Blue Mountain (band)
Encyclopedia
Blue Mountain is an American
alt-country/roots rock
band formed in 1991 in Oxford, Mississippi
by husband and wife duo Cary Hudson
(guitar and vocals) and Laurie Stirratt
(bass and harmony vocals), who is notably the twin sister of John Stirratt
, the bass player for the like-minded Americana band Wilco
.
. With this line-up, the band released their first self titled album on their own 4-Barrel Records in 1993. The band was signed by the independent Roadrunner Records
label and released their second album, Dog Days, with new drummer Frank Coutch in 1995. The album comprised many songs from their first eponymous release and garnered the band a fair amount of critical and commercial success in alt-country circles, featuring the band's best-known song, "Blue Canoe." Two more albums followed on Roadrunner Records
, Home Grown in 1997, and Tales of a Traveler in 1999. An album of all public-domain roots music
covers, simply titled Roots followed in 2001, before their final 'farewell' live release, Tonight It's Now or Never in 2002.
Blue Mountain reunited in the summer of 2007. They played the South by Southwest
Music Festival in Austin
, Texas
, in mid-March 2008, and as one of the main acts at the 2008 Double Decker Arts Festival on April 26, 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi. On August 19, 2008, they released Midnight in Mississippi, an album of original material, spanning 12 tracks including 3 songs from solo albums released by Hudson, as well as an album of re-recorded Blue Mountain originals entitled Omnibus, which strips away the distortion of the original releases and allows for a crisper, cleaner take on the 14 songs. The albums are released on Broadmoor Records
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alt-country/roots rock
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
band formed in 1991 in Oxford, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
by husband and wife duo Cary Hudson
Cary Hudson
Cary Hudson is the lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter of the alternative country/Southern rock band Blue Mountain.-Biography:Cary was born in the small town of Sumrall, MS, located approximately 15 miles from Hattiesburg. Prior to Blue Mountain, Hudson was in a band called The Hilltops,...
(guitar and vocals) and Laurie Stirratt
Laurie Stirratt
Laurie Stirratt is a member of the alt-country/roots rock band, Blue Mountain, in which she played bass guitar, occasionally rhythm guitar and sang harmony with her ex-husband, Cary Hudson. She released in 2004 an album as Laurie & John duo with her twin brother, John Stirratt of Wilco...
(bass and harmony vocals), who is notably the twin sister of John Stirratt
John Stirratt
John Stirratt is the bassist and multi-instrumentalist for Wilco, and The Autumn Defense.Stirratt was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 26, 1967 and grew up in nearby Mandeville. He attended Mandeville High School and the University of Mississippi...
, the bass player for the like-minded Americana band Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
.
History
After the dissolution of their former band, The Hilltops, Hudson and Stirratt moved back to Oxford and, joined by drummer Matt Brennan, began gigging and recording roots rockRoots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
. With this line-up, the band released their first self titled album on their own 4-Barrel Records in 1993. The band was signed by the independent Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
label and released their second album, Dog Days, with new drummer Frank Coutch in 1995. The album comprised many songs from their first eponymous release and garnered the band a fair amount of critical and commercial success in alt-country circles, featuring the band's best-known song, "Blue Canoe." Two more albums followed on Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, Home Grown in 1997, and Tales of a Traveler in 1999. An album of all public-domain roots music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
covers, simply titled Roots followed in 2001, before their final 'farewell' live release, Tonight It's Now or Never in 2002.
Blue Mountain reunited in the summer of 2007. They played the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
Music Festival in Austin
Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in mid-March 2008, and as one of the main acts at the 2008 Double Decker Arts Festival on April 26, 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi. On August 19, 2008, they released Midnight in Mississippi, an album of original material, spanning 12 tracks including 3 songs from solo albums released by Hudson, as well as an album of re-recorded Blue Mountain originals entitled Omnibus, which strips away the distortion of the original releases and allows for a crisper, cleaner take on the 14 songs. The albums are released on Broadmoor Records
Broadmoor Records
Broadmoor Records was a New Orleans, Louisiana based indie record label. Established by Dave Bartholomew, it was named after his neighborhood Broadmoor, New Orleans....
.
Discography
- Blue MountainBlue Mountain (album)Blue Mountain is a 1993 album by American alt.country/Southern rock group Blue Mountain. It was recorded in June 1993 and released on 4 Barrell Records, produced by the band. Writing for Allmusic, Rob Caldwell gave the album a star rating of three out of five...
(19931993 in musicThis is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992....
) - Dog DaysDog Days (Blue Mountain album)Dog Days is a 1995 album by American Alternative country group Blue Mountain. In 2008 the band released a remastered version of the album. Scott Hull remastered the album...
(19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
) - Home GrownHome Grown (album)Home Grown is a 1997 album by American alternative country group Blue Mountain.-Track listing:#Bloody 98#Myrna Lee#Pretty Please#Black Dog#Generic America#Last Words of Midnight Clyde#Babe#It Ain't Easy to Love a Liar#Ira Magee#Town Clown...
(19971997 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
) - Tales of a TravelerTales of a Traveler (album)Tales of a Traveler is a 1999 album by American Alt country group Blue Mountain....
(19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - RootsRoots (Blue Mountain album)Roots is a 2002 album by American Alternative country/roots rock group Blue Mountain.#Rye Whiskey 3:47#Rain and Snow 3:44#Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Hair 5:03#Banks of the Pontchartrain 5:00...
(20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
) - Tonight It's Now or NeverTonight It's Now or Never (album)Tonight It's Now or Never is a 2002 album by American Alt country group Blue Mountain....
(20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
) - Omnibus (20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
) - Midnight in MississippiMidnight in Mississippi (Blue Mountain album)Midnight in Mississippi is a 2008 album by American alternative country group Blue Mountain.-Track listing:#Groove Me#By Your Side#70's Song#She's a Wild One#Midnight in Mississippi #Emily Smiles#Butterfly#Pretty Please#Gentle Soul#Rainy Day...
(20082008 in music2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
)