Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians | |
---|---|
Also known as |
New Bohemians The Slip |
Origin | Dallas, Texas, United States |
Genres | Alternative rock, folk rock, jangle pop, neo-psychedelia, southern rock, jam rock |
Years active | 1985–present |
Labels | Geffen |
Associated acts | Edie Brickell, The Heavy Circles |
Members |
Brandon Aly Brad Houser Edie Brickell Kenny Withrow John Bush |
Past members |
Eric Presswood Wes Burt-Martin Matt Chamberlain Carter Albrecht |
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians is an alternative rock jam band that originated in Dallas, Texas, in the mid-1980s. The band is best known for their 1988 hit "What I Am" from the album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Their music contains elements of rock, folk, blues, and jazz. Following the release of their 1990 second album Ghost of a Dog, lead singer Edie Brickell left the band and married singer-songwriter Paul Simon. In 2006, she and the band launched a new web site and released a new album, Stranger Things.
Early history
The New Bohemians started as a three-piece band in the early 1980s, gaining experience in the new Deep Ellum neighborhood of downtown Dallas. The original line-up featured Brad Houser on vibraslap, Eric Presswood on guitar, and Brandon Aly on drums.
Drummer Aly, guitarist Kenny Withrow, and percussionist John Bush went to the same arts magnet high school in Dallas, Texas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Singer Edie Brickell also went to this school. However, the others didn't know her until later. According to Houser, Edie was there for art.[1] Houser attended Hillcrest High School and lived in the same neighborhood as the others. He played in various neighborhood bands like The Knobs which included Kenny, and was also in the Munch Puppies.
The additional core members joined in 1985. Edie became the singer after being encouraged to join the band onstage during a show. It was soon after that first show that a local agent who was booking bands at Rick's Casablanca was brought to hear the band. The band signed a six-month management contract which brought with it better paying gigs at Rick's. When the six months ended, they started regular gigging in Deep Ellum.[2] Presswood left and Kenny Withrow joined as guitarist, playing his first show in July 1985 at the Starck Club in Dallas. John Bush joined on percussion in September of that year. His first show with the band was September 12, 1985 at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, when the band was backing Bo Diddley.
The "New Bos" were a local favorite, packing in the fans at now famous Deep Ellum venues such as Theater Gallery, 500 Cafe, and Club Dada. The Bohemians were also regular performers at the annual Fry Street Fair on the University of North Texas campus in Denton, Texas. During this period of the band's history, Edie's name was not used in the band's name.
The debut album of the group was Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. The album was a massive hit, sold over a million copies, and produced the top 10 hit "What I Am". The follow-up album was called Ghost of a Dog. This album was not as successful as their debut album. Soon after the album's release the New Bohemians disbanded.[3]
Recent activity
In recent years, the New Bohemians have released compilations and a live album and have recorded new material. In the mid-1990s Brickell, Bush and Withrow reunited as The Slip.[4] In 2006 the current members reunited to record and tour with the release of Stranger Things.
Carter Albrecht was killed in Dallas September 3, 2007.
The band's song "Circle" appeared on an episode of Cold Case and Ugly Betty, and in 2013, it was covered by the pop punk band Bowling for Soup on the album Lunch. Drunk. Love..
The band last played live at the North Oakcliff Music Festival in October 2014 with the current lineup as well as keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard.
Members
Current members
- Brandon Aly – drums
- Edie Arlisa Brickell – vocals
- John Walter Bush – percussion
- John Bradley Houser – bass, woodwinds
- Kenneth Neil Withrow – guitar
Previous members
- Carter Albrecht – keyboards, electric guitar, harmonica, vocals
- Wes Burt-Martin – guitar
- Matt Chamberlain – drums
- Eric Presswood – guitar
- Chris Wheatley – keyboards
- Chris Whitten – drums
- Paul "Wix" Wickens – keyboards
Discography
Albums
Year | Album | US | UK | AUS[5] |
---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars | 4 | 25 | 31 |
1990 | Ghost of a Dog | 32 | — | — |
1999 | The Live Montauk Sessions | — | — | — |
2006 | Stranger Things | — | — | — |
Singles
Year | Song | US Hot |
US Mod |
US Main |
UK[6] | AUS [7][8][9] |
Album |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | "What I Am" | 7 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 18 | Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars |
"Circle" | 48 | — | 32 | 74 | 80 | ||
1989 | "Little Miss S." | — | 14 | 38 | — | — | |
1990 | "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" | — | 21 | 28 | 83 | 85 | Born on the Fourth of July soundtrack |
"Mama Help Me" | — | 17 | 26 | — | — | Ghost of a Dog |
References
- ↑ Spin magazine, March 1989, Vol 4, Number 12
- ↑ D Magazine January 1989
- ↑ "Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Biography and History". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ↑ What It Is Edie Brickell Andy Langer, June 2, 2000, The Austin Chronicle, Retrieved February 8, 2008
- ↑ "ARIA albums charts". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 78. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ↑ "ARIA singles charts". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ↑ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry (submitted to [email protected]), received 2014-01-17". imgur.com. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
- ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
External links
- New Bohemians' official website
- New Bohemians Live Music Archive at archive.org
- Brandon Aly's official website
- John Bush's official website
- What They Were - Article from Dallas Observer, 1998
- History of Deep Ellum - Dallas Observer, 1999