Split Lip Rayfield

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Split Lip Rayfield
SplitLipRayfield.jpeg
Background information
Origin Wichita, Kansas, U.S.
Genres Bluegrass, alternative country
Years active1995–present
LabelsBloodshot Records
MembersJeff Eaton
Wayne Gottstine
Eric Mardis
Past members Kirk Rundstrom (deceased)
David Lawrence
Website Official Site

Split Lip Rayfield is an American vocal and acoustic instrumental group from Wichita, Kansas, United States. Though they are sometimes classified as a bluegrass, alternative country, or cowpunk band, their music draws on a wide array of influences.

Contents

History

Split Lip Rayfield is a band from Wichita, Kansas featuring Kirk Rundstrom (guitar), Eric Mardis (banjo), Wayne Gottstine (mandolin), and Jeff Eaton (bass). Early on, the group's gimmick was Eaton's homemade one-string bass, named Stitchgiver, built from the gas tank of a 1978 Mercury Grand Marquis and a piece of hickory and strung with one piece of Weedwhacker line. [1]

The name "Split Lip Rayfield" was inspired by a real-life person who went to high school with Eaton's parents in Desloge, Missouri. He acquired the nickname "Split Lip" due to constant chapped lips so bad his lip would split.

The trio of Rundstrom, Eaton and Mardis recorded the album Split Lip Rayfield in 1998; Bloodshot released it that same year. [2]

In 1999, Split Lip Rayfield released In the Mud , the first album on which the group was joined by Gottstine and performed as a quartet. This album contained fan favorites such as Gottstine's "3.2 Flu", Rundstrom's "Devil", Mardis' "Hounds" and a cover of the George Jones/Melba Montgomery song "Easy Street". The band followed up the album's release with a nationwide tour.

The band's next album, Never Make It Home (2001), also achieved success, as did the subsequent tour.

Following the Never Make It Home tour, Split Lip Rayfield took a short hiatus so that its members could refocus on family life and side projects. Upon reassembling, the group traveled to New Orleans to make a record with friend and fellow performer Mike West. The resulting disc, Should Have Seen It Coming (2004), won critical praise.

In 2005, Gottstine left the touring group for personal reasons, but the remaining trio continued to tour. Gottstine returned in summer of 2006 after Kirk Rundstrom's cancer diagnosis.

In 2008, the group guest wrote various music pieces for an episode of the Adultswim show Squidbillies entitled Mephistopheles Traveled Below to a Southern State Whose Motto is 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'.

In 2008, the group released "I'll Be Around." The album was dedicated to the late Kirk Rundstrom and the title track is a tribute to him.

On January 7, 2017, the group released its sixth studio recording, "On My Way", their first in over eight years.

Jeff Eaton is the nephew of 1950s and 1960s fashion model Evelyn Tripp.

Illness

Early in 2006, while on tour in Colorado, Rundstrom sought medical attention for pain in his throat and difficulty in swallowing. Doctors quickly concluded that he had esophageal cancer and would need immediate, intense treatment. [1]

Heavy doses of radiation and chemotherapy were unable to completely reverse the damage, and Rundstrom's health suffered greatly from the treatments. However, by early autumn, he was playing shows again. Rundstrom was administered doses of intravenous vitamin C. He lived a year-and-a-half longer than doctors expected.

A fully reunited Split Lip Rayfield embarked on another tour and played what was billed as its final show on December 8, 2006, Live at the Cotillion Ballroom, in Wichita.

Rundstrom died on February 22, 2007, in Wichita. He is survived by his father, wife, and two daughters. [3]

The group decided to continue playing without a replacement dedicating each show to Rundstrom. Gottstine rejoined the band permanently, and their first show without Rundstrom was in August 2007.

In 2011, the feature documentary Never Make It Home was released. It was originally intended as a concert film, but eight months into filming, Rundstrom's diagnosis changed director G.J. Echternkamp's plans. The result is an intimate portrait of the musician's final days. [4]

Influence

Split Lip Rayfield helped pioneer what came to be known as the "Stage Five" sound, named for the notorious "unofficial" Stage 5 at the annual Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas.

Typically, bluegrass musicians played traditional folk and country songs on acoustic string instruments. Bands like Split Lip faithfully used traditional acoustic instruments but played songs that were more closely related stylistically to rock, punk, or heavy metal.

Although Split Lip was not the first of its kind — other groups such as the Bad Livers came before — a growing number of acoustic "thrash-grass" bands owe a great debt to Split Lip for helping to define the genre.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

7" record

DVDs

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Split Lip Rayfield is the First studio album by the American Bluegrass band Split Lip Rayfield, released in 1998.

<i>In the Mud</i> 1999 studio album by Split Lip Rayfield

In The Mud is the second studio album by the American bluegrass band Split Lip Rayfield, released in 1999.

<i>Never Make It Home</i> 2001 studio album by Split Lip Rayfield

Never Make It Home is the third studio album by the American Bluegrass band Split Lip Rayfield, released in 2001.

<i>Should Have Seen It Coming</i> 2004 studio album by Split Lip Rayfield

Should Have Seen It Coming is the fourth studio album by the American bluegrass band Split Lip Rayfield, released in 2004.

<i>Ill Be Around</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Split Lip Rayfield

I'll Be Around is the fifth studio album by the American bluegrass band Split Lip Rayfield, released on October 15, 2008. It is significant in that this is the first studio album after former guitar player Kirk Rundstrom's death, and it is dedicated to his memory. Also of note in the liner notes is a set of instructions to the building of the famous "Gas-Tank Bass" of Jeff Eaton.

Live or Split Lip Rayfield Live is the first live album from the bluegrass/punk band Split Lip Rayfield. It was recorded live on New Year's Eve of 2003 at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas. It contains music from their first three albums and the music is significantly faster than the studio-recorded versions.

Live at the Cotillion Ballroom is the first live DVD from the bluegrass/punk band Split Lip Rayfield. It was recorded live on December 8 of 2006 at The Cotillion Ballroom in Wichita, Kansas. It was billed as the "last show" after the deteriorating health of band member Kirk Rundstrom made it difficult to tour. The DVD contains songs from all five studio albums, including "Rig or Cross", which was unreleased at the time, but later appeared on I'll Be Around. It also contained the songs "How Many Biscuits Can You Eat?", "Orange Blossom Special", and "Old Time Religion", not on any studio album.

<i>Live at the Bluebird</i> 2004 live album by Split Lip Rayfield

Live at the Bluebird or Split Lip Rayfield / Live at the Bluebird Theatre / Denver, CO is the second live album from the bluegrass/punk band Split Lip Rayfield. It was recorded live on January 28 of 2006 at The Bluebird Theatre in Denver, Colorado. It contains music from their first three albums and the music is significantly faster than the studio-recorded versions. It is significant that this is the only work by Split Lip Rayfield that does not contain the contributions of Wayne Gottsine, the band's mandolin player, who was on hiatus from the band at the time.

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References

  1. 1 2 Finn, Timothy (June 20, 2012). "Split Lip Rayfield keeps alive the music and a legacy". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  2. ↑ Weeks, Lisa (August 9, 2001). "Split Lip Rayfield". Phoenix New Times . Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  3. ↑ Weight, Rachel (March 3, 2007). "Splitlip Rayfield's Kirk Rundstrom Passes Away". Santa Barbara Independent . Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  4. ↑ Olszewski, Tricia (June 17, 2011). "Never Make It Home". Washington City Paper . Retrieved November 14, 2018.
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