The Gourds

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Gourds

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Img_capt = The Gourds performing in Austin, Texas in 2007
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Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
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Origin = Austin, Texas, USA
Genre = Alternative country
Progressive bluegrass
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Munich, Watermelon, Sugar Hill, Eleven Thirty, Yep Roc
Associated_acts = Picket Line Coyotes
The Grackles
Clocker Redbury and Dusty Slosinger
The Tinys
Kev Russell's Junker
Shinyribs
URL = [http://www.thegourds.com www.thegourds.com]
Current_members = Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell
Jimmy Smith
Claude Bernard
Keith Langford
Max Johnston
Past_members = Charlie Llewellin

The Gourds are an American alternative country band, formed in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1994. [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A78666] A thorough developmental history of the Gourds with quotes from everyone in the band (2000)]

Career

Evolving, in part, from the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles, [ [http://shreveport.blogspot.com/2006/12/gourds-writer-singer-kevin-russell.html] A brief discussion of the Picket Line Coyotes and the Grackles as precursors to the Gourds (2006)] 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). [ [http://www.llewellin.net/bio] Webpage bio for the Gourds original drummer (2008)] 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. [ [http://www.gourds.org/history.html] Russell's 1st person account of how the Gourds evolved from The Bumz (c. 1999)] [ [http://www.dallasobserver.com/1999-03-04/music/glory-hallelujah/1] More developmental history of the Gourds with quotes from Russell (1999)] 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. [ [http://www.leisuresuit.net/Webzine/articles/gourds_interview.shtml] Interview with Russell and almost with Smith (1999)] [ [http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18398] Russell discusses the Gourds sound and his own approach to songwriting (2002)]

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. [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2000-06-16/music_dancing.html] Russell provides background on the "Gin and Juice" mix-up (2000)] Nearly twelve years after its live debut, [ [http://www.discorder.ca/features/02novgourds.html] Canadian interview with Russell in which he discusses the debut of "Gin and Juice" (2002) ] fans can still be heard calling out for the band's cover version of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice", [ [http://larvatusprodeo.net/2006/08/14/sunday-video-snoop-dogg-likes-the-gourds/] Video of Snoop Dogg listening to the Gourds version of "Gin and Juice" (c. 1999)] 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, adding various impromptu covers to its mid-section as a way of maintaining its appeal. [ [http://www.austinmusicmagazine.net/mag-pdf/_AMM-04-07-issue-Web/AMM-04-07-issue-Web.pdf] Noble Creatures review with a brief discussion of "Gin and Juice" on p. 21 (2007)] [ [http://www.juneauempire.com/entertainment/stories/080207/spo_20100802024.shtml] Alaskan interview with Russell in which he answers the question "When do you play your hit song?" (2007)]

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. [ [http://popmatters.com/music/concerts/g/gourds-030322.shtml] A typical first-timer’s live experience of the Gourds (2003)] [ [http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2008/04/10/gourds_still_the_best.html] Veteran Austin music writer Michael Corcoran reviews a live show and says the Gourds are still the best in town (2008)] [ [http://crack.podbean.com/2008/05/14/140508/] UK radio show suggests the Gourds studio work is unfairly overshadowed by their live reputation (2008)] As a result, they enjoy a dedicated fan base [ [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A102419] Background on the Gourds internet fan list (2002)] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/magazine/18wwln-domains-t.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin] Founder of Wikipedia names the Gourds as his favorite musicians (2007)] that is happy to follow them from town to town, [ [http://sharkbitten.com/wordpress/2008/01/16/the-gourds/] Florida writer mentions fans who follow the Gourds around the country (2008)] and have become a favorite among those who tape live music. [ [http://casa-huevos-negros.com/AcresOfClams/AcresOfClams.htm] A guide to the live recordings of the Gourds (1994 to 2005)] [ [http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Aetree%20AND%20creator%3A%22The%20Gourds%22] Some examples of the Gourds live recordings (1994 to 2008)]

Members

*Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell – vocals, backing vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica
*Jimmy Smith – vocals, backing vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, percussion, harmonica, double bass
*Claude Bernard – accordion, electronic keyboard, backing vocals, acoustic guitar, percussion
*Keith Langford – drums, harmonica, backing vocals on "Rumble Operator" (c. 1998)
*Max Johnston (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) – vocals, backing vocals, fiddle, lap steel, mandolin, acoustic guitar, banjo

Discography

tudio albums

*"Dem's Good Beeble" – 1997
*"Stadium Blitzer" – 1998
*"Ghosts of Hallelujah" – 1999
*"Bolsa de Agua" – 2000
*"Cow Fish Fowl or Pig" – 2002
*"Blood of the Ram" – 2004
*"Heavy Ornamentals" – 2006
*"Noble Creatures" – 2007
*"Haymaker" - scheduled for release January 6, 2009

tudio covers and live originals

*"Gogitchyershinebox" – 1998
*"Shinebox" – 2001

oundtracks

*"Growin' a Beard" – 2003
*"Something's Brewin' in Shiner" – 2004

ide projects

*Smith: "Slosinger/Redbury" – 2000
*Smith: "Cold War's Hot Water Shower: Featuring Dr. B" – 2001
*Bernard: "The Tinys" – 2001 (unreleased)
*Russell: "Buttermilk & Rifles" – 2002

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 "" (2005) [ [http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/unknownsoldier/index.html] Website for 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) [ [http://www.growinabeard.com] Website for the Mike Woolf documentary Growin' a Beard (2003)] and "Something's Brewin' in Shiner" (2004). [ [http://www.somethingsbrewin.com] Website for the Mike Woolf documentary Something's Brewin' in Shiner (2004)]

See also

*Music of Austin

References

External links

* [http://www.thegourds.com The Gourds] official website
*myspace|thegourdstx
* [http://www.slosingerredbury.com Clocker Redbury and Dusty Slosinger] official website
*myspace|slosingerredbury|Clocker Redbury and Dusty Slosinger
*myspace|thetinysrock|The Tinys
*myspace|shinyribs|Shinyribs