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Churchwood
Churchwood at the Carousel Lounge Austin, Texas (2019)
Churchwood at the Carousel Lounge Austin, Texas (2019)
Background information
OriginAustin, Texas, U.S.
GenresAlternative rock, blues rock, experimental rock, post-punk
Years active2007-present
LabelsSaustex Records
Members
Websitewww.saustexmedia.com/CHURCHWOOD.html

Churchwood is an avant-blues quintet from Austin, Texas known for its poetry-driven lyrics,[1] high-energy performances,[2] and eccentric approach[3] to making blues-based rock and roll.[4] The lineup consists of Bill Anderson (guitar), Joe Doerr (vocals, harmonica), Adam Kahan (bass), Billysteve Korpi (guitar), and Eric Bohlke (drums).[5]

Musical and lyrical style and influence

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Churchwood's musical influences are wide-ranging.[6] The band's self-proclaimed "dystopic blues"[7] style belies its reverence for the likes of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, and other blues masters; however, many critics suggest that musical risk-takers like Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave are of equal importance to Churchwood's sound.[8] Much like his published poetry,[9] Doerr's lyrics reflect an interest in French Symbolism, Literary Modernism, Surrealism, and Beat Poetry. His themes are largely existentialist in scope: absurdity, anxiety, alienation, passion, individuality, and authenticity are his primary concerns.[10]

History

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Churchwood formed in 2007 in Austin, Texas and signed with San Antonio's Saustex Records in 2010. The band released six LPs on the Saustex label: Churchwood (2011), Churchwood 2 (2013), 3: Trickgnosis (2014),[11] Hex City, (2016) [12] Plenty Wrong to Go Awry (2020), and The Boule Oui (2022). Two additional records by Churchwood, an EP titled Just the Two of Us (2012), and a 2-track single of cover songs by Evan Johns titled Johns 2:22 (2023) also appear courtesy of Saustex.

In 2011, Churchwood placed their song "Rimbaud Diddley"[13] on Season 4, Episode 4 ("Una Venta") of AMC's Sons of Anarchy.

In 2016, original drummer Julien Peterson left the band to pursue other interests; he was replaced by multi-instrumentalist Eric Bohlke of Austin's Khali Haat in the spring of 2017.

Bohlke appears as Churchwood's drummer on three recordings: Plenty Wrong to Go Awry, The Boule Oui, and Johns 2:22. Bohlke further lent his talents to Churchwood by recording and mixing the latter two of the above-mentioned records in his home sound studio in Austin.

Churchwood's future became uncertain if not imminently foreshortened when guitarist and founder Bill Anderson announced that he was moving from Austin to New Mexico in the spring of 2021.

Saustex Records billed a show at Austin's Sagebrush on November 11, 2023 as Churchwood's "Last Sermon."

However, an article by the late Michael Corcoran in March 2024 has Churchwood currently on hiatus" and teasing a possible return with an album of unreleased songs by Ballad Shambles, a 1980s project that featured the earliest incarnation of the Anderson-Doerr songwriting partnership.

Discography

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References

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  1. ^ Morthland, John. "Churchwood: The Beefheart of the Blues". Wondering Sound. eMusic. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  2. ^ Kiest, Jim (March 19, 2011). "Three Ways to Navigate SXSW". Mysa. Hearst Corporation. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  3. ^ Toland, Michael. "Churchwood: Churchwood". Blurt. Blurt LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  4. ^ Smith, William Michael. "Churchwood: Churchwood". Lone Star Music. LSM. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  5. ^ Corcoran, Michael. "Austin's Churchwood Creates Dark, Dangerous and Satisfying Blues Sound". Austin 360.com. Cox Media Group. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  6. ^ Beets, Greg. "Churchwood: Off-Kilter But Still on the Rails". The Austin Post. Trilogy Enterprises. Archived from the original on July 26, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Churchwood". SXSW Schedule. SXSW LLC. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  8. ^ Moser, Margaret. "Reservoir Dogs: Churchwood's Beefheart Blues". The Austin Chronicle. Austin Chronicle Corp. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
  9. ^ Doerr, Joe. "Joe Francis Doerr Biography". Salt Authors. Salt Publishing. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  10. ^ Powers, Calvin (May 24, 2011). "Churchwood: Bill Anderson and Joe Doerr Deconstruct the Blues and Teach Us Street Latin". Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  11. ^ Curtin, Kevin. "Song Premiere: Churchwood's "Triptych"". Austin Chronicle. Chronicle Corp. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
  12. ^ Toland, Michael. "Churchwood's Hex City (Saustex)". Austin Chronicle. Chronicle Corp. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  13. ^ Bosquez, James. "Churchwood: Churchwood". San Antonio Current. San Antonio Current Co. Archived from the original on July 29, 2014. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
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