Poor Old Lu
Encyclopedia
Poor Old Lu was a pioneering alternative Christian band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge
, funk
and psychedelic rock
. The band consisted of Scott Hunter with the vocals, Jesse Sprinkle
as the drummer for the band, Aaron Sprinkle
as guitarist, and Nick Barber on bass. Scott was the lyricist
who wrote on philosophical, metaphorical, and spiritually-oriented topics. Common themes in the lyrics include introspective struggles with identity and spirituality
, struggles with a superficial
, secular, and modern society, and hope for life abundant. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music calls the band "One of the most accomplished and creative Christian bands of the '90s".
The name refers to a segment in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
, in which Lucy ('Lu'), returns from Narnia and tells her brother, Peter. Peter doesn't believe her story, however, and responded patronizingly, "Poor old Lu, hiding and nobody noticed."
While Poor Old Lu developed an extremely loyal following, it did not achieve wide popularity in Christian
circles, due in part to its edgy sound and challenging lyrical content. The band addressed hypocritical televangelists, drug addiction, sexual guilt, domestic unrest and spiritual rebelliousness in its lyrics, topics generally considered taboo in Christian music
.
In the spring of '92, they recorded their first full-length release, Star-Studded-Super-Step in three days in an empty classroom in their church. After graduation, the band played more shows to even larger audiences and was widely praised for being so young, so original, and having a good message.
Aaron and Jesse's father gave the demo to Randy Stonehill
, who in turn passed it on to Terry Taylor
, who in turn approached Frontline
/Alarma Records
. In the summer in 1993, the band recorded its first professionally produced album, Mindsize. This album, produced by Terry Taylor and Derri Daugherty
, turned out to be their breakthrough.
The following summer, the band recruited engineer/producer John Goodmanson to create a more raw sound and aggressive edge, and Sin was recorded and released with rave reviews.
In late spring of 1995, Poor Old Lu recorded Straight Six, an EP with a raw and unique sound (which featured Jeremy Enigk
of Sunny Day Real Estate
on one track). In early spring of '96, Poor Old Lu recorded A Picture of the Eighth Wonder, which broke new ground with a darker sound. In late 1996 decided to call it quits, playing their farewell concert in Seattle, Washington
in November 1996. This concert was recorded and eventually released as a live disc two years later in 1998 under the title In Their Final Performance.
In 2002 the band reunited and recorded their last album, The Waiting Room for Tooth and Nail Records. In support of this release the band reunited for a number of shows in 2002, playing at select venues in their hometown of Seattle, WA as well as a few select Christian music festivals that included Cornerstone
, TomFest and Purple Door. There are no current plans for the band to reunite again.
in the group Rose Blossom Punch
. The short-lived group also featured Paul Mumaw and Terry Coggins. Nick Barber also played in the bands Meekin Pop and Blue Collar Love. By the time Rose Blossom Punch
split up, Aaron Sprinkle
had gone onto to start his solo career, in which he would release 6 total albums from 1999 to 2004.
In 2005 Aaron Sprinkle
formed the band Fair
with Joey Sanchez, Nick Barber and Erik Newbill. Fair released its debut album, The Best Worst-Case Scenario
, on Tooth and Nail Records in June 2006. Aaron produces records out of Compound Recording Studios in Seattle, WA. See http://www.aaronsprinkle.net for a complete discography of the records he has recorded and produced.
Brother Jesse Sprinkle moved to New York and has released numerous albums over the years under different name monikers such as Sunsites and the World Inside. He ran the recording studio the Illuminata in Dansville
, New York
until early 2006, when the studio closed. Jesse continues to play in a variety of bands including Morella's Forest
, Serene, Demon Hunter
, and Dead Poetic
; as well as continue to record his own music.
In a December 2006 update on the Poor Old Lu website (http://www.pooroldlu.com) it was announced that former lead vocalist Scott Hunter has started a new band called This Diminishing West. While the band promised a debut disc sometime in early 2007, the band never seemed to have gotten off the ground. On the band's website Scott informed fans in a September 2007 update that the group had decided to call it quits.
Poor Old Lu played an acoustic show at Aaron Sprinkle's house in July 2011. According to Scott Hunter and Jesse Sprinkle, the band began working on new material.
Note: An insert in A Picture of the Eighth Wonder lists for sale a box set of three 2-sided, limited edition 7" vinyl records with Poor Old Lu on one side of one of the records b/w Chaos is the Poetry. Verification of the existence of such a record has proved difficult.
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
and psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock
Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in United States and the United Kingdom...
. The band consisted of Scott Hunter with the vocals, Jesse Sprinkle
Jesse Sprinkle
Jesse Sprinkle is a singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, and rapper. His musical career started as a drummer alongside his brother Aaron Sprinkle in the Christian alternative rock group Poor Old Lu. After Poor Old Lu amicably disbanded, Jesse moved to New York where he married...
as the drummer for the band, Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
as guitarist, and Nick Barber on bass. Scott was the lyricist
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
who wrote on philosophical, metaphorical, and spiritually-oriented topics. Common themes in the lyrics include introspective struggles with identity and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
, struggles with a superficial
Superficial
Superficial may refer to:*Superficial , an album by Heidi Montag*"Superficial" *The Superficial, a website devoted to celebrity gossip...
, secular, and modern society, and hope for life abundant. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music calls the band "One of the most accomplished and creative Christian bands of the '90s".
The name refers to a segment in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis. Published in 1950 and set circa 1940, it is the first-published book of The Chronicles of Narnia and is the best known book of the series. Although it was written and published first, it is second in the series'...
, in which Lucy ('Lu'), returns from Narnia and tells her brother, Peter. Peter doesn't believe her story, however, and responded patronizingly, "Poor old Lu, hiding and nobody noticed."
While Poor Old Lu developed an extremely loyal following, it did not achieve wide popularity in Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
circles, due in part to its edgy sound and challenging lyrical content. The band addressed hypocritical televangelists, drug addiction, sexual guilt, domestic unrest and spiritual rebelliousness in its lyrics, topics generally considered taboo in Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
.
History
While sophomores in high school, Nick, Aaron, and Scott started a band they called "Bellbangvilla," composed an album named 'In Love with the Greenery,' and performed shows around the Seattle, WA area. A few months later, Jesse joined the group, and the band changed its name to Poor Old Lu, and recorded its first album under the new band name, entitled Three Song Demo.In the spring of '92, they recorded their first full-length release, Star-Studded-Super-Step in three days in an empty classroom in their church. After graduation, the band played more shows to even larger audiences and was widely praised for being so young, so original, and having a good message.
Aaron and Jesse's father gave the demo to Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
, who in turn passed it on to Terry Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
, who in turn approached Frontline
Frontline Records (1980s)
Frontline Records was a Christian record label founded in 1986 by James Kempner. The label focused primarily on modern rock, rap, and hip-hop...
/Alarma Records
Alarma Records
Alarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
. In the summer in 1993, the band recorded its first professionally produced album, Mindsize. This album, produced by Terry Taylor and Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty
Derri Daugherty is an American record producer, songwriter, guitarist and singer, best known as the lead singer and guitarist for band The Choir....
, turned out to be their breakthrough.
The following summer, the band recruited engineer/producer John Goodmanson to create a more raw sound and aggressive edge, and Sin was recorded and released with rave reviews.
In late spring of 1995, Poor Old Lu recorded Straight Six, an EP with a raw and unique sound (which featured Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk
Jeremy Enigk is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist known for being the front man of the Seattle band Sunny Day Real Estate.-Biography:...
of Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate
Sunny Day Real Estate is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. In the 1990s, the group expanded upon the grunge style that was popular in the local scene to make a more melodic sound. While not the first band to be classified as emo, they were instrumental in establishing the genre. In...
on one track). In early spring of '96, Poor Old Lu recorded A Picture of the Eighth Wonder, which broke new ground with a darker sound. In late 1996 decided to call it quits, playing their farewell concert in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
in November 1996. This concert was recorded and eventually released as a live disc two years later in 1998 under the title In Their Final Performance.
In 2002 the band reunited and recorded their last album, The Waiting Room for Tooth and Nail Records. In support of this release the band reunited for a number of shows in 2002, playing at select venues in their hometown of Seattle, WA as well as a few select Christian music festivals that included Cornerstone
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, TomFest and Purple Door. There are no current plans for the band to reunite again.
Life after Poor Old Lu
After the group's initial break-up, band members moved on to independent projects. In 1997 Nick Barber joined up with Aaron SprinkleAaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
in the group Rose Blossom Punch
Rose Blossom Punch
Rose Blossom Punch is a post-grunge/alternative rock band featuring Aaron Sprinkle from Seattle, Washington. They ran from 1995, to 1999.-Biography:...
. The short-lived group also featured Paul Mumaw and Terry Coggins. Nick Barber also played in the bands Meekin Pop and Blue Collar Love. By the time Rose Blossom Punch
Rose Blossom Punch
Rose Blossom Punch is a post-grunge/alternative rock band featuring Aaron Sprinkle from Seattle, Washington. They ran from 1995, to 1999.-Biography:...
split up, Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
had gone onto to start his solo career, in which he would release 6 total albums from 1999 to 2004.
In 2005 Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
formed the band Fair
Fair (band)
Fair is an alternative rock band that features musician and producer Aaron Sprinkle; they are currently signed to Tooth & Nail Records. Sprinkle was formerly the guitarist for Christian alternative band Poor Old Lu in the 1990s. After Poor Old Lu broke up, Sprinkle released several albums, both as...
with Joey Sanchez, Nick Barber and Erik Newbill. Fair released its debut album, The Best Worst-Case Scenario
The Best Worst-Case Scenario
The Best Worst-Case Scenario is the first album released by Tooth & Nail Records alternative rock band Fair, which features notable musician and record producer Aaron Sprinkle...
, on Tooth and Nail Records in June 2006. Aaron produces records out of Compound Recording Studios in Seattle, WA. See http://www.aaronsprinkle.net for a complete discography of the records he has recorded and produced.
Brother Jesse Sprinkle moved to New York and has released numerous albums over the years under different name monikers such as Sunsites and the World Inside. He ran the recording studio the Illuminata in Dansville
Dansville, Steuben County, New York
Dansville is a town in Steuben County, New York, United States, not to be confused with the nearby village of Dansville in Livingston County. The population was 1,977 at the 2000 census...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
until early 2006, when the studio closed. Jesse continues to play in a variety of bands including Morella's Forest
Morella's Forest
Morella's Forest was a band from Dayton, Ohio which formed in 1992. They released three albums on Tooth and Nail Records and one with an independent label. Their signature sound is noise pop or space music comparable to Starflyer 59 or The Breeders....
, Serene, Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. All of Demon Hunter's members are Christians and express their love for Jesus in many of their songs. Although the brothers created the band, only one remains, Don Clark...
, and Dead Poetic
Dead Poetic
Dead Poetic was a post-hardcore band from Dayton, Ohio. They were signed to Tooth & Nail until 2008 when the band went on hiatus and the label dropped them. Their third album, Vices was released Halloween of 2006. It features vocal contributions by Chino Moreno of the band Deftones...
; as well as continue to record his own music.
In a December 2006 update on the Poor Old Lu website (http://www.pooroldlu.com) it was announced that former lead vocalist Scott Hunter has started a new band called This Diminishing West. While the band promised a debut disc sometime in early 2007, the band never seemed to have gotten off the ground. On the band's website Scott informed fans in a September 2007 update that the group had decided to call it quits.
Poor Old Lu played an acoustic show at Aaron Sprinkle's house in July 2011. According to Scott Hunter and Jesse Sprinkle, the band began working on new material.
Members
- Scott Hunter: Lead Vocals, Lyrics
- Jesse SprinkleJesse SprinkleJesse Sprinkle is a singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, and rapper. His musical career started as a drummer alongside his brother Aaron Sprinkle in the Christian alternative rock group Poor Old Lu. After Poor Old Lu amicably disbanded, Jesse moved to New York where he married...
: Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Aaron SprinkleAaron SprinkleAaron Sprinkle is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Seattle, Washington.-Career:His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and they released a number of albums . Aaron Sprinkle also sang and played...
: Guitar, Keys, Vocals - Nick Barber: Bass, Vocals
Discography
- In Love With The Greenery [as BellBangVilla] (1990) Cassette-only
- Three Song Demo (1991) Cassette-only
- Star-Studded-Super-Step (1992) Cassette-only
- Mindsize (1993, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
, Review: Jesus Freak Hideout) - Split 7" with Mortal (1993, Intense RecordsIntense RecordsIntense Records was an independent record label whose releases were mostly in the metal genre. Intense was bought out in 1989 by Frontline Records and became an imprint of that company...
) - Sin (1994, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
, Reviews: Jesus Freak Hideout, Cross Rhythms) - Sin LP w/ bonus track (1994, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - Straight Six (1995, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
, Review: Cross Rhythms) - Star-Studded-Super-Step (1995, independent, Reviews: The Phantom Tollbooth)
- Sit and Stare VHS (1995, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - A Picture of the Eighth Wonder (1996, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
, Reviews: Jesus Freak Hideout, Cross Rhythms) - In Their Final Performance (1998, KMG RecordsKMG RecordsKMG Records was a Christian record label. The label was established in 1997 by Buddy Killen as a subunit of the Killen Music Group / Buddy Killen Enterprises and sold in late 1998 to Cal Turner III, who is related to the Cal Turner of Dollar General stores...
, Reviews: HM Magazine) - Chrono [1993-1998] (1998, KMG Records, Reviews: The Phantom Tollbooth, HM Magazine)
- Star-Studded-Super-Step CD re-release (1998, KMG Records)
- Mindsize/Sin [minus "Peapod", "Sickly", and "Come to Me"] ( 2000, KMG Records - "Classic Archives")
- Poor Old Lu & Serene (promo 2002, Tooth and Nail Records)
- The Waiting RoomThe Waiting Room (album)The Waiting Room is the final album released by Christian rock band Poor Old Lu. It is their first and only CD released on Tooth & Nail Records.-Track listing:# "Revolve"# "Now"# "Sunlight & Shadows"# "Crushed"# "Today"# ""# "A Month Of Moments"...
(2002, Tooth and Nail Records)
Note: An insert in A Picture of the Eighth Wonder lists for sale a box set of three 2-sided, limited edition 7" vinyl records with Poor Old Lu on one side of one of the records b/w Chaos is the Poetry. Verification of the existence of such a record has proved difficult.
Compilation appearances
- Browbeat: Unplugged Alternative - "Drenched Decent" (1995, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - CHR Sampler 95 - Spring Tunes - "Ring True" (promo 1995, Frontline RecordsFrontline Records (1980s)Frontline Records was a Christian record label founded in 1986 by James Kempner. The label focused primarily on modern rock, rap, and hip-hop...
) - Persuading You Near - "Thoughtless (Concept Version)" (1996, Working Man Records)
- Noises From the Top of the Alarma Hotel - "Receive", "Chance for the Chancers" (promo 1996, Alarma RecordsAlarma RecordsAlarma Records is a sublabel of Frontline Records.Alarma! Records and Tapes was originally formed in 1983 by the band Daniel Amos, with musician Tom Howard, for the release of their Doppelgänger album...
) - Sparkler vol. 1 - "It's Simple to Me" (1997, Spark Recordings)
- Happy Christmas vol. 3 - "What Child Is This?" (2001, BEC RecordingsBEC RecordingsBEC Recordings is a Christian rock record label that is a subsidiary of Tooth and Nail Records. The label was formed in 1997 in partnership with the EMI Christian Music Group....
)
Popular songs
A few of Poor old Lu's more notable songs include:- Chance for the Chancers, a very hopeful, encouraging song;
- Where were all of you?, addressing the futility of civilization grounded in secular humanismSecular humanismSecular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
; - Sickly, addressing the struggle of a man against his inner demons.
- Receive, addressing the importance of recognizing and admitting one's struggles, and seeking to transcend them and Receive.
- Drenched Decent, describing the joys and challenges of salvationSalvationWithin religion salvation is the phenomenon of being saved from the undesirable condition of bondage or suffering experienced by the psyche or soul that has arisen as a result of unskillful or immoral actions generically referred to as sins. Salvation may also be called "deliverance" or...
.