Wolverton Brothers

Artist Information

Biography

No Wave met New Wave in 1985 when 2 members of BPA joined with 2 members of Junta. OK, yes, in Cincinnati. It was decided to shed any pretension and let the Ohio mutants be themselves. A bluegrass influenced psychedelia (don't think Killbilly, much weirder and more rockin') ensued. Eventually the sound evolved. Twang was suppressed. Point made. Many bands put out a "country" type album or two, the Wolvertons did it early. They considered dropping the Brothers part of the name: country pigeon hole. But since then dozens of bands have used the Brothers moniker without being assumed to be country. The name stayed. Now, the Wolvertons are boundless, doing as they please, not negotiating, blasting, billowing, bursting forth. As Tim's "space" at practice became surrounded by more and more electronic devices from his other projects, someone asked "why don't you just use those things with us?" The latest record "A Better Place", uses samples, turntables, found sounds, chaos pads, whatever on about half the songs that were gathered over the previous 9(!) years. Reviews have compared the Wolvertons to Pere Ubu, Birthday Party and Neil Young. hmm. These are undoubtedly influences, but the Wolvertons co-evolved with these bands. (Billy Wol started playing guitar in 1970, the rest circa 1979) This is no imitation; the Wolvertons are 100% real. Another record is ready, work will begin soon and the Brothers are older, uglier, and louder than ever.

Instrumentation

Original and enduring:
Tim Schwallie - guitar, vocalizing, gizmos
Captain Booze-Cruise - bass
Billy Wol - regular guitar
T Lothar Witt - drumming

Discography

A BETTER PLACE (CD)
2004 on Hospital
THE WOLVERTON BROTHERS (CD)
Re-release on Deary Me 1988/1999
Wolverton's first masterpiece + 5 more.
GLAD (CD5)
1995 on Atavistic
LIARMAN (CD)
1993 on Atavistic
SUCKING HIND TIT ( LP/CD/TAPE )
1990 on OKra/Rough Trade
THE WOLVERTON BROTHERS ( LP)
1988 on OKra

SINGLES:

The Eholist b/w Not Enough
1997 Anyway Records
Angel's Box of Chocolates b/w Not
Happy by the Ass Ponys
1996 Violently Hip
My Assassin b/w Max Gomez Love
1993 Subpop
Fireproof b/w Paycheck
1990 OKra
Love City b/w White Folks
1985 Day One

Official Website

http://www.wolvertons.org

Audio

Lyrics

• Rock Stupid
• The Elohist

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• A Better Place [+ Show ]
  

  The Wols are one of Cincinnati's most enduring groups -- about two decades and still going strong --...The Wols are one of Cincinnati's most enduring groups -- about two decades and still going strong -- and they're certainly one of the more unique and innovative bands ever to call the Queen City home. The group's latest release, A Better Place (only their fourth long-player), is its most experimental and eccentric yet (which is saying a lot), as the group employs a wider variety of tools, getting into warped samples and other electronic gurgling on tracks like "So Beautiful" and "Brood X Nymphs." On the alluring "Sky Trails," the Bros. (with Culture Queer/Fairmount Girls' Dana Hamblen on guest vocals) play over a withering vinyl recording of children singing a "love chant from North Africa" to dizzying effect. The band's trademark art-damaged Post Punk is still in play throughout the majority of Place, maniacally scurrying between droning buzz ("No Panic Trip") and noisy soundbursts ("Give Me Some Lightning"). The lysergic, slanted guitar interplay between Billy Wol and Tim Schwallie sounds almost telepathic at this point, while Schwallie's impulsive, stream-of-conscious vocals and lyrics surf the music like a drunken sailor confidently keeping his footing on deck during a tsunami. Eclecticism radiates on tracks like "Wintry Mix (Opus No. 3)," an ambient whir that builds and mushrooms into a punkish fervor, and "Hay Days," which alternates between a narcotic sway and full-on Glam Rock boogie. There's no "blueprint" for the Wols' music -- structures blissfully defy expectation, and sonically the band knows few boundaries. The Wolverton Brothers are the kind of band that should make you proud to be from Cincinnati. (Mike Breen) Grade: A
  
  

• Dulli Praise [+ Show ]
  

  an endorsement from Greg Dulli: "..one of the finest bands in the country.  They are the VU and Big ...an endorsement from Greg Dulli: "..one of the finest bands in the country.  They are the VU and Big Star of their generation.  They are a truly outstanding band.  They were really inspirational to me."
  

• Liar Man [+ Show ]
  

  Liar Man:  At 26 minutes, this seven-song collection is technicaly a mini-album.  Yet those of us wh...Liar Man:  At 26 minutes, this seven-song collection is technicaly a mini-album.  Yet those of us who once complained about short CDs and now recoil at bloated 78-minute symphonies will find both irony and solace here as not a nano-second is wasted.  The Wolvertons' prior releases ('87's self-titler, '92's Sucking Hind Tit, and several singles) hinted at a certain breed of rootsy aplomb germinating.  Now, produced by Mekon Jon Langford, the band caroms woozily and lustily off every "rock" in sight, minus any revivalist mannerisms.  Instead, you hear a double-naught spy theme filtered through Nick Cave’s bowels ("Max Gomez Love"), surf-funk for bong-huffin’ fans of Dick Dale and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion ("Vampyre," "Tornado Bomber"), even some twangy, echoey shit ("Xanadu," "Tornado Bomber") that point the riffs to the heart of the sun without necessarily bringing to mind a tired term like "psychedelic."  ...  – Fred Mills
  

Setlist

45-60 minute sets
No covers recently, in the past did Rock -n- Roll pt 2 before it became a sports song, Low Rider before it was on commercials, and an 18 minute version of Horse with no Name.

Recent List:
Love Song (Love you more than I hate myself)
Armageddon Coming to Town
Staxx
Goodbye Me
Red Falls
Daktari Motherfucker
Eat Some Cheese
Sky Trails
Descension
So Beautiful
The Elohist

Basic Requirements

Calendar