Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

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Edie Brickell & New Bohemians is a jam band that originated in Texas in the mid-1980s. The band is best known for their 1988 hit "What I Am" from the album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Combining elements of rock and folk, their sound has been compared to R.E.M., another Southern college radio band of the same era. After their 1990 sophomore effort Ghost of a Dog, the Bohemians broke up. Lead singer Edie Brickell married singer-songwriter Paul Simon after leaving the band.

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[edit] Bio

Drummer Aly, guitarist Withrow, and percussionist Bush went to the same high school as singer Brickell in Dallas, Texas but didn't really know her then. The school was called Arts Magnet.[1] According to Houser, Edie was there for art. (Spin magazine, March 1989 (Vol 4, Number 12). Houser attended Hillcrest High School (Dallas) and lived in the same neighborhood as the others. He played in various neighborhood bands like The Knobs which included Kenny, and was also a Munch Puppy.

The New Bohemians started as a 3 piece ska-style band in the early eighties, cutting their teeth in the new Deep Ellum neighborhood in downtown Dallas. The original line-up featured Brad Houser on bass, Eric Presswood on guitar, and Brandon Aly on drums.

The future core members joined in 1985. Edie became the singer after being encouraged to join the band onstage during a show (the famous Jack Daniels story). It was soon after that first show that local agent Deanna Mercer, who was at the time booking bands at Rick's Casablanca, was brought to hear the band. The band actually signed a 6 month management contract with Mercer which brought with it better paying gigs at Rick's. When the 6 months ended, the band wanted something more and hired Lon Bixby as the manager. They started regular gigging in Deep Ellum at this time (D Magazine Jan, 1989). Presswood left and Kenny Withrow took up the guitar duties, 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.

The New Bos were always a local favorite, packing in the fans at now infamous Deep Ellum venues such as Theater Gallery, 500 Cafe, and Club Dada. The Bohemians 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's history, Edie's name was not used in the band's name. This was a strategy used by Geffen Records in the event the band didn't remain the same. They would always have Edie.

The New Bohemians have released compilations and a live album, and have recorded some new material in recent years, notably as a short-lived band named The Slip that included Brickell, but most former members have moved on to other projects. Drummer Matt Chamberlain has been an in-demand tour drummer with bands ranging from Pearl Jam and Garbage to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, as well as a stint on the Saturday Night Live house band.

Image:Postcard Rubberbands.jpg

[edit] Members

[edit] Core

[edit] Previous members

  • Eric Presswood (guitar)
  • Wes Burt-Martin (associate guitar)
  • Matt Chamberlain (drums)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock US Mainstream Rock UK
1988 "What I Am" #7 #4 #9 #31 Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
1988 "Circle" #48 - #32 #74 Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
1989 "Little Miss S." - #14 #38 - Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars
1990 "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" - #21 #28 #83 Born on the Fourth of July [Soundtrack]
1990 "Mama Help Me" - #17 #26 - Ghost of a Dog


[edit] External links

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