Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is an American band from

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

referred to them as "arguably the most consistently brilliant and unique American group to emerge during the 1990s".

Description and history

Never a band with a "core" lineup, Lambchop has consisted of a large and fluid collective of musicians focused around its creative centre,

frontman The lead vocalist in popular music is typically the member of a group or band whose voice is the most prominent melody in a performance where multiple voices may be heard. The lead singer sets their voice against the accompaniment parts of the ...

Kurt Wagner. Lambchop is loosely associated with the

alternative country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

genre. Initially indebted to traditional

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

, the music has subsequently moved through a range of influences including

post-rock Post-rock is a form of experimental rock characterized by a focus on exploring textures and timbre over traditional rock song structures, chords, or riffs. Post-rock artists are often instrumental, typically combining rock instrumentation with ...

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...

and

lounge music Lounge music is a type of easy listening music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It may be meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place, usually with a tranquil theme, such as a jungle, an island paradise or outer space. The rang ...

. Whatever the style, the characteristic mood of Lambchop's music is evoked by Wagner's distinctive songwriting: lyrically subtle and ambiguous, the vocals melodic but understated. ''

American Songwriter ''American Songwriter'' is a bimonthly magazine covering songwriting. Established in 1984, it features interviews, songwriting tips, news, reviews and lyric contest. The magazine is based in Nashville, Tennessee. History The ''American Songwri ...

'' described Wagner's lyrics as "witty and deeply insightful." They were the backing band for

Vic Chesnutt James Victor Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, little (album), ''Little'', was released in 1990. His commercial breakthrough came in 1996 with the rele ...

on his 1998 album ''

The Salesman and Bernadette ''The Salesman and Bernadette'' is a 1998 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are from the American alternative country group Lambchop. Track listing All songs written by Vic Chesnutt #"Duty Free" – 3:13 #"Bernade ...

''. Singer Kurt Wagner is married to founder of Nashville 90's record store, Lucy's Record Shop and Tennessee Democratic Party leader

Mary Mancini Mary Mancini is an American political activist and former candidate, who served as Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party from 2015 to 2021. She was elected as Chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party on January 10, 2015 as the second woman to be ...

Personnel

Summary of members as credited on studio albums (1994–present) Former bass player Marc Trovillion died of a heart attack in October 2013, aged 56.

Discography

Releases as Posterchild

*"An Open Fresca" / "A Moist Towlette" (split with Crop Circle Hoax) (1992)

Cassettes

*'' Secret Secret Sourpuss '' (1990) *'' Big Tussie '' (1992) *'' Sorry About The Deformed Heart '' (split with Crop Circle Hoax and Spent) (1993)

Singles

*"Nine" / "Moody Fucker" (1993) *"My Cliche" / "Loretta Lung" (1994) *"Soaky in the Pooper" (1994) *"Your Life As A Sequel" (1995) *"Scared Out Of My Shoes" (split 5" vinyl single with Spent) (1995) *"The Man Who Loved Beer" (1996) *"Hank" (1996) *"Cigaretiquette" / "Mr. Crabby" (1996) *"Whitey" / "Playboy, the Shit" (1997) *"Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" (1998) *"Your Fucking Sunny Day" (1998) *"Up with People!" / "Miss Prissy" (2000) *"Is a Woman" (2002) *"Something's Going On (And On)" (2004) *"The Hustle" / "When You Were Mine" (2017)

Studio albums

Compilation albums

*''

Tools in the Dryer ''Tools in the Dryer'' is a Lambchop. It compiles rarities from across the band's career, including early demos and live performances. Track listing # "Nine" # "Whitey" # "Cigaretiquette" # "Miss Prissy" # "The Petrified Florist" # "Each with a ...

'' (2001) *''The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization (1993-1999)'' (2006) *'' The Decline of Country and Western Civilization, Part 2: The Woodwind Years'' (2006) *'' Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine'' (2010) *''Turd Goes Back: Essential Tracks from Secret Secret Sourpuss & Big Tussie'' (2011)

Tour only albums

*''Pet Sounds Sucks (Live at The Great American Music Hall, San Francisco)'' (2002) *''Mono (Live in Würselen, Germany)'' (2003-04) *''Nashville Does Dallas'' (2004) *''Boo Fucking Who? (Live in Brussels, Belgium)'' (2004) *''Succulence (Live in Vienna, Austria)'' (2006) *''Rainer on My Parade (Live, various locations)'' (2008) *''Democracy'' (2012) *''Live At The Shanghai Symphony Chamber Hall'' (2017)

EPs

*''Hank'' (1996) *''The Queens Royal Trimma'' (Live Royal Festival Hall, London – Tour Only)'' (2000) *''Treasure Chest of the Enemy (Tour Only)'' (2001) *''CoLab'' (with Hands Off Cuba) (2005) *''Mr. N'' (2012) *''Basement Tapes'' (2019)

Live albums

*''Live at XX Merge'' (2009)

DVDs

*''No Such Silence'' (2007)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lambchop Musical groups from Nashville, Tennessee American alternative country groups Musical groups established in 1986 1986 establishments in Tennessee Chamber pop musicians Merge Records artists City Slang artists