The Gourds

The Gourds are a good-time, honky tonkin' band with enough quirk and underground appeal to justify the "alternative" tag in "alternative country-rock." Part of Austin's vibrant scene and popular performers at the city's national music showcase SXSW, the Gourds first gained the attention of the No Depression crowd with the drunken porch jam sound of their debut, Dem's Good Beeble, in 1997. The band's quirks came out more on its follow-up, 1998's Stadium Blitzer, with songs of questionable subject matter (not offensive, just truly befuddling) like "Plaid Coat" and the goofy "I Ate the Haggis."

Later that year, the Gourds broke through to college radio with a couple of covers on the live EP Gogitchershinebox. While their cover of "Ziggy Stardust" may have raised some eyebrows, it was the Gourds' galloping twang remake of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice" that really captured listeners' imaginations. Unfortunately, the demise of Watermelon Records took their recordings out of print right after the release of their third album, Ghosts of Hallelujah, in 1999. Happily, Sugar Hill Records stepped in, and without missing a beat, the Gourds' fourth album, Bolsa de Agua, came out the following year. Over the next year, Sugar Hill also reissued the rest of the Gourds' existing catalog.

The Texas group started out with multi-instrumentalist/vocalists Kevin Russell and Jimmy Smith (who also shared songwriting duties), accordionist Claude Bernard, and drummer Charlie Llewellin. In late 1997/early 1998, Llewellin was replaced by a longtime friend of the band, Keith Langford, who was kicked out of the Damnations TX when his bandmates saw that he wanted to join the Gourds but might feel too bad about quitting to actually leave them. Then, after playing banjo, fiddle, and more on Ghosts of Hallelujah, Max Johnston (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) also became an official member of the band. With the new lineup intact, the Gourds released Bolsa de Agua in the summer of 2000, Cow Fish Fowl or Pig in 2002, Blood of the Ram in 2004, Heavy Ornamentals in 2006, Noble Creatures in 2007, and Haymaker! in 2009. They also provided the score to the Mike Woolf documentary Growin' a Beard. The band inked a deal with Vanguard Records the following year, and began work on its tenth studio album. The resulting Old Mad Joy, produced by longtime Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell and recorded at Levon Helm's studio in upstate New York, arrived in October 2011.

from Wikipedia:

The Gourds are an American alternative country band that formed in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1994.

Career

Primarily evolving from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, The Gourds original line-up consisted of Kevin Russell (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Jimmy Smith (vocals, bass, guitar), Claude Bernard (accordion, guitar, vocals), and Charlie Llewellin (drums, percussion). Llewellin was replaced by current drummer Keith Langford shortly after the second album was recorded, and multi-instrumentalist Max Johnston officially joined after being invited to play on their third album. By the following album, Johnston had also become the band's third songwriter, though Russell and Smith have continued to share the bulk of those responsibilities.

Despite a sizable amount of original material, The Gourds are probably best known for a song they did not write, and for which they initially did not receive credit. A full fourteen years after its live debut, fans can still be heard calling out for the band's cover version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice", often before they have even taken the stage. This has led some to consider it an albatross, but the band continues to play the crowd pleaser on occasion, often adding a medley of cover songs to its mid-section.

While The Gourds studio efforts have all been well received, their high-energy live performances and constant touring have earned them the reputation of a band that must be seen to be appreciated. As a result, they enjoy a dedicated fan base that is happy to follow them from town to town, and have become a favorite among those who tape live music.

In March 2011, The Gourds finished recording their 10th studio album, Old Mad Joy, at Levon Helm's studio in Woodstock, New York. Produced by longtime Bob Dylan sideman, Larry Campbell, the record was released by Vanguard Records on September 13.

Members

Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell – vocals, backing vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonicaJimmy Smith – vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica, double bassClaude Bernard – accordion, electronic keyboard, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, percussionKeith Langford – drums, harmonica, backing vocalsMax Johnston (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) – vocals, backing vocals, fiddle, lap steel, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo

Television and film

The Gourds have been featured on Austin City Limits (2006) and appeared briefly playing their song "Declineometer" in the season one "Homecoming" episode of Friday Night Lights (2006). Their song "Dying of the Pines" was included in the HBO Documentary Unknown Soldier: Searching for a Father (2005) and their cover of "Gin and Juice" was used in the season three episode of My Name Is Earl (2007) entitled "The Frank Factor". The band has also scored the Mike Woolf documentaries Growin' a Beard (2003) and Something's Brewin' in Shiner (2004).