The Builders and the Butchers

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The Builders and The Butchers
The Builders and Butchers 01.jpg
The Builders and the Butchers playing live 2014 in Munich.
Background information
Origin Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres Folk rock, [1] indie folk, [2] Americana, [1] roots rock [3]
Years active2005–present
LabelsBladen County Records, Gigantic Music, Badman Recording Co., Song, by Toad Records
MembersJustin Baier
Willy Kunkle
Ray Rude
Ryan Sollee
Harvey Tumbleson
Past membersAlexander Ellis
Brandon Hafer
Adrienne Hatkin
Paul Seely
Website TheBuildersAndTheButchers.com

The Builders and The Butchers are a folk rock band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is fronted by singer/guitar player Ryan Sollee. The other members of the band are Willy Kunkle (bass guitar, vocals, percussion), Justin Baier (drums, backup vocals, percussion), [4] Ray Rude (drums, piano, clarinet, backup vocals, percussion), and Harvey Tumbleson (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals, percussion).

Contents

The band's debut self-titled album was released in 2007 by Bladen County Records. [5] [6]

To date, the band has 6 full-length albums, 2 live album and 2 EP splits.

Willy Kunkle & Ryan Sollee, Live in Munich 2014 Builders Butchers-14.jpg
Willy Kunkle & Ryan Sollee, Live in Munich 2014
Harvey Tumbleson, Live in Munich 2014 The Builders Butchers-24.jpg
Harvey Tumbleson, Live in Munich 2014
Willy Kunkle, Live in Munich 2014 The Builders Butchers-02.jpg
Willy Kunkle, Live in Munich 2014
Polaris Hall, 2022 The Builders and the Butchers play at Polaris Hall.jpg
Polaris Hall, 2022

History

The Builders and The Butchers formed on October 31, 2005. [7] [8] They came together because "a lot of bands were all breaking up around the same time, and we were looking to get into something new—so it just worked out." [9]

Each member is originally from Anchorage, Alaska and migrated separately to Portland, Oregon to start a career in music. [10] [11]

Initially they called themselves "The Funeral Band", performing in the streets and outside of music venues. The name eventually changed to The Builders and The Butchers, "for no other reason than it was the only name all five members liked." [11] The first year of acoustic performances were mostly street shows until opening for the experimental band Man Man in 2006. [11] "We very slowly started plugging [our instruments] in." Sollee says, [11] but the group had to figure out how to use its two percussionists on stage. They found that by splitting one drum kit between Seely and Rude, with one handling the kick drum and another playing the snare, they developed what the group calls a "deconstructed" drumming style. [11]

The band's song-writing process involves Sollee writing the lyrics out and presenting it to the other members, who then start playing and putting the music around these lyrics. [9]

In May 2008 the band won the Willamette Week's "Best New Band of 2008" [12] and Seattle Sound's "Best Live Performers 2008".

In late 2010, The Builders and the Butchers signed with Badman Recording Co. and released their third album, Dead Reckoning on February 22, 2011. [13] [14]

Artwork

The Builders and The Butchers' album artwork is produced by Portland, Oregon artist Lukas Ketner. [15]

Members

Current

Former

Guests

Discography

Albums

TitleDateLabel
The Builders and The Butchers2007Bladen County Records
Loch Lomond/The Builders and the Butchers Split 12-inch2007Bladen County Records(USA) / Song, by Toad Records(UK)
Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well2009 Gigantic Music
Where the Roots All Grow2010Self Released
Dead Reckoning2011Badman Recording Co.
Murder By Death/The Builders and The Butchers Split 7-inch2011Self Released
Western Medicine2013Badman Recording Co.
The Spark2017Badman Recording Co.
Live From Doug Fir2017None (Released by Banana Stand Media)
Hell & High Water2022Badman Recording Co.

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, Stephen (March 24, 2017). "The Builders And The Butchers: White-Knuckle Americana". NPR. Washington, D.C. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  2. Gospe, Andrew (June 7, 2011). "The Builders and The Butchers". Seattle Weekly. Seattle, Washington. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  3. Capozziello, Christine (July 28, 2017). "The Builders and the Butchers – The Spark". Mxdwn. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  4. Kopet, Jeri (November 23, 2011). "Remodeling The Builders and the Butchers". Anchorage Press. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
  5. "Artist Biography". All Music. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  6. "Artist Biography". Bladen County Records. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  7. McCullough, Amy (May 7, 2008). "The Builders and The Butchers". Willamette Week. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  8. "Builders and the Butchers Artist Biography". All Music. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  9. 1 2 unknown last name, Morgen (April 15, 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers' Killer Show". The Sun Break. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  10. "Artist Biography". The Builders and The Butchers Official Website. Retrieved October 9, 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Werthman, Christine (July 22, 2009). "Brick By Brick The Builders and The Butchers Construct a Sound". New York Press. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  12. McCullough, Amy (May 7, 2008), "Best New Band 2008", The Willamette Week, vol. 34, no. 26, Portland, OR, p. 19
  13. Caraeff, Ezra Ace (December 10, 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers Sign to Badman Recording Co". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  14. White, Ryan (December 6, 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers have a body on their hands". Oregon Live (The Oregonian). Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  15. Stoloff, Zach (January 12, 2010). "The Bridge to Somewhere" . Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  16. Seifert, Brandon (March 28, 2007). "The Builders and the Butchers, Friday, March 30". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  17. Salmon, Ben (March 19, 2010). "Bend welcomes cello group Portland Cello Project brings classical, pop blend to bars". The Bulletin. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2010.