Drunk Stuntmen

Drunk Stuntmen are a MusicAL group from Northampton, Massachusetts. Unsigned by a major label, Drunk Stuntmen are relatively unknown in mainstream musical culture; However, the group is very prominent in the Insurgent Country (also called Alternative country) music genre. The band was formed in 1992 in Northampton, MA under the now defucnt moniker, Soup. Soup, a jam band, was know for eclectic high energy shows. Soup produced two recordings "Mountain Funk" and an EP "Prospects of Linguica." There is a lost Soup Album which was recorded by Mark Alan Miller at Slaughter House Studios in Amherst, MA but never came to fruition as the band was moving in a different creative direction. The band changed their format and began to write music to reflect their ever developing style. A pedal steel guitar, played by lead guitar player, F. Alex Johnson was added to the line up. Their first album "Taking My Pee pants Off", produced by indie music guru Mike Flood was described as "...a rollicking blast of earthy garage rock that's equal parts bourbon-Fueled fuss and studied songcraft. ...fitting nicely alongside such similar exercises in musical cross pollination as Wilco's A.M. and Cracker's Kerosene Hat Tim Davis,Creative Loafing Well we borrowed some stuff. We found some stuff. Some of our stuff got stolen." The Stuntmen continued to tour and write more mature music which spoke volumes to the struggle of the working class heroes. "Pee Pants was followed by the 2000 release "More Bad News" and the 2002 relase "Iron Hip"

Iron Hip was critically acclaimed as the Drunk Stuntmen's best effort to date. It was about this time frame that the Drunk Stuntmen began their association with the Young at Heart Chorus, a group of 25 Seniors who perform everything from Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin and outkast. The two groups partnered for a benefit concert where the Stuntmen performed as Pink Floyd covering a unique version of Another Brick in the Wall part II, back by the Young At Heart for the second verse. This association led to a collaboration between the two groups which resulted in a performance entitled "The Drunk Stuntmen and the Young At Heart Chorus - Back To Back" The two groups backed by a horn section played two performances which resulted in an eponymous DVD documenting the show. This DVD was released in late 2007. This show led to a European Tour and the collaboration between the two bands continued.

With an ever increasing tour schedule and favorable press in publications such as Time Magazine, No Depression, and The Village Voice the Drunk Stuntmen released "Trailer Life." A rollicking testimonial to Americana and honest music. One review of the band included...

"Recently, Bob Dylan, the only musician living who probably could have gotten away with saying it, assailed today’s crop of recording artists at the top of the charts as…amateurs. Whew! Dylan went on to explain that essentially there are no roots associated with these bands: that they know not where the music comes from. He even went on to hypothesize that if he were coming up in music today, he wouldn’t, opting instead for a career such as mathematician or architect. I would have to agree. When I look for good music, it is not at the top of the charts. Hell no. It is in the trenches where it belongs. It is in a bar where a 6-inch plywood riser separates you from the infantry. The touring rabble, the song smiths who devote all of their energy to the craft. They throw caution to the wind and perform with everything they’ve got, recklessly pushing forth fueled by a few Long Neck Millers and of course by you the audience. They do this because they can’t see themselves doing anything else. They have to do it. If they don’t…I don’t even want to think about it. They perform like this every night they can, because they have faith. They are independent, and answer to no one. They have faith that true music will prevail in the end. Faith in the song and faith in the audiences who egg them on.

While I agree with Dylan, he was wrong to some extent. Bands like the Drunk Stuntmen are not living off of table scraps leftover from the sixties, and they certainly don’t associate themselves with the groups Dylan recently derided. They play real music. They know their roots and honor them every chance they get. With a tip of the hat, a few hot licks, and some sincere lyrics, they have roots and they have faith. Luckily for you, they are willing to share. It’s better than old time religion."

The Stuntmen continue to tour and record. Their next album, "State Fair", produced by Mitch Easter, is due to be released March 1, 2008.

Band Members as of December, 2007

  • J.Scott Brandon, Bass
  • Scott Hall of Westford Massachusetts, Piano
  • F. Alex Johnson, Vocals, Guitar, pedal steel
  • Dave Durst, Drums
  • Steve Sanderson, Vocals, Guitar

Notable Performances

While the majority of Drunk Stuntmen performances are in the eastern United States, the group tours internationally several weeks per year, and is becoming increasingly prominent throughout Europe, especially in the Netherlands and Belgium. In 2003, Drunk Stuntmen were the cover feature in an issue of No Depression, a popular Insurgent Country music periodical.

Discography

  • More Bad News 2000
  • Iron Hip 2005
  • Trailer Life 2006