Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Also known asNew Bohemians
The Slip
OriginDallas, Texas, United States
GenresAlternative rock, folk rock, neo-psychedelia, southern rock, jam rock
Years active1985–1991, 1997–present
LabelsGeffen, Thirty Tigers
MembersBrandon Aly
Brad Houser
Edie Brickell
Kenny Withrow
John Bush
Past membersEric Presswood
Wes Burt-Martin
Matt Chamberlain
Carter Albrecht
Chris Wheatley
Chris Whitten
Wix Wickens
Websiteebnewbos.com

Edie Brickell & New Bohemians is an alternative rock jam band that originated in Dallas, Texas, in the mid-1980s. The band is widely known for their 1988 hit "What I Am" from the album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Their music contains elements of rock, folk, blues, and jazz. Following the 1990 release of their second album Ghost of a Dog, lead singer Edie Brickell left the band and married singer-songwriter Paul Simon. In 2006, she and the band launched a new web site and released a new album, Stranger Things.

History

Early years and beginnings

New Bohemians started as a trio in the early 1980s, gaining experience in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of downtown Dallas, Texas. The original line-up featured Brad Houser on vibraslap, Eric Presswood on guitar, and Brandon Aly on drums.

Drummer Aly, guitarist Kenny Withrow, and percussionist John Bush went to the same arts magnet high school in Dallas: Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Singer Edie Brickell also went to this school; however, the other members of the band didn't know her until later, and according to Houser, Edie was there for art. Houser attended Hillcrest High School and lived in the same neighborhood as other band members. He played in various neighborhood bands like The Knobs which included Kenny Withrow, and was also in the Munch Puppies.

The additional core members joined in 1985. Edie became the singer after being encouraged to join the band onstage during a show. It was soon after such first show that a local agent who was booking bands at Rick's Casablanca was brought to hear the band. The band signed a six-month management contract which brought with it better paying gigs at Rick's. When the six months ended, they started regular gigging in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of the city. Presswood left and Kenny Withrow joined as guitarist, playing his first show in July 1985 at the Starck Club in Dallas. John Bush joined on percussion in September of that year: his first show with the band was September 12, 1985, at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, when the band was backing Bo Diddley.

New Bos, the name the band assumed then, were a local favorite, packing in the fans at now-famous Deep Ellum venues such as "Theater Gallery", "500 Cafe", and "Club Dada". They were also regular performers at the annual Fry Street Fair on the University of North Texas campus in Denton, Texas. During this period of the band history, Edie's name was not used in that of the band.

Release of the albums and the successful first one

Their debut album, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, was released in 1988 and became a commercial success. It produced the US top 10 hit "What I Am". The following album, Ghost of a Dog, was released in 1990 and was less successful. New Bohemians disbanded soon after the album's release. In the mid-1990s, Brickell, Bush and Withrow gave birth to The Slip, a side project.

Years later, New Bohemians released both a compilation and a live album. In 2006, current members reunited to record and tour, with the release of the album Stranger Things on July 25 that year. On September 3, 2007 the group mourned the murder of band member Carter Albrecht, who was killed in Dallas that day.

On October 12, 2018 the band released the album Rocket. On February 19, 2021, the band released the third album after the reunion, Hunter and the Dog Star.

Live shows and concerts

The band played live at the "North Oak Cliff Music Festival" in October 2014 with the current lineup as well as keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard. The band reunited again in April 2017 with three concerts at the "Kessler Theater" in "Oak Cliff".

Members

Current members

  • Brandon Aly – drums
  • Edie Brickell – vocals, guitar
  • John Walter Bush – percussion
  • Kenneth Neil Withrow – guitar

Previous members

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
AUS
AUT
CAN
GER
IT
NL
NZ
UK
Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars 4 31 12 3 29 5 33 10 25
  • UK: Gold
  • US: 2× Platinum
Ghost of a Dog
  • Released: October 30, 1990
  • Label: Geffen
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
32 148 43 63
Stranger Things
  • Released: July 25, 2006
  • Label: Fantasy
  • Formats: CD
Rocket
Hunter and the Dog Star
  • Released: February 19, 2021
  • Label: Shuffle/Thirty Tigers
  • Formats: CD, LP, digital download
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Live albums

Title Album details
The Live Montauk Sessions
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Self-released
  • Formats: CD

Compilation albums

Title Album details
Ultimate Collection
  • Released: 10 September 2002
  • Label: Hip-O/Geffen
  • Formats: CD

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
US Alt
US Main
AUS
CAN
IRE
IT
NL
NZ
UK
"What I Am" 1988 7 4 9 18 1 23 14 11 31 Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
"Little Miss S." [airplay] 1989 14 38
"Circle" 48 32 80 35 39 74
"Love Like We Do"
"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" 1990 21 28 85 83 Born on the Fourth of July soundtrack
"Mama Help Me" 17 26 165 89 Ghost of a Dog
"Black & Blue" 1991
"One Last Time" 2006 Stranger Things
"What Makes You Happy" 2018 Rocket
"Tell Me"
"Exaggerate" 2019
"My Power" 2020 Hunter and the Dog Star
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Work Category Result
1988 Billboard Music Awards "What I Am" Top Modern Rock Track Nominated
1989 International Rock Awards Themselves Newcomer of the Year Nominated
Pollstar Concert Industry Awards Tour Small Hall Tour of the Year Nominated
Best Debut Tour Nominated
MTV Video Music Awards "What I Am" Best New Artist Nominated
1990 ASCAP Pop Music Awards "What I Am" Most Performed Song Won
MTV Video Music Awards "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" Best Video from a Film Nominated
1991 MTV Video Music Awards "Mama Help Me" Best Art Direction Nominated

This page was last updated at 2023-12-13 18:20 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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