Son Volt
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Son Volt is a popular music group formed by Jay Farrar in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1994, after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo. The group moved their headquarters to St. Louis, Missouri shortly thereafter. Son Volt is often considered the closest continuance of Uncle Tupelo's Alt-country/Americana sound and musical legacy.
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[edit] Current members
- Jay Farrar (guitar, harmonica, vocals), formerly of Uncle Tupelo
- Dave Bryson (drums)
- Andrew Duplantis (bass guitar, backing vocals)
- Brad Rice (guitar)
- Derry De Borja (keyboards)
[edit] Former members
- Mike Heidorn (drums), formerly of Uncle Tupelo
- Dave Boquist (banjo, fiddle, guitar, lap steel)
- Jim Boquist (bass guitar)
- Eric Heywood (mandolin, pedal steel)
[edit] Discography
- Trace (1995), Warner Brothers Records
- Straightaways (1997), Warner Brothers Records
- Wide Swing Tremolo (1998), Warner Brothers Records
- A Retrospective: 1995-2000 (2005), Warner Brothers Records/Rhino
- Afterglow 61 (2005) EP, Transmit Sounds Records/Sony Legacy
- Okemah and the Melody of Riot (2005), Transmit Sounds Records/Legacy Recordings
[edit] Style
Son Volt's music ranges from quiet folk/country ballads reminiscent of Bob Dylan's John Wesley Harding, to barhouse rockers in the spirit of Neil Young with Crazy Horse. Outside of the common Neil Young and Crazy Horse comparisons, Son Volt is often compared to The Jayhawks, and Automatic for the People era R.E.M.. Often considered a staple band of the alternative country movement, their music is perhaps better described as genre-spanning traditional American music.
[edit] Hiatus
Son Volt was dropped from their record label contract with Warner Bros, and beginning in 2001, Jay Farrar released several solo efforts that postponed further releases from Son Volt. Farrar stated that Son Volt had not disbanded permanently, calling the time away from Son Volt a temporary hiatus. In 2005, he formed a new version of the band with a different line-up and released an album on Transmit Sound/Sony Legacy, Okemah and the Melody of Riot.