Bedhead (band)
| Company type | Indie rock group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, singles |
Bedhead was an indie rock group originating from Dallas, Texas, active between 1988 and 1998. The ensemble featured brothers Matt and Bubba Kadane on vocals and guitar, alongside Tench Coxe (guitar), Kris Wheat (bass), and Trini Martinez (drums). Their discography includes multiple EPs and three full-length albums released through Trance Syndicate, accompanied by occasional touring. Characterized by a restrained sound that combined three electric guitars with bass and vocals delivered either sung or spoken, Allmusic described them as "the definitive indie rock band." Their final album, Transaction de Novo, received a flawless 5/5 rating from Tiny Mix Tapes.
After Bedhead dissolved in 1999, Matt and Bubba Kadane went on to establish The New Year, maintaining a comparable musical approach.
1988–1993: Formation
Matt and Bubba Kadane began collaborating musically during their childhood in Wichita Falls, Texas, later continuing their work in Dallas. The band came together in 1988 following the passing of their father due to a brain tumor, an event that profoundly shaped their artistic expression; Matt referred to it as "an outpouring of grief... Bubba and I didn’t talk much about [their father's death]. But we played music together."
Initially without a formal name, the group expanded by adding drummer Trini Martinez in 1990, then guitarist Tench Coxe and bassist Kris Wheat. They adopted the name Bedhead in 1992, making their debut under this moniker in Austin. That same year and the following one, they issued two singles through the Dallas-based label Direct Hit Records.
1993–1996: WhatFunLifeWas
In 1993, the band attracted the interest of King Coffey, drummer for the Butthole Surfers and founder of Trance Syndicate Records, who signed them soon after hearing their music.
Their first album, WhatFunLifeWas, was recorded during the summer of 1993 with a modest budget of $3,000. After completing half of the recording sessions, they chose to restart using different production methods.
Released in mid-1994, WhatFunLifeWas garnered favorable reviews. Sputnik Music awarded it 4 out of 5 stars, emphasizing its exploration of themes such as loss and melancholy through slow-paced indie rock imbued with a tranquil ambiance. Allmusic rated it 4.5 out of 5 stars, commending the band’s distinctive sensibility and dynamic shifts reminiscent of acts like Velvet Underground, Joy Division, and Spacemen 3.
1996–1998: Beheaded
Prior to their sophomore album, Bedhead issued two EPs: 4-songEP19:10 (1994), recorded live in a single take at a church, and The Dark Ages (1996). Their first major tour occurred in mid-1995.
Their second full-length record, Beheaded, was released by Trance Syndicate in June 1996. Allmusic gave it a 4-star rating, highlighting its indie rock style rooted in Velvet Underground influences and executed with meticulous care to produce slow-building, soaring indie rock/pop sounds. Following the release, the band extensively toured across the United States and Canada, attracting larger audiences and making their sole television appearance on Italian national TV in 1997.
1998: Transaction de Novo and dissolution
The band’s final album, Transaction de Novo, recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, came out in 1998. Marking a transition toward faster tempos and heavily distorted instrumentation, it was met with critical acclaim—earning 4.5 stars from Allmusic and a perfect score from Tiny Mix Tapes. Critics recognized it as an almost flawless progression of their signature sound.
Bedhead disbanded soon after this release due to members residing in separate cities and legal issues arising from sharing a name with a Dallas-based haircare company.
Subsequent releases included the "Lepidoptera/Leper" 10" single (October 1998) and Macha Loved Bedhead (April 2000), a collaborative project between the Kadane brothers and Macha (band) on Jetset Records. Guitarist Tench Coxe transitioned into academia, earning a PhD in Russian Literature from Columbia University and joining Midwestern State University’s faculty in 2014.
The New Year and Overseas
In 1999, the Kadane siblings established The New Year and secured a contract with Touch and Go Records. Their musical approach carried forward the essence of Bedhead, featuring tracks such as "Gasoline," which was initially composed by Bedhead. Matt Kadane also participated in Consonant between 2001 and 2003 and performed keyboard duties with Silkworm from 2002 to 2005. In 2012, Bubba and Matt Kadane collaborated with David Bazan and Will Johnson to form Overseas, releasing their first album in June 2013. To date, The New Year has produced four albums, the latest being Snow in 2017.
Sigh of Relief
Beginning in 2019, Bubba Kadane has unveiled three ambient albums on Bandcamp under his solo project Sigh of Relief. Shifting focus from guitar-centric compositions to electroacoustic soundscapes, these releases—Injection (2019), The Dark Surround (2021), and Lifespan (2023)—preserve his intricate instrumental style reminiscent of both Bedhead and The New Year.
The Destructors Club
In 2024, Bedhead’s rhythm duo—Trini Martinez and Kris Wheate—became part of The Destructors Club, a collective including Britt Robisheaux, Big Youth, Scientist, alongside posthumous contributions from Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mark Stewart of The Pop Group. Their inaugural 12-inch release, The Destructors Club Meets... Scientist, pays tribute to Stewart’s influence. The ensemble fuses post-punk with dub elements and is currently working on a full-length album.
Chronology
| Date | |
|---|---|
| 1988 | Band forms without a name |
| Jan 1992 | First Bedhead performance in Austin for an art exhibit by a friend |
| May 1992 | Release of Bedside Table/Living Well 7-inch via Direct Hit Records |
| Dec 1993 | Release of The Rest Of The Day/I'm Not Here 7-inch on Direct Hit Records |
| Feb 1994 | Touring Germany upon invitation from a German group |
| Apr 4, 1994 | Launch of WhatFunLifeWas on Trance Syndicate Records |
| Summer 1994 | Initial recording attempts for tracks later featured on Beheaded |
| Oct 25, 1994 | Release of 4-songCDEP19:10 through Trance Syndicate Records |
| June 1995 | West Coast tour accompanied by various US performances |
| July 1995 | Recording sessions for The Dark Ages EP and Beheaded |
| Jan 1996 | Tour through the deep southern United States |
| Feb 20, 1996 | Release of The Dark Ages EP available on CD and 10-inch vinyl |
| June 18, 1996 | Debut of Beheaded LP/CD format |
| June/July 1996 | Four-week touring schedule across US and Canada |
| Mar/Apr 1997 | Three-week Eastern US tour; final week canceled due to illness |
| May 2–9, 1997 | Recording period for Transaction de Novo |
| Aug 1997 | Preview concerts held in Austin and Dallas ahead of new album release |
| Nov 4, 1997 | Issuance of one-sided vinyl version of 4-songEP19:10 |
| Feb 10, 1998 | Release date for Transaction de Novo LP/CD |
| Mar 9-22, 1998 | Western United States tour itinerary |
| Apr 10-May 2, 1998 | Touring across the Eastern US region |
| May 9–20, 1998 | European tour dates |
| May 20, 1998 | Live session recorded with VPRO |
| Aug 3, 1998 | Official disbandment of the group |
| Oct 20, 1998 | Release of "Lepidoptera"/"Leper" on a 10-inch record |
| Summer 1999 | Matt and Bubba Kadane establish The New Year; four albums released by end of 2017 |
| Apr 25, 2000 | Launch of Macha Loved Bedhead CDEP |
| 2012 | Formation of Overseas; debut album arrives in June of following year |
| Nov 11, 2014 | Release of comprehensive BEDHEAD 1992-1998 box set |
| Apr 18, 2015 | Issuance of Live In Chicago LP/CD |
| Feb 16, 2024 | Release of split Joy Division covers "Atmosphere/Disorder" alongside Codeine |
Musical style and influences
Bedhead's sound was characterized by its restraint, featuring multiple interwoven single-line melodies performed by three electric guitars and one electric bass guitar (frequently utilizing a capo), predominantly with clean tones. This approach often drew parallels to the style of the Velvet Underground.[1] Matt Kadane identified the later period of Talk Talk, particularly the album Spirit of Eden, as a significant inspiration behind their minimalist approach.[2]
According to Allmusic, Bedhead combined indie rock’s understated goals with meticulous songwriting and powerful dynamics, describing them as "the definitive indie rock group" for their skillful vocals, complex melodies, and compelling dynamic shifts.[3]
Their vocals tended to be subdued and somewhat indistinct.[4] While critics often categorized their music as "slowcore" due to its measured tempo, the band members themselves dismissed this label.[5] Many compositions commence at a leisurely pace but gradually increase in tempo, intensity, and volume. Additionally, Bedhead explored unusual time signatures such as 7/8 and 5/4.
Members
- Matt Kadane – guitar, vocals
- Bubba Kadane – guitar, vocals
- Tench Coxe – guitar
- Kris Wheat – bass guitar
- Trini Martinez – drums
Studio albums
| Year | Album title | Release details |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | WhatFunLifeWas |
|
| 1996 | Beheaded |
|
| 1998 | Transaction de Novo |
|
Singles
| Year | Title | Format and notes | Label + release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | "Bedside Table/Living Well" | 7", limited to 1000 copies | Direct Hit Records, May 1992 |
| 1993 | "The Rest of the Day/I'm Not Here" | 7", 33⅓ RPM, limited to 2000 copies | Direct Hit Records, Dec 1993 |
| 1998 | "Lepidoptera/Leper" | 10" | Trance Syndicate, Oct 20, 1998 |
| 2024 | "Atmosphere/Disorder" | Split 7" featuring covers of Joy Division alongside Codeine | Numero Group, Feb 16, 2024 |
EPs
| Year | Album title | Release details |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4-songEP19:10 |
|
| 1996 | The Dark Ages |
|
| 2000 | Macha Loved Bedhead (with Macha) |
|
Compilations
- 2014: 1992–1998 (Box set including 5 LPs, 4 CDs, and digital download) (Numero Group, released November 11, 2014)
Live albums
- 2015: Live 1998 (Issued as Live In Chicago for the Record Store Day LP edition) (Numero Group; LP release on April 18, 2015; CD and digital formats on April 28, 2015)
Unreleased
- 1995: Untitled Collection of Jazz Standards (Leaning House)
Covers of Bedhead songs by other artists
| Year | Song | Cover artist(s) | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | "Bedside Table" | Adem Ilhan | Released under Domino Records |
| 2013 | "Living Well" | New Fumes | No additional notes |
External links
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- Articles with short description
- American post-rock groups
- Indie rock musical groups from Texas
- Musical groups established in 1991
- Musical groups disbanded in 1998
- Musical groups from Dallas
- Slowcore groups
- Trance Syndicate artists
- The Numero Group artists
- American indie rock groups
- Musical groups disestablished in 1998
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with script errors