The Reivers (band)
Encyclopedia
The Reivers were a pop band from Austin, Texas
. Formed in 1984 as Zeitgeist, they were forced to change their name before releasing their second album in 1987, due to another group
claiming prior rights to the name. They chose the name "The Reivers" from the title of the William Faulkner
novel
.
The band included John Croslin, songwriter, vocalist, guitars; Kim Longacre, vocals, guitars; Cindy Toth, bass, violin; and Garrett Williams, drums. They were one of the best-known of a cluster of Austin-based bands sometimes loosely grouped under the name "New Sincerity
." Writing for No Depression
in 2008, critic Peter Blackstock described The Reivers as "a classic pop band . . . They balanced memorable melodies and unstoppable energy with seemingly effortless ease, contrasting the rough and sweet vocals of frontfolks John Croslin and Kim Longacre (respectively) amid an infectious swirl of chiming guitars and the unbelievably lively rhythms of drummer Garrett Williams and bassist Cindy Toth."
The band released four albums, all of which received critical praise but not much commercial success, before disbanding in 1991. Croslin went on to work as producer and engineer on records for a number of bands, notably Spoon
and Guided by Voices
. Two Reivers songs, "Almost Home" and "Araby," were covered by Hootie and the Blowfish on their 2000 collection Scattered, Smothered and Covered
. In 1998, Stereophile
critic Robert Baird called The Reivers "one of America's great lost bands."
Croslin later co-founded an Austin band called The Fire Marshals of Bethlehem. In 2005 this band released an album entitled Songs For Housework, and Croslin subsequently left the band.
The Reivers reunited in 2008 for occasional performances around Austin. On August 28, 2008, The Reivers played a benefit concert in Austin, and John Croslin announced that the re-formed band would now be called Right Or Happy. Under the new name, and now also including a keyboardist, Eric Friend, the band played at the 2009 South by Southwest
, but so far no firm plans have been announced for new recordings.
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...
. Formed in 1984 as Zeitgeist, they were forced to change their name before releasing their second album in 1987, due to another group
Zeitgeist (new music group)
Zeitgeist is an American contemporary classical music group based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was founded in 1977.Its instrumentation includes two percussion, piano, and woodwinds...
claiming prior rights to the name. They chose the name "The Reivers" from the title of the William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
novel
The Reivers
The Reivers, published in 1962, is the last novel by the American author William Faulkner. The bestselling novel was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1963. Faulkner previously won this award for his book A Fable, making him one of only three authors to be awarded it more than once...
.
The band included John Croslin, songwriter, vocalist, guitars; Kim Longacre, vocals, guitars; Cindy Toth, bass, violin; and Garrett Williams, drums. They were one of the best-known of a cluster of Austin-based bands sometimes loosely grouped under the name "New Sincerity
New Sincerity
New sincerity is a term that has been used in music, aesthetics, film criticism, poetry, literary criticism and philosophy, generally to describe art or concepts that run against prevailing modes of postmodernist irony or cynicism.-New sincerity in music:...
." Writing for No Depression
No Depression
No Depression may refer to:* No Depression , a bi-monthly roots and Americana music magazine and now a music website.* "No Depression in Heaven", a 1936 song popularized by the Carter Family...
in 2008, critic Peter Blackstock described The Reivers as "a classic pop band . . . They balanced memorable melodies and unstoppable energy with seemingly effortless ease, contrasting the rough and sweet vocals of frontfolks John Croslin and Kim Longacre (respectively) amid an infectious swirl of chiming guitars and the unbelievably lively rhythms of drummer Garrett Williams and bassist Cindy Toth."
The band released four albums, all of which received critical praise but not much commercial success, before disbanding in 1991. Croslin went on to work as producer and engineer on records for a number of bands, notably 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 Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices
Guided by Voices is an American indie rock band originating from Dayton, Ohio. Beginning with the band's formation in 1983, it made frequent personnel changes but always maintained the presence of principal songwriter Robert Pollard...
. Two Reivers songs, "Almost Home" and "Araby," were covered by Hootie and the Blowfish on their 2000 collection Scattered, Smothered and Covered
Scattered, Smothered and Covered
Scattered, Smothered and Covered is the name of a 2000 album by Hootie and the Blowfish, featuring all covers. The album was named in honor of Waffle House, a southern restaurant chain. One of Waffle House's advertising campaigns used the phrase "scattered, smothered and covered," a reference to...
. In 1998, Stereophile
Stereophile
Stereophile is a monthly magazine that focuses on high end audio equipment, such as loudspeakers and amplifiers, and audio-related news, such as online audio streaming. It was founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt....
critic Robert Baird called The Reivers "one of America's great lost bands."
Croslin later co-founded an Austin band called The Fire Marshals of Bethlehem. In 2005 this band released an album entitled Songs For Housework, and Croslin subsequently left the band.
The Reivers reunited in 2008 for occasional performances around Austin. On August 28, 2008, The Reivers played a benefit concert in Austin, and John Croslin announced that the re-formed band would now be called Right Or Happy. Under the new name, and now also including a keyboardist, Eric Friend, the band played at the 2009 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...
, but so far no firm plans have been announced for new recordings.
Discography
- Translate SlowlyTranslate SlowlyTranslate Slowly is a 1985 album by The Reivers. This album was originally released under the band's original name, Zeitgeist, but was remixed in 1988 and re-released under the band name The Reivers, after another band claimed rights to the name "Zeitgeist."-Track listing:# "Araby" – 2:38#...
(1985) - Saturday (1987)
- End of the DayEnd Of The DayEnd Of The Day is a 1989 album by The Reivers. It was their second album for Capitol Records. Many of the songs on the album deal with themes of home and family, including "Star Telegram," which writer Sarah Vowell called "one of the prettiest evocations of the lovely, lazy side of the American...
(1989) - Pop BelovedPop BelovedPop Beloved is the fourth and last album released by The Reivers, in 1991. After two albums on major label Capitol Records, they returned to the independent DB Records...
(1991)
External links
- Unofficial Reivers website
- Reivers Myspace website
- Michael Bertin, Pop Beloved: Revisiting the Reivers, Austin ChronicleAustin ChronicleThe Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
, April 26, 2002 - Kim Longacre bio at AHB Community School