Those Bastard Souls
| Company type | Indie rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Founder | David Shouse |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums |
Number of employees | 5 (core members) |
Those Bastard Souls was an American indie rock ensemble established in 1995 as a solo side venture by David Shouse, known from The Grifters. The band's name, derived from These Immortal Souls, initially served as an alternative to the Grifters' original name, A Band Called Bud. Shouse intended this project to feature a fluid lineup of temporary collaborators.
While working on the Grifters' debut Sub Pop release, Ain't My Lookout, Shouse received an offer from Darla Records to produce a solo record. Aiming to convey more intimate and straightforward lyrics than those typical of the Grifters, he adopted the Those Bastard Souls identity for this endeavor.
Twentieth Century Chemical
The 1996 album Twentieth Century Chemical was created at Easley McCain Recording with producers Doug Easley, Davis McCain, and engineer Stuart Sikes. The record included performances by Grifters drummer Stanley Gallimore on multiple tracks, most notably "Subterranean Death Ride Blues, Pt.2," which serves as a continuation of a Grifters composition. The album's liner notes were deliberately obscure, omitting personnel details; Shouse was credited under the alias "Will David."
Tour
In 1997, Those Bastard Souls supported Sebadoh on their tour. Shouse teamed up with Red Red Meat’s Matt Fields to form a touring group featuring Trenchmouth drummer and future Saturday Night Live cast member Fred Armisen, longstanding collaborator Joan Wasser of The Dambuilders, Steven Golub, and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd from The Flaming Lips.
Debt & Departure
Following the 1997 drowning of Jeff Buckley—who was both a friend of Shouse and partner to Wasser—Those Bastard Souls transitioned from the original "bastard musician" concept into a more traditional band format. For their 1999 release Debt & Departure, Shouse, Wasser, and Fields were joined by Buckley’s guitarist Michael Tighe and Dambuilders’ drummer Kevin March. This album revisited roughly one-third of their earlier material and included a piano ballad rendition of "Spaced Out," initially featured on the Grifters' Full Blown Possession. Although the Grifters occasionally regrouped for performances, the recording and touring cycle for this album effectively placed Those Bastard Souls on an indefinite pause.
Bloodthirsty Lovers
By 2001, Shouse initiated a new musical project named Bloodthirsty Lovers, inspired by a track from the Grifters' Full Blown Possession. He began by recording solo synthesizer and keyboard pieces before collaborating with Kevin March and Steve Selvidge of Big Ass Truck. The trio toured alongside The Flaming Lips in 2003 and also opened for bands such as Modest Mouse and Guided by Voices, the latter of which March subsequently joined. In 2004, they released the EP titled The Delicate Seam.
Members
- Dave Shouse: vocals, guitar, piano, keyboard, songwriter
- Joan Wasser: violin, vocals
- Matt Fields: bass, piano, vocals
- Michael Tighe: guitars
- Kevin March: drums, percussion
Recording and touring personnel
- Doug Easley: various instruments
- Davis McCain: various instruments
- Stan Gallimore: drums
- Steven Drozd: drums, horns, keyboards, guitars
- Fred Armisen: drums
- Steven Golub: saxophone, gobolobophone, tapes, percussion
Discography
- Twentieth Century Chemical (Darla Records, 1996)
- Debt & Departure (V2 Records, 1999)
External links
- Discogs – Comprehensive release details