The White Buffalo (band)

The White Buffalo is the professional moniker and stage name of American musician and singer/songwriter Jake Smith.[1][2]

The White Buffalo
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Americana
Years active 2002-present
Labels Unison Music
Website thewhitebuffalo.com
Members Jake Smith

Background

The White Buffalo's first full-length album, Hogtied Like a Rodeo, debuted in 2002, followed by The White Buffalo EP, produced by Eels’ Koool G Murder, which Smith states is about “relationships, love, loss and booze with a little murder mixed in. In a friend’s living room in 2008, he re-recorded the first album, dubbing it Hogtied Revisited.

When a bootleg tape of Smith’s music made it into the hands of pro surfer Chris Malloy, one of his songs, “Wrong,” was featured in his popular surf movie, Shelter. This eventually led to further film scoring and composing work, with three of his songs featured in FX's hit show Sons of Anarchy and HBO's Californication.

In 2010, a second EP, Prepare for Black and Blue,[3] was recorded in six days by producer Jimmy Messer and released through Chad Stokes' Ruffshod imprint via Nettwerk Records earlier that year. The music and the artist captured the attention of Unison Music’s Bruce Witkin and Ryan Dorn, who then signed The White Buffalo and co-produced Once Upon a Time in the West.[4][5]

In 2013, a fourth LP, "Shadows, Greys, and Evil Ways",[6] was released on Unison Music Group. The LP saw positive reviews including NY1 which stated, "Not since Neil Young's Living With War has there been so strong an artistic statement about this country's occupations." [7]

Touring

Over the past few years White Buffalo has played shows both nationally and internationally with acts like Ryan Bingham, Donavan Frankenreiter, Gomez, Xavier Rudd, State Radio, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, among many others.

Notoriety

The White Buffalo was named as one of twelve artists to watch in NPR’s 2012 Winter Music Preview[8]

Billboard Folk Chart “HOT SHOT DEBUT” Digital EP, “The Lost And Found”, released 12/6, featuring “Wish It Was True”[9] as heard on Sons of Anarchy (Season 3). "House Of The Rising Sun" with The Forest Rangers was also featured on Season 4.[10]

The White Buffalo performed at the 2011 Bonnaroo Festival

December 2011 performances on The Living Room Sessions.

In August 2014, The White Buffalo performed their songs "This Year" and "The Whistler" on Jimmy Kimmel.[11]

Sons of Anarchy

Jake Smith, from The White Buffalo, sang on the song, "Come Join The Murder", performed by The Forest Rangers and written by Sons of Anarchy creator and executive producer, Kurt Sutter.[12] Other songs from The White Buffalo which appeared on Sons of Anarchy include "Matador", "Damned", "Wish It Was True", "House of The Rising Sun (Cover)", "The Whistler", "Set My Body Free", "Sweet Hereafter", and "Bohemian Rhapsody (Cover)".[13]

Discography

Full lengths

Extended plays

Soundtracks

TV licensing

With the placement of "Wrong" in Chris Malloy's movie Shelter, White Buffalo has gained further film scoring and composing success with three of his songs featured in FX’s hit show Sons of Anarchy [16] and HBO's Californication, as well as commercials for Wal-Mart.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 " The White Buffalo Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways" review by Thom Jurek, AllMusic
  2. ↑ Maine, David. "The White Buffalo: Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways". Pop Matters.
  3. ↑ "The White Buffalo Prepare For Black and Blue (Album Review)". Hear Ya.
  4. ↑ quickcrit - music reviews: The White Buffalo - Once Upon a Time in the West (2012)
  5. ↑ The White Buffalo: Winning the West All Over Again: Music | KQED Public Media for Northern CA
  6. ↑ "The White Buffalo Shadows, Greys And Evil Ways". American Songwriter.
  7. ↑ "The White Buffalo Makes His Late Night Debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Aug 26". Prelude Press.
  8. ↑ National Public Radio. 2012 Winter Music Preview. NPR.org, 2011.12.29. Date retrieved 2012.11.1.
  9. ↑ “Wish It Was True”
  10. ↑ "Best of 2011 (Behind the Scenes): 'Sons of Anarchy' music supervisor Bob Thiele Jr. on season 4's greatest hits", 2011.11.18. Date retrieved 2012.11.9.
  11. ↑ "Watch The White Buffalo Roam Onto 'Jimmy Kimmel' & Perform Live". Billboard.
  12. ↑ "Hear the Dark Swan Song From the 'Sons of Anarchy' Finale". Rolling Stone.
  13. ↑ "Songs of Anarchy: Music from Sons of Anarchy Seasons 1–4". iTunes.
  14. ↑ The White Buffalo Releases New Album ‘Shadows, Greys & Evil Ways,’ Collaborates with Oskar Blues for a New Brew and FBAG
  15. ↑ "'West of Memphis' Soundtrack Includes Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith". Rolling Stone.
  16. ↑ Geller, Wendy. "Video Premiere for The White Buffalo’s ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ Tune". Rolling Stone.

External links