The Meat Purveyors
Encyclopedia
The Meat Purveyors are an Alt country bluegrass
band from Austin, Texas
. The Meat Purveyors consist of Bill Anderson (an Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee) on guitar, Jo Stanli Walston on vocals, Cherilyn diMond on upright bass, and Pete Stiles on mandolin. Founded in 1996, the band released five records on the Bloodshot
label between 1998 and 2006.
, Nick Lowe
, ABBA
, Foreigner
, The Human League
and Ratt
. The band also has a reputation for "sassy stage play", "immaculate harmonies" and "a relentless percussive pace".
, during the summer of 1996, Bill Anderson and Jo Walston (who had previously collaborated as members of the band Joan of Arkansas) initiated the formation of The Texas Meat Purveyors, and quickly drew Cherilyn diMond, Pete Stiles and Nora Floyd into the project.
. A representative from Bloodshot Records
was on hand, and after the showcase he offered the band a recording contract which they accepted.
At this point, the band renamed themselves "The Meat Purveyors", to avoid infringing on the use of "Texas Meat Purveyors" by an actual meat purveying business that was also operating in Austin, Texas. In late 1997, the band released their first album on the Bloodshot label, Sweet in the Pants.
In the summer of 1999 the band released More Songs About Buildings and Cows. However, by New Year's Eve 1999/2000, the band went on hiatus, announcing that they had broken up for good.
In October of the same year they once again called it quits because Cherilyn diMond decided to get married and head off to Maine. She thought better of it (the moving to Maine, not the getting married), and not being able to stay apart forever they toured once during 2007 and then again in 2008.
In August 2008 they also released a new EP of three Bill Anderson (one with Jo Walston's help) originals, and four covers entitled "Come and Get It." They are currently on yet another hiatus. Or maybe broken up forever... time will tell.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
band from Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. The Meat Purveyors consist of Bill Anderson (an Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee) on guitar, Jo Stanli Walston on vocals, Cherilyn diMond on upright bass, and Pete Stiles on mandolin. Founded in 1996, the band released five records on the Bloodshot
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
label between 1998 and 2006.
Musical Style and Influence
The Meat Purveyors have a wide range of influences, as evidenced by the variety of artists that they pay tribute to in their recorded covers, including songs by Ronee BlakleyRonee Blakley
Ronee Blakley is an American entertainer. Though an accomplished singer, songwriter, composer, producer and director, she is perhaps best known as an actress...
, Nick Lowe
Nick Lowe
Nicholas Drain "Nick" Lowe , is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer.A pivotal figure in UK pub rock, punk rock and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica...
, ABBA
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1970 which consisted of Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Agnetha Fältskog...
, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
, The Human League
The Human League
The Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
and Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
. The band also has a reputation for "sassy stage play", "immaculate harmonies" and "a relentless percussive pace".
Formation
In Austin, TexasTexas
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...
, during the summer of 1996, Bill Anderson and Jo Walston (who had previously collaborated as members of the band Joan of Arkansas) initiated the formation of The Texas Meat Purveyors, and quickly drew Cherilyn diMond, Pete Stiles and Nora Floyd into the project.
Sweet in the Pants and More Songs About Buildings and Cows
In the spring of 1997, the Texas Meat Purveyors played a showcase at South By SouthwestSouth 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...
. A representative from Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records
Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
was on hand, and after the showcase he offered the band a recording contract which they accepted.
At this point, the band renamed themselves "The Meat Purveyors", to avoid infringing on the use of "Texas Meat Purveyors" by an actual meat purveying business that was also operating in Austin, Texas. In late 1997, the band released their first album on the Bloodshot label, Sweet in the Pants.
In the summer of 1999 the band released More Songs About Buildings and Cows. However, by New Year's Eve 1999/2000, the band went on hiatus, announcing that they had broken up for good.
Reunion and later recordings
In September 2001, the Meat Purveyors regrouped and by the end of that year they released the new album, All Relationships are Doomed to Fail. In the summer of 2004, the Meat Purveyors released Pain by Numbers, their fourth album on the Bloodshot label. The Meat Purveyors released their most recent Bloodshot album, Someday Soon Things Will Be Much Worse!, in the summer of 2006.In October of the same year they once again called it quits because Cherilyn diMond decided to get married and head off to Maine. She thought better of it (the moving to Maine, not the getting married), and not being able to stay apart forever they toured once during 2007 and then again in 2008.
In August 2008 they also released a new EP of three Bill Anderson (one with Jo Walston's help) originals, and four covers entitled "Come and Get It." They are currently on yet another hiatus. Or maybe broken up forever... time will tell.
Discography
- Sweet in the Pants (Bloodshot RecordsBloodshot RecordsBloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois which specializes in roots-inflected indie rock, punk blues, and a Chicago brand of outlaw country...
, 1998) - More Songs About Buildings and Cows (Bloodshot, 1999)
- The Madonna Trilogy 7" Single (Bloodshot, 1999)
- All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (Bloodshot, 2002)
- Pain By Numbers (Bloodshot, 2004)
- Someday Soon Things Will Be Much Worse! (Bloodshot, 2006)
- Come And Take It EP (Bloodshot, 2008)
External links
- [ The Meat Purveyors] at Allmusic.com
- The Meat Purveyors at Bloodshot Records