Danny Kurtz, Brad Rice, Chip Robinson, Steve Howell and Jeff "JD" Dennis
"Someone asked what we sound like and I said, 'Man, just hard-core honky-tonk.' We called it that before anybody could call it something else. . . . We're still just a bar band, pretty much."
- Backsliders co-founder Chip Robinson to Rick Cornell from an interview that originally appeared in Music Monitor, a magazine published by the now defunct Record Exchange chain.
Along with Six String Drag and Whiskeytown, the Backsliders are often referred to as part of the “Holy Trinity” of the Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill) alternative country music scene of the 1990’s. As fate would have it, it was Whiskeytown that went on to greener pastures and become the most well known of the three. In these parts, the Backsliders are still spoken about in a fevered tone by those that were eyewitness to their shows, which have gone on to become the stuff of legend. During their short reign, they released three albums on Mammoth Records: a live EP, From Raleigh, NC (1996), their first full length, Throwin’ Rocks at the Moon (1997) and the follow up, Southern Lines (1999). These are all great albums and are well worth seeking out but it only takes one listen to From Raleigh, NC to pick up on the fact that the Backsliders were best experienced in concert and that the raw power of their live shows simply couldn’t be captured on their studio albums. That’s not by any means a slight as Throwin’ Rocks at the Moon and Southern Lines are both fine records.
Backsliders circa Southern Lines: Chip Robinson, Roger Gupton, Terry Anderson, Mike Krause and Rob Farris
After sessions for Southern Lines were completed, it took nearly a year and a half for it to finally be released. By the time it came out, Steve Howell had joined John Howie’s more traditional country leaning Two Dollar Pistols and Danny Kurtz and Brad Rice were gigging with Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, leaving Chip Robinson as the only member of the band. As Southern Lines hit store shelves Chip had put together a new line up but it wasn’t too much longer before they disbanded altogether. Chip said he was retiring but in lieu of that, he continued to perform solo. In the intervening years, prior to unleashing his first solo effort in 2009 (Mylow) he assembled a number of new bands, including the Anti-Carpetbaggers League, the Heavy Beat Outfit and the Vibekillers (the latter of which is still active) that performed a mixture of covers and Backsliders originals. Steve Howell also continued to stay active musically, eventually leaving the Two Pistols to form his own bands. However, none of these new groups seemed to have the pull of the original Backsliders.
Backsliders 2012: Steve Howell, Chip Robinson, Jeff "JD" Dennis, Danny Kurtz and Greg Rice
This was taken at the Pour House in Raleigh on 12.15.12, the day after the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT. Before the show got underway, Chip Robinson requested a moment of silence in honor of the victims of the massacre.
(Photo by Willa Stein)
The Backsliders had various line ups over the years but what is considered to be the “classic” one consisted of Robinson (vocals/guitar), Howell (vocals/guitar), Brad Rice (guitar), Danny Kurtz (bass/backing vocals) and Jeff “JD” Dennis (drums). Chip even reassembled the Backsliders a few times, albeit without Steve Howell or Brad Rice. That all changed in 2003 when he, Howell, and the other members from the classic line up (except for Brad Rice) appeared on stage together for the first time since 1999 as part of a benefit in Raleigh for Alejandro Escovedo to help defer medical costs as Escovedo was battling Hepatitis C at the time. Then, seemingly out of the blue, Chip, Howell, Kurtz and Dennis got back together for a benefit at Slim’s Downtown Distillery in Raleigh in late 2012 billed as the “Robinson/Howell Quartet”. With Brad Rice relocated to Austin, he was unable to attend. Ever since that show, the Backsliders, now aided and abetted by Greg Rice (no relation) of the Olympic Ass Kickin’ Team and the Cartridge Family on keys, have done a handful of shows with more scheduled for this summer (including a much coveted slot at Raleigh’s annual Hopscotch Music Festival in September). Though unconfirmed, rumors have been swirling about new material. They have also launched a new website that you can access here. In addition, they’ve also made Hicktopia available as an EP, which you can download for free here (though I’m sure they would greatly appreciate a donation to their tip jar). Hicktopia was the original working title for Southern Lines but was dropped when the album was retooled at the request of Mammoth Records. The Hicktopia that exists as a full length album consists of the original, raw mixes. The EP includes five tracks, all of them previously unreleased. Four of the tracks didn’t make the cut at all and have never been heard before. The opening song, “Abe Lincoln”, is the only one that made it onto Southern Lines out of those five. However, this is the original version.
That is the Backsliders’ story in a nutshell. I plan to continue to update and expand this original post with links, videos clips and a mix so be sure to keep an eye out for updates. Thanks to Rick Cornell, Lisa Lewis, Van Alston, Craig Zearfoss and others too numerous to mention for helping me piece together the history of this band. Most of all, I’d like to thank the members of the Backsliders, past, present and future for the music. Yep!
Discography
Released in 1992 on the Grim Reminder label. This is a split 7" with the Backsliders doing "The Lonely One" (which would later appear on Throwin' Rocks at the Moon). The flip is by "The Mighty King of Love", Phil Lee with his band the Sly Dogs performing "A Night In the Box". Backslider Danny Kurtz (as well as his brother, Record Store Day co-founder, Michael Kurtz), were at one time members of the Sly Dogs. Danny still performs with them on occasion. This is a very rare find and the first official recorded release (at least that I'm aware of) by the Backsliders.
Released in June 1996 on Fireant. In addition to two tunes from the Backsliders, this NC-centric compilation also includes cuts by Unknown Hinson, Eugene Chadborne and Zen Frisbee. The AllMusic Guide describes it as "a telling document on the hidden music of wild Appalachia, a Jack Daniels-soaked field recording". Sounds like a candidate for the weirdo, fringe alt.country thread. The Backsliders tracks are live versions of "Tulsa County" and "Cowboy Boots/Aloha Dano and Steve". "Tulsa County" was written by Pamela Polland and has been recorded by a wide variety of artists over the years from Bobby Bare to Helen Reddy. In all likelihood, the Backsliders picked up on the Byrds' version from the Easy Rider soundtrack. A studio version of "Cowboy Boots" (originally written and recorded by Donnie Ray Ford) appears on Throwin' Rocks at the Moon. "Aloha Dano and Steve" is a cover of a tune by Australian's Radio Birdman.
Recorded at The Brewery (RIP) in Raleigh on 7.20.96. This was the Backsliders debut release on Mammoth Records, it came out in 1996. If the Triangle area had an epicenter for alt.country, a very strong case could made for it being The Brewery. Comparisons to the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin not withstanding. The only song from this set to appear on another Backsliders album is "Hey Sheriff". Aside from "High Fashion Queen", a Chris Hilman/Gram Parsons cover, the other songs are original Backsliders compositions. "Yep!" should be played at maximum volume with no AC, just like it was recorded. In fact, it's not a bad idea to play the entire EP in that manner.
Released on 2.18.97, this is the Backsliders debut full length record. It was produced by Pete Anderson (Dwight Yoakam, Meat Puppets, Lucinda Williams, etc.) but was originally pitched to a variety of other producers including Dave Alvin, Eric "Roscoe" Ambel and Mitch Easter. Anderson was the first to reply and got the job. Though their history can be traced back to 1987 when co-founders Chip Robinson and Steve Howell could be found gigging around Raleigh under the moniker Pokin' Yoko, it took them a while to land a record deal. It was to their advantage that they were well practiced enough to have these songs down pat prior to entering the studio. While From Raleigh, NC offers a glimpse into what made the Backsliders tick as a live act, Throwin' Rocks at the Moon further showcases their ability to tackle rollicking barroom burners as well as tender ballads. It just doesn't get much more heartfelt than, "the distance from the bottle to the floor gets closer every time I drink one more" as Robinson croons in "Broken Wings". The influence of Phil Lee pops up again here in the Howell/Robinson co-write they did with him on "If I Was King". "My Baby's Gone", the opening number, sets the stage for the Backsliders' high octane blend of whiskey fueled honky tonk twang and is always a rallying call for the dance floor. The title track has long since become a concert staple and has figured very prominently into Robinson's post-Backsliders combos as well. The lone cover here is Donnie Ray Ford's "Cowboy Boots" which has served as the launching point for many a medley over the years, most often taking detours into the Ramones' "I Wanna Be Sedated" and Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers' "Roadrunner". When the opening notes to "Cowboy Boots" ring out, the dance floor becomes the meeting ground for square dancers and slam dancers alike. If you could ever cross a mosh pit with a rodeo, it would very closely approximate the dance floor at a Backsliders (or Vibekllers) show. It's an act no other band can follow, including the Backsliders themselves as I've never heard anyone holler out for another encore after "Cowboy Boots" as everyone has been drained of their last bit of energy.
Released on 4.27.99 and produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (Joan Jett's Blackhearts, the Del-Lords, Steve Earle's Dukes, The Bottle Rockets, The Yayhoos, etc.). "Abe Lincoln" was produced by Don Dixon and recorded at Mitch Easter's Fidelitorium studio in Kernersville, NC. This song has been enjoying a bit of a second life as of late thanks to a cover by American Aquarium on their Burn.Flicker.Die. album which has also helped to bring some long overdue attention to the legacy of the Backsliders (see video clip below). Shortly after this album was released, Mammoth Records was absorbed by the Disney corporation and the Backsliders were promptly dropped from their artist roster.
Enhanced CD-ROM features include:
• Liner notes (see the Insurgent Country link under "Further Reading" below)
• The official music video for "My Baby's Gone" (the lead single from Throwin' Rocks at the Moon, there's a link to the clip under the Video section below)
• A live performance of "Number 5" recorded during Sleazefest at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill
• A live, solo acoustic version of the then unreleased "Fence" by Chip Robinson recorded at King's Barcade in Raleigh (see clip below under "Video"). "Fence" later appeared on Chip's debut solo album Mylow which was released digitally in late 2009 and on CD in February 2010 on Red River Records (now out of print).
• A live, solo acoustic version of "Angelita" by Chip Robinson recorded at King's Barcade in Raleigh
The Backsliders contribute a rendition of "Doin' What I Did" to this fine collection that also includes tunes from Rhonda Vincent, Gillian Welch, Reckless Kelly, Bonnie Bramlett and others.
A sampler of sorts taken from an album that was seemingly lost to the ages and was reconfigured for the masses as the more palatable Southern Lines, five cuts from the oft spoken about but rarely heard Hicktopia finally make an appearance. Perhaps the entire record will be made available some day and with it, the remainder of the Backsliders catalog, which is currently out of print.
Video
These first three videos include some of the earliest known footage of the Backsliders and showcase the rootsier aspects of their sound.
"Hey Sheriff", Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, NC, from the public access show Live Around Town, 1.23.94*
"You Don't Miss Your Water", Duke Coffeehouse in Durham, NC, from the public access show Live Around Town, 1.23.94*
"Nine Pound Hammer", recorded live at WXDU FM at Duke University in Durham, NC, from the public access show Live Around Town, 2.20.94*
"My Baby's Gone", official music video. This can be found on Southern Lines, which is an enhanced CD-ROM
King's Barcade, Raleigh (bonus clip from Southern Lines)
Slim's Downtown Distillery, Raleigh, 9.9.12 (Hopscotch Hangover)
Pour House, Raleigh, 12.14.12
Pour House, Raleigh, 12.14.12
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro, 3.18.13
Audio
Local 506, Chapel Hill, NC 2.1.97 (A Truer Sound)
Pour House, Raleigh, NC 12.15.12
Further Reading
The Backsliders - Hard-core Heroes of the Honky-Tonk by Rick Cornell (Gumbo Pages)
Liner notes from the enhanced bonus features from Southern Lines (Insurgent Country)
The Backsliders forge forward by Andy Turner, May 1999 (Country Standard Time)
Moore Square Park (Raleigh, NC), July 28, 2007 by Rick Cornell (No Depression)
Fan Remembrance by Scott Huler (Raleigh Quarterly)
Links
Backsliders website
Backsliders on Facebook
Backsliders on ReverbNation
Backsliders on MySpace
*Footage courtesy of Craig Zearfoss' MySpace page. More footage that Craig shot for Live Around Town can be found at this link.
