Heartless Bastards
Encyclopedia
Heartless Bastards is a garage rock
band formed in Cincinnati
, Ohio
in 2003. They are often compared to fellow Ohioans and Fat Possum
labelmates The Black Keys
.
, in August 2003. After parting ways with Colvin, McAllister and Weinel, Wennerstrom reformed the group as a three piece with Kevin Vaughn on drums and Mike Lamping on bass. The band was signed to Fat Possum Records
in 2004 after Patrick Carney
from The Black Keys
passed along a demo he received from Erika. The 5-song demo was recorded in December 2002 at Ultrasuede Studios by Shannon McGee and featured Colvin on drums, along with contributions from Reuben Glaser on lead guitar and Jesse Ebaugh on bass.
Rolling Stone
reviewed their debut album Stairs and Elevators and said, "the Heartless Bastards are a small-town band who are ready to show the big city no mercy". The Village Voice
wrote: "deadeye accurate in pitch and message... what we've got is a hard, gnarled voice singing simple-seeming melodies that feel archetypal rather than ordinary, which is no easier to explain than it is to do". Stylus
gave the group high praise, stating, "(Erika Wennerstrom) and her two band mates have created an album with more rocking songs and fat hooks than most bands can dream of. It’s not just that they rock, it’s that you believe what you hear, that they love the sound they make, that Wennerstrom lays her soul bare in her lyrics without sounding like Sarah McLachlan
, that the women of rock who labored to make it OK for a girl to dream of playing guitar deserve far better than Avril Lavigne
or Kelly Osbourne
as their descendants."
The second full-length album from the band, All This Time
, was released on August 8, 2006. The band road tested many of the tracks on the record prior to releasing it and received rave reviews from audiences. The album relies less on guitar riffs and belted vocals and more on musicianship, without leaving behind the group's unique sound. On the modern rock station WOXY
, the band was ranked #12 on the 97 Best of 2005, putting the band among the likes of Spoon
and ahead of blues rockers The White Stripes
.
According to Wennerstrom, the name of the band comes from a question on a Mega Touch trivia quiz game at a bar. A question asked the name of Tom Petty
's backing band, and one of the options was "Tom Petty and the Heartless Bastards." She thought it was funny, and used it when she later formed a band. However, the name "Heartless Bastards" had already been in use for many years, and continues to be used by "James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards."
In August 2008, a new lineup for the band was announced. Erika Wennerstrom remains the only constant member, rejoined by bassist Jesse Ebaugh and original Heartless Bastards drummer Dave Colvin.
Their third album The Mountain
was released February 3, 2009 on Fat Possum Records
and was produced by Spoon
producer Mike McCarthy. For this album the band broadened their sound to include elements of country music, employing violin, banjo, mandolin and steel guitar.
The Heartless Bastards performed a taping for the popular PBS series Austin City Limits
on June 3, 2009 as part of the show's 35th anniversary season.
In October and November 2009 the Heartless Bastards opened for Wolfmother
, during the band's American tour.
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band formed in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 2003. They are often compared to fellow Ohioans and Fat Possum
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
labelmates The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
.
History
Heartless Bastards originally formed as a four piece band with members Erika Wennerstrom on vocals, piano and guitar, Dave Colvin on drums, Adam McAllister on bass and Michael Weinel on lead guitar. They played their first live show at The Comet, a bar in the Cincinnati community of NorthsideNorthside
Northside or North Side may refer to:Music:* Northside , a musical group from Manchester, England* NorthSide, an American record labelPlaces:* North Side, California, former name of Oildale, California, United States...
, in August 2003. After parting ways with Colvin, McAllister and Weinel, Wennerstrom reformed the group as a three piece with Kevin Vaughn on drums and Mike Lamping on bass. The band was signed to Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
in 2004 after Patrick Carney
Patrick Carney
Patrick J. Carney is a multi-instrumentalist best known as the drummer for The Black Keys, a blues-rock band from Akron, Ohio...
from The Black Keys
The Black Keys
The Black Keys are an American rock duo consisting of vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer/producer Patrick Carney. The band was formed in Akron, Ohio, in 2001. As of October 2011, the band has sold over 2 million albums in the U.S....
passed along a demo he received from Erika. The 5-song demo was recorded in December 2002 at Ultrasuede Studios by Shannon McGee and featured Colvin on drums, along with contributions from Reuben Glaser on lead guitar and Jesse Ebaugh on bass.
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
reviewed their debut album Stairs and Elevators and said, "the Heartless Bastards are a small-town band who are ready to show the big city no mercy". The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
wrote: "deadeye accurate in pitch and message... what we've got is a hard, gnarled voice singing simple-seeming melodies that feel archetypal rather than ordinary, which is no easier to explain than it is to do". Stylus
Stylus
A stylus is a writing utensil, or a small tool for some other form of marking or shaping, for example in pottery. The word is also used for a computer accessory . It usually refers to a narrow elongated staff, similar to a modern ballpoint pen. Many styli are heavily curved to be held more easily...
gave the group high praise, stating, "(Erika Wennerstrom) and her two band mates have created an album with more rocking songs and fat hooks than most bands can dream of. It’s not just that they rock, it’s that you believe what you hear, that they love the sound they make, that Wennerstrom lays her soul bare in her lyrics without sounding like Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan
Sarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
, that the women of rock who labored to make it OK for a girl to dream of playing guitar deserve far better than Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne
Avril Ramona Lavigne is a Canadian singer-songwriter. She was born in Belleville, Ontario, but spent most of her youth in the small town of Napanee. By the age of 15, she had appeared on stage with Shania Twain; by 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records worth more...
or Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Osbourne
Kelly Michelle Lee Osbourne is an English media personality, television personality, host, judge, fashion designer, singer, and actress, best known for being the daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne...
as their descendants."
The second full-length album from the band, All This Time
All This Time (album)
All This Time is the second album by American blues rock band Heartless Bastards. It is their second Release on Fat Possum Records. It was their last full release to include the original drummer Kevin Vaughn and bassist Mike Lamping, who would both leave before recording The Mountain...
, was released on August 8, 2006. The band road tested many of the tracks on the record prior to releasing it and received rave reviews from audiences. The album relies less on guitar riffs and belted vocals and more on musicianship, without leaving behind the group's unique sound. On the modern rock station WOXY
WOXY (internet radio)
WOXY.com was an alternative, independent, and freeform rock and roll radio station based in Austin, Texas. WOXY.com relied mainly on its own website to reach its listeners...
, the band was ranked #12 on the 97 Best of 2005, putting the band among the likes of Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
and ahead of blues rockers The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
.
According to Wennerstrom, the name of the band comes from a question on a Mega Touch trivia quiz game at a bar. A question asked the name of Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
's backing band, and one of the options was "Tom Petty and the Heartless Bastards." She thought it was funny, and used it when she later formed a band. However, the name "Heartless Bastards" had already been in use for many years, and continues to be used by "James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards."
In August 2008, a new lineup for the band was announced. Erika Wennerstrom remains the only constant member, rejoined by bassist Jesse Ebaugh and original Heartless Bastards drummer Dave Colvin.
Their third album The Mountain
The Mountain (Heartless Bastards album)
The Mountain is the third album by American blues-rock band Heartless Bastards. It is their third release on Fat Possum Records and their first album without original drummer Kevin Vaughn and bassist Mike Lamping...
was released February 3, 2009 on Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
and was produced by Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
producer Mike McCarthy. For this album the band broadened their sound to include elements of country music, employing violin, banjo, mandolin and steel guitar.
The Heartless Bastards performed a taping for the popular PBS series Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
on June 3, 2009 as part of the show's 35th anniversary season.
In October and November 2009 the Heartless Bastards opened for Wolfmother
Wolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
, during the band's American tour.
Television Credits
- "Sway" was featured in Season 4 for the television series Friday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
and included on the Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 (television soundtrack)Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 (television soundtrack)Friday Night Lights Vol. 2 is the second soundtrack for the NBC television series Friday Night Lights, a program inspired by the film of the same name. It was released by Arrival Records/Scion Music Group and is distributed by Fontana Distribution.... - "All This Time" was featured in "Git Er 'Dun" (Season 1, Episode 5) of Friday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
but was not featured on the official soundtrack.
Discography
- 2005 - Stairs and Elevators - Fat Possum RecordsFat Possum RecordsFat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
- 2006 - All This TimeAll This Time (album)All This Time is the second album by American blues rock band Heartless Bastards. It is their second Release on Fat Possum Records. It was their last full release to include the original drummer Kevin Vaughn and bassist Mike Lamping, who would both leave before recording The Mountain...
- Fat Possum RecordsFat Possum RecordsFat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster... - 2009 - The MountainThe Mountain (Heartless Bastards album)The Mountain is the third album by American blues-rock band Heartless Bastards. It is their third release on Fat Possum Records and their first album without original drummer Kevin Vaughn and bassist Mike Lamping...
- Fat Possum RecordsFat Possum RecordsFat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
Members
- Erika Wennerstrom (vocals, guitar, piano)
- Jesse Ebaugh (bass)
- Dave Colvin (drums)
- Mark Nathan (guitar)
Reviews
- Rolling Stone Review of Stairs and Elevators
- The Village Voice Review of Stairs and Elevators
- Stylus Review of Stairs and Elevators
- kMNR's CD Review of "All This Time"
- PopMatters Review of Stairs and Elevators
- Blender Review of Stairs and Elevators
- BlogCritics.org Review of Stairs and Elevators
- Prefixmag Review of Stairs and Elevators
- Sponic Zine Review of Stairs and Elevators
- Live Review from Grog Shop 6/24/2006
- Stylus Review of All This Time
- Pitchfork Review of All This Time
- Blender Review of All This Time
- The Austin Chronicle Review of All This Time
- Filter Magazine Live Review 2.27.09