The Subdudes
NewMusicforOldFolks says …
The Subdudes had a couple of flirts with the mainstream. The closest cale when the 1996 album Primative Streak sold pretty well backed by a couple of minor hits, "All The Time In The World" and "Too Soon To Tell." Bonnie Raitt backed Tommy Malone's vocals on the latter song. The album is a favorite. The bio below describes The Subdudes instrumentation as "sparce." That's a pretty good description. The music is not sparce, however, as they fill in the gaps with great harmonies. You'll notice in the picture above there's no drumkit, just a kick drum, a single symbal and a tamborine. It makes for a unique sound. The Subdudes do not record much anymore but continue to tour. Singer/guitarist Malone released a solo album in 2013.
Artist's Info
Website: subdudes.com
See them live: Tour dates
Record company: 429 Records
Genre: Roots
If you like this, look into: The Radiators, The Homes Brothers, Lyle Lovett
Bio (From the artist's Facebook page)
In 1987, four musicians got together for what they envisioned would be a one-time performance at Tipitina’s in New Orleans. It was a night of mostly acoustic music — sparse instrumentation with a strong emphasis on songwriting and vocal harmonies. The show far exceeded expectations, and on that March night the subdudes were born. Nearly 10 years later, after five well-received albums and several years of hard touring, the Subdudes called it quits. Spinoff projects ensued, as did the occasional reunion show. In February of 2002, three of the four original band members decided to get back together. They recruited some friends, and they hit the road for the rest of the decade before taking another break. Now, starting in March 2014, they're giving it another go. This time it's the original lineup for the first time in 17 years, playing a few select shows. And after nearly 30 years, still nobody in the world sounds like them.
Spotify sampler
Recordings
Most Recent
FLOWER PETALS (2009): Nearly 23 years after forming, after numerous well-received albums and several years of hard touring, The Subdudes keep groovin along with the release of their newest album, Flower Petals. Flower Petals, in fact, has something of an Old West flavor. The songs are loosely tied together by a common theme, set at the turn of the century and mostly told from the point of view of a soldier who has passed on. Toward the end of the recordings, the narrator's spirit is finally released to the great beyond.Interestingly, Flower Petals was originally envisioned as the follow-up to Miracle Mule, the first post-reunion CD by the band that was released in 2004. By August of 2005, the songs for Flower Petals were all written, and rough demo recordings had been made. The band s label at the time, however, persuaded the band to put the project on the backburner and focus on what the label thought would be more appealing: slicker, more commercial songs..
Others
The Subdudes (1989)
Lucky (1991)
Annunciation (1994)
Primitive Streak (1996)
Live at Last (1997)
The Subdudes (a greatest hits package) (2000)
Miracle Mule (2004)
Behind the Levee (2006)
Street Symphony (2007)
Live at the Rams Head (2008)
