The Karl Hendricks Trio
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , United States |
| Products | Studio albums, tours |
The Karl Hendricks Trio was a rock group originating from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, active between 1991 and 2016. Throughout more than a decade, they produced seven studio albums and embarked on numerous tours. Their most recent record, The Adult Section (2012), featured Jake Leger on drums and Corey Layman handling bass duties. Karl Hendricks fulfilled the roles of lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter.
Biography
Established in 1991 following the dissolution of Hendricks' earlier ensemble, Sludgehammer, the Trio initially consisted of Hendricks alongside bassist Tim Parker and drummer Tom Hoffman. Their first album, Buick Electra (1992), was released under Hendricks' own Grass Records label, quickly attracting nationwide recognition and selling out. That year was followed by the mini-album Some Girls Like Cigarettes (1993) and the full-length Misery and Women, both supported by their inaugural tours.
In 1994, Buick Electra saw a CD reissue. The 1995 album A Gesture of Kindness, produced by Brian Paulson, was the final release featuring the original rhythm section. Later that year, Merge Records re-released Some Girls Like Cigarettes. With Len Jarabeck stepping in for Parker on bass, the band issued For a While, It Was Funny (1996), followed by Declare Your Weapons (1998), which introduced Caulen Kress on bass and Noah Leger on drums.
Between 1998 and 2000, the lineup expanded into a four-piece known as the "Karl Hendricks Rock Band," adding Matt Jencik on guitar and Chris Emerson on drums; however, this period yielded minimal new recordings. Returning to a trio format in 2001 with Jake Leger on drums, they released The Jerks Win Again (2002) through Merge Records. After a nationwide tour in 2003 supporting this album, Kress departed and Jarabeck resumed bass duties in 2004. That same year featured a reissue of A Gesture of Kindness. Their subsequent album, The World Says, arrived in 2007.
Their final work, The Adult Section, was issued in 2012 via Comedy Minus One.
Over the years, their musical style transitioned from introspective indie rock to broader guitar-driven arrangements paired with more outward-focused lyrics. The Karl Hendricks Trio frequently toured with prominent indie bands such as Neutral Milk Hotel, Superchunk, Smog, Low, among others.
In addition to his work with the Trio, Hendricks contributed bass performances for Speaking Canaries and Developer.
Karl Hendricks died on January 21, 2017, at age 46, which brought an end to the Karl Hendricks Trio's activities.
Discography
- Buick Electra (Peas Kor, 1992; reissued by Grass, 1994)
- Some Girls Like Cigarettes (Big Ten Rex, 1993; reissued by Merge, 1995)
- Misery and Women (Fiasco, 1993)
- A Gesture of Kindness (Fiasco/Peas Kor, 1995; reissued by Spirit of Orr, 2004)
- For a While, It Was Funny (Merge, 1996)
- Declare Your Weapons (Merge, 1998)
- The Jerks Win Again (Merge, 2003)
- The World Says (as The Karl Hendricks Rock Band) (Comedy Minus One, 2007)
- The Adult Section (Comedy Minus One, 2012)
Former
- Karl Hendricks (vocals, guitar; deceased 2017)
- Corey Layman (bass)
- Jake Leger (drums)
- Len Jarabeck (bass)
- Caulen Kress (bass)
- Noah Leger (drums)
- Tim Parker (bass)
- Tom Hoffman (drums)
- Chris Emerson (drums)
- Matt Jencik (guitar)
- Alexsey Plotnicov (guitar)