Idiot Grins

Last updated
Idiot Grins
[[File:Idiot Grins.jpg
  • Mike Conner
  • Evan Eustis
  • John Hansen
  • Michael Melgoza
  • Randy Strauss|frameless|upright=1]]
Background information
OriginOakland, California
GenresRock, soul
Years active2010–present
Website http://www.idiotgrins.com/

Idiot Grins are a Rock/Soul Band from Oakland, California formed in 2010. They are best known for their single "Get Busy Dying" which was a top 10 digital radio hit, and "Not Reggae" which reached #3. The band consists of Mike Conner (Piano and Organ), Evan Eustis (Bass, Mandolin, and Vocals), John Hansen (Vocals), Michael Melgoza (Drums), and Randy Strauss (Guitars). Elmore Magazine praised the bands ability to "create their own pastiche that works to their advantage." [1]

Contents

Musical career

Idiot Grins are a Rock and Soul band from Oakland, California. They have released five albums starting with Quarry from 2012, Big Man from 2015 and 2017's State of Health featuring the Byrd Sisters. State Of Health featured the Top 10 digital radio hit "Get Busy Dying" and Top 20 digital radio hit "Take it Back". [2]

Big Man was well received by the press. Key praise included: "Big Man is an amalgamation of music that's near and dear to them; a blend of what they accomplished before and their admiration of Stax classics. If putting a new spin on a vintage sound was their goal, then mission accomplished." by Elmore Magazine [1] and "The entire length of Big Man is a classy, burning slice of soul, and would have easily found a home in the record shops of the 60’s." [3] by Big Takeover.

State Of Health was perhaps the bands most critically acclaimed album. HuffPost wrote of the record: "State of Health is a scrumptious album. The melodies are catchy and drenched in charming harmonics, while the vocal harmonies set the entire album apart, especially the dulcet tones of The Byrd Sisters. If you're in the mood for some tasty, fun music, look no further." [4] Blogcritics wrote of State of Health: "... and that's precisely what the Idiot Grins do on State of Health - resurrect the persistent, flamboyant grooves, gooey wah-wah pedals, fluid vocal harmonies, and the braying brass of Hayes' blend of psychedelia, soul, and deep southern blues." [5] Seattle PI said of the single 'Get Busy Dying': "a dynamite soul number full of bright horns and the radiant harmonies of The Byrd Sisters. I love the intro on this song, the way it simmers with bubbling energy and then takes off. This is probably the best song on the album." [6]

They released their new album, Thoughts & Prayers on November 6, 2020. The record is a reinterpretation of the Louvin Brothers 1959 country-gospel album Satan is Real . On Thoughts & Prayers, the band cover songs including "Satan is Real", "The Christian Life" and "The Angels Rejoiced." Obscure Sound wrote: "Passionate vocals join throughout the album with a straightforward arsenal of guitar, bass, piano, and drums, appealing to those enamored by roots, Americana, and country music." [7]

Hounds of Mess Around was released in March of 2024. The lead single, Not Reggae, reached #3 on the Digital Radio Tracker Independent chart and #30 on the Rock chart as of May 30, 2024.

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Tambourine Man</span> 1965 song by Bob Dylan

"Mr. Tambourine Man" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released as the first track of the acoustic side of his March 1965 album Bringing It All Back Home. The song's popularity led to Dylan recording it live many times, and it has been included in multiple compilation albums. It has been translated into other languages and has been used or referenced in television shows, films, and books.

<i>Mr. Tambourine Man</i> (album) 1965 studio album by the Byrds

Mr. Tambourine Man is the debut studio album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released on June 21, 1965, by Columbia Records. The album is characterized by the Byrds' signature sound of Jim McGuinn's 12-string Rickenbacker guitar and the band's complex harmony singing. The material on the album mostly consists of cover versions of folk songs, primarily composed by Bob Dylan, and originals written or co-written by singer Gene Clark. Along with the Dylan-penned single of the same name, Mr. Tambourine Man established the band as an internationally successful act and is widely regarded by critics as representing the first effective American challenge to the chart dominance of the Beatles and other British Invasion bands during the mid-1960s.

<i>Fifth Dimension</i> (album) 1966 studio album by the Byrds

Fifth Dimension is the third album by the American rock band the Byrds and was released in July 1966 on Columbia Records. Most of the album was recorded following the February 1966 departure of the band's principal songwriter Gene Clark. In an attempt to compensate for Clark's absence, guitarists Jim McGuinn and David Crosby increased their songwriting output. In spite of this, the loss of Clark resulted in an album with four cover versions and an instrumental, which critics have described as "wildly uneven" and "awkward and scattered". However, it was the first Byrds album not to include any songs written by Bob Dylan, whose material had previously been a mainstay of the band's repertoire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">If I Needed Someone</span> Song composed by George Harrison

"If I Needed Someone" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by George Harrison, the group's lead guitarist. It was released in December 1965 on their album Rubber Soul, except in North America, where it appeared on the June 1966 release Yesterday and Today. The song reflects the reciprocal influences shared between the Beatles and American band the Byrds. On release, it was widely considered to be Harrison's best song to date. A recording by the Hollies was issued in Britain on the same day as Rubber Soul and peaked at number 20 on the national singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Kentucky Headhunters</span> American country rock and Southern rock band

The Kentucky Headhunters are an American country rock and Southern rock band originating in the state of Kentucky. The band's members are Doug Phelps, Greg Martin, and brothers Richard Young and Fred Young. It was founded in 1968 as Itchy Brother, which consisted of the Young brothers and Martin, along with Anthony Kenney on bass guitar and vocals. Itchy Brother performed until 1982, with James Harrison replacing Martin from 1973 to 1976. The Youngs and Martin began performing as The Kentucky Headhunters in 1986, adding brothers Ricky Lee Phelps and Doug Phelps to the membership.

Americana is an amalgam of American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States of America, with particular emphasis on music historically developed in the American South.

<i>Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective</i> 1995 compilation album by The Choir

Love Songs and Prayers: A Retrospective is the first compilation album from alternative rock band the Choir, released in 1995.

"Turn! Turn! Turn!", also known as or subtitled "To Everything There Is a Season", is a song written by Pete Seeger in 1959. The lyrics – except for the title, which is repeated throughout the song, and the final two lines – consist of the first eight verses of the third chapter of the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes. The song was originally released in 1962 as "To Everything There Is a Season" on the folk group the Limeliters' album Folk Matinee, and then some months later on Seeger's own The Bitter and the Sweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Shall Be Released</span> 1967 song by Bob Dylan

"I Shall Be Released" is a 1967 song written by Bob Dylan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better</span> 1965 single by the Byrds

"I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" is a song by the Los Angeles folk rock band the Byrds, first released in June 1965 on the B-side of the band's second single, "All I Really Want to Do". Despite initially being released as a B-side, the song managed to chart in its own right in the U.S., just outside the Billboard Hot 100. It was also included on the Byrds' debut album, Mr. Tambourine Man.

<i>The Candidate</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Steve Harley

The Candidate is the second solo studio album by British singer-songwriter Steve Harley, which was released by EMI in 1979. It was produced by Harley and Jimmy Horowitz.

<i>Satan Is Real</i> 1959 studio album by The Louvin Brothers

Satan Is Real is a gospel bluegrass album by American country music duo The Louvin Brothers, released in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pokey LaFarge</span> American musician

Pokey LaFarge is an American musician and singer-songwriter.

"Jamaica Say You Will" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. It is the first song on his 1972 self-titled debut album.

<i>3-D</i> (Wrathchild America album) 1991 studio album by Wrathchild America

3-D is the second and final studio album by American heavy metal band Wrathchild America, released on January 28, 1991 by Atlantic Records. This was the band's last studio album before they changed their name to Souls at Zero in 1992. 3-D was not successful as Climbin' the Walls, failing to appear on any record chart, although music videos for "Spy" and "Surrounded by Idiots" were released.

<i>Shadow Weaver</i> (The Choir album) 2014 studio album by The Choir

Shadow Weaver is the 16th studio release, and 14th full-length studio album, by alternative rock band the Choir, released in 2014. This was the last album to feature Marc Byrd as a member of the band, and the first time the Choir used crowdfunding to finance a new studio project. In 2019, UTR Media named Shadow Weaver as one of the "30 Best Gourmet Albums of the Decade (2010-2019)."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Ghost Tent Revival</span> American rock and roll band

Holy Ghost Tent Revival is an American horn-driven rock and roll band with blues and folk leanings. Formed in North Carolina in 2008, current members are Stephen Murray, Dulci Ellenberger, Kevin Williams, Matt Martin, Ross Montsinger, Henry Widmer and Charlie Humphrey. They've released three studio albums, and the band tours frequently; in 2010 that included approximately 300 shows per year, including festivals such as Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Bristol Rhythm & Roots, Floyd Fest and Wakarusa. Paste Magazine described their style as "soul-inspired rock that maintains a rootsy sound, brightened by warm swells of horns and rich harmonies.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jangle pop</span> Music genre

Jangle pop is a subgenre of pop rock or college rock that emphasizes jangly guitars and 1960s-style pop melodies.

Superhuman (Korean: 슈퍼휴먼) is a song recorded by South Korean boy band NCT 127, the Seoul-based sub-unit of SM Entertainment's unlimited boy band NCT. It was released on May 24, 2019, by SM Entertainment as the lead single from the group's fourth extended play, We Are Superhuman. The song's music video was one of the group's most viewed online video within 24 hours of release at the time, with 3.1 million views.

<i>New York at Night</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Willie Nile

New York at Night is the 13th studio album by American singer-songwriter Willie Nile, released on May 15, 2020, by River House Records, it was co-produced by Nile and Stewart Lerman who has worked with Nile on eight of his previous albums.

References

  1. 1 2 says, Skelton-Skinner All-Stars Shine Across The Thames (2016-02-22). "Idiot Grins". Elmore Magazine . Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  2. ↑ Timmons, Joseph (2020-11-29). "Idiot Grins release new album, Thoughts & Prayers". IndiePulse Music Magazine. Retrieved 2021-05-10.
  3. ↑ "Idiot Grins - Big Man (Self-Released)". The Big Takeover. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  4. ↑ R; Radic, y; author, ContributorLeft Coast; writer; editor. (2018-01-13). "Music Review: "State of Health" – Idiot Grins Release A Tasty Album Full Of Funk, Soul And R&B". HuffPost. Retrieved 2021-05-05.{{cite web}}: |last3= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ "Music Review: Idiot Grins – 'State of Health' Shimmers With Luscious Soul and R&B Flavors". Blogcritics. 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  6. ↑ Radic, Randall (2018-03-16). "Music Review: Idiot Grins - 'State of Health' Shimmers With Luscious Soul and R&B Flavors". seattlepi.com . Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  7. ↑ ObscureSound (2021-02-16). "Listen: Idiot Grins - "There's a Higher Power"". obscuresound.com . Retrieved 2021-05-10.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.