2021-01-15.
  7. ↑ The Grifters "Last Man Alive" / Director: Russell Bates. Otisproductions.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-02.
  8. ↑ Half-Cocked and Radiation DVD Archived 2007-07-26 at the Wayback Machine . Halfcockedfilm.com. Retrieved on 2012-04-02.
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