Those Bastard Souls

Last updated
Those Bastard Souls
Origin United States
Genres Alternative Rock, indie Rock
Years active1995–2001
Labels Darla Records, V2 Records
Past membersDave Shouse, Joan Wasser, Matt Fields, Michael Tighe, Kevin March

Those Bastard Souls were an American independent rock band formed in 1995 as a solo side project by David Shouse of The Grifters. [1] The name, somewhat of a nod to These Immortal Souls, was one that David Shouse coined as a replacement for A Band Called Bud, the original name of the Grifters. [2] Shouse liked the name and held onto it, imagining a rotating roster of transient "bastard musicians" that would comprise a musical project that he might lead sometime in the future.

Contents

While recording the Grifters' first album for Sub Pop, Ain't My Lookout , Shouse was approached by someone from Darla Records with some DAT tapes and told that they would put out a solo album for him if he were interested. While the recording of Ain't My Lookout was pleasurable, Shouse, the eldest Grifter by almost a decade, was finding himself increasingly frustrated with the lyrics that he wrote for that band; finding them too abstract and not personal enough for where he found himself personally. Under the Those Bastard Souls moniker he felt that he had a place for his more direct, personal material.

Twentieth Century Chemical

1996's Twentieth Century Chemical was recorded with his friends at Easley McCain Recording, Doug Easley, Davis McCain and engineer Stuart Sikes. Grifters drummer Stanley Gallimore also contributed on some tracks, including a 'sequel' to the Grifters song "Subterranean Death Ride Blues", titled "Subterranean Death Ride Blues, Pt.2" The album's liner notes are cryptic and minimalist: no personnel is given; along with Easley McCain, five European studios are listed; and David Shouse is credited under the pseudonym "Will David".

Tour

Those Bastard Souls were offered the opening slot for Sebadoh's 1997 tour and Shouse and Red Red Meat's Matt Fields pulled together a band composed of Trenchmouth drummer and future Saturday Night Live star Fred Armisen, and longtime friends Joan Wasser of The Dambuilders, Steven Golub, and The Flaming Lips' multi-instrumentalist and drummer, Steven Drozd. [3]

Debt & Departure

Following the tragic May 29, 1997 drowning of Jeff Buckley, who was both a friend of Shouse's and Wasser's lover, Those Bastard Souls diverged from the "bastard musician" concept, and entered the studio as a proper band. To record Debt & Departure, Shouse, Wasser and Fields were joined by Jeff Buckley guitarist Michael Tighe and Dambuilders drummer Kevin March. [4] The album, released in 1999, saw the band retreading a full third of the debut album and also included a piano ballad version of "Spaced Out", a song that appeared less than a year earlier on the Grifters' Full Blown Possession . Though the Grifters occasionally played shows together again, the recording of Debt & Departure and the touring that followed effectively placed the band on permanent hiatus.

Bloodthirsty Lovers

Those Bastard Souls seems to have been abandoned by 2001 as that year saw yet another direction for Shouse, as he began recording new solo material on synthesizers and keyboards in his attic as Bloodthirsty Lovers, named for another track from the Grifters' Full Blown Possession. After a self-produced, self-titled album on French Kiss Records, Shouse recorded again with Kevin March, this time joining forces with Big Ass Truck's Steve Selvidge. 2003 saw the trio touring with The Flaming Lips, as well as playing opening slots for Modest Mouse and Guided by Voices (which March would later join). The Delicate Seam EP was released the following year.

Members

Recording and tour members

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Flaming Lips</span> American rock band

The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Derek Brown, Matt Duckworth Kirksey and Nicholas Ley. Following the departure of long-time bassist Michael Ivins in 2021, Coyne has remained the band's sole consistent member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collective Soul</span> American rock band

Collective Soul is an American rock band originally from Stockbridge, Georgia. Now based in Atlanta, the group consists of lead vocalist Ed Roland, rhythm guitarist Dean Roland, bassist Will Turpin, drummer Johnny Rabb, and lead guitarist Jesse Triplett. Formed in 1992, the original lineup consisted of the Roland brothers, Turpin, guitarist Ross Childress, and drummer Shane Evans. Collective Soul released their Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid album on the independent label Rising Storm Records in 1993. The band went from obscurity to popularity that year after the album's lead single "Shine" received regional radio play. The album was then re-released in 1994 by the major label Atlantic Records; thus, "Shine" became a national hit as it peaked at No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock and No. 4 on the Mainstream Top 40 charts.

<i>Transmissions from the Satellite Heart</i> 1993 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Transmissions from the Satellite Heart is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released in 1993 by Warner Bros. Records. The album marked the departure of Jonathan Donahue and Nathan Roberts, and the addition of guitarist Ronald Jones and drummer Steven Drozd.

Easley McCain Recording is an American recording studio, based in Memphis, Tennessee, notable for recording musicians such as Tav Falco's Panther Burns, Oblivians, Grifters, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Come, White Stripes, Townes Van Zandt, Pezz, Jeff Buckley, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Guided by Voices, Lydia Lunch, Box Tops, Rufus Thomas, Wilco, Cat Power, Modest Mouse, The Amps, The Cooters, and The Walkmen.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Drozd</span> American musician and actor

Steven Gregory Drozd is an American musician and actor. He is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the Flaming Lips, Electric Würms, and other projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Babys</span> British rock group

The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs "Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and each reached No. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the Cashbox chart in the late 1970s. "Back on My Feet Again" also reached the U.S. Top 40 in 1979. The original Babys line-up consisted of founding member keyboardist/guitarist Michael Corby, and, in order of joining the group, vocalist/bassist John Waite, drummer Tony Brock, and guitarist Wally Stocker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dambuilders</span> American indie rock band

The Dambuilders was an indie rock band that began in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, in 1989 and later relocated to Boston. They released seven LPs and a number of EPs before breaking up in 1998. Members have gone on with other musical projects, including the band's violinist/vocalist, Joan Wasser, as Joan as Police Woman. Kevin March also became well known in indie circles as the drummer of the band Guided by Voices, which he joined in 2002. Dave Derby is the leader and main songwriter of the New York City-based collective of artists known as Gramercy Arms, which has included collaborations with both Wasser and March.

Hot One is an American rock band formed in 2005. Its members are guitarist/vocalist Nathan Larson, bassist/vocalist Emm Gryner, drummer Kevin March, and guitarist Jordan Kern. The band is characterized by a glam rock/post-punk sound and overtly political lyrical content. Hot One's self-titled debut album was released on October 10, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan As Police Woman</span> American musician and singer

Joan Wasser is an American musician, singer-songwriter and producer who releases music as Joan As Police Woman. She began her career playing violin with the Dambuilders and played with Black Beetle, Antony and the Johnsons, and Those Bastard Souls. Since 2004 she has released her solo material as Joan As Police Woman. She has released five regular studio albums, one EP, a number of singles and two albums of cover songs. Throughout her career, she has regularly collaborated with other artists as a writer, performer and arranger.

Big Ass Truck (BAT) is an American rock band from Memphis, Tennessee which incorporates elements of hip-hop, rock, funk and psychedelia in their music. The band includes a DJ spinning records, that provides beats, loops, and samples during recordings and live performances. The group disbanded sometime after the release of the 2001 album, The Rug, but as of 2021 has been playing live shows again.

<i>One Sock Missing</i> 1993 studio album by Grifters

One Sock Missing is the second album by the American band the Grifters, released in 1993 on Shangri-La Records. The album was an underground hit. It was reissued by Fat Possum Records in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Radiant Storm King</span>

New Radiant Storm King was an American indie rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts in 1990. The group released nine studio albums over its 20-year existence.

<i>So Happy Together</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Grifters

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

Crappin' You Negative is the third full-length album from The Grifters and was released on Shangri-La Records. The album was reissued as a remastered version in 2016, by Fat Possum Records.

<i>Aint My Lookout</i> 1996 studio album by Grifters

Ain't My Lookout is the fourth full-length album by Memphis indie rock band The Grifters, and their first for Sub Pop Records. While Sub Pop released the Compact Disc, the Grifters remained true to their old home, Shangri-La Records, which was able to receive the licensing for the vinyl release. The vinyl LP release is now out of print. The album marked a stylistic change in the band's sound, with the lo-fi sound featured on previous albums being devoid on this release.

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

The Eureka E.P. is the third E.P. album by Memphis indie rock band The Grifters. Tripp Lamkins' liner notes state the reason for an EP instead of a full-length album:

"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."

<i>Full Blown Possession</i> Album by Grifters

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin March (musician)</span> Musical artist

Kevin Daniel March is an American musician, record producer, and songwriter. March is known for his work as a drummer with Guided by Voices, Those Bastard Souls, Shudder to Think, and The Dambuilders. He has previously managed the band The Nowherenauts.

References

  1. Del Toro, Marilu (August 19, 1999). "Those Bastard Souls". Miami New Times . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  2. Earles, Andrew (June 23, 2016). "Blasts of Static". Memphis Flyer . Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  3. "Those Bastard Souls – Twentieth Century Chemical [reissue]". Blurt . November 25, 2009. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  4. Thompson, Stephen (March 29, 2002). "Those Bastard Souls: Debt & Departure". The A.V. Club . Retrieved October 16, 2021.