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Old 97's is an American
rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
band from
Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
,
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
. Formed in 1992, they have since released twelve studio albums, two full
extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.
s, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is ''Twelfth''. They were pioneers of the
alt-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 ...
movement during the mid-to-late 1990s, then they developed more of a
power pop Power pop (also typeset as powerpop) is a form of pop rock based on the early music of bands such as the Who, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and the Byrds. It typically incorporates melodic hooks, vocal harmonies, an energetic performance, and c ...
style in the 2000s. Lead vocalist and primary songwriter Rhett Miller has described the band's style as "loud
folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Folk Plus or Fo ...
". The band's name is in reference to the
Wreck of the Old 97 Wreck or The Wreck may refer to: Common uses * Wreck, a collision of an automobile, aircraft or other vehicle * Shipwreck, the remains of a ship after a crisis at sea Places * The Wreck (surf spot), a surf spot at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Aus ...
.


Career

Initially a popular Dallas bar band, Old 97's toured the country after releasing their first album, 1994's ''
Hitchhike to Rhome ''Hitchhike to Rhome'' is the first studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, first released on November 1, 1994 (see 1994 in music). The title comes from the song, "Stoned," and refers to Rhome, Texas. The lyrics make numerous ref ...
'' and 1995's split EP release ''Stoned / Garage Sale'' with fellow Dallas band ''Funland'' on ''
Idol Records Idol Records is a Dallas, Texas-based record label and publishing company founded in 1993 by Erv Karwelis, who serves as president of the label. Its roster consists of bands such as The O's, Dead Flowers, The Crash That Took Me, Here Holy Spain, ...
''. In Chicago, they caught the attention of
Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country. History Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from jobs i ...
and were signed to record their next album. 1995's ''
Wreck Your Life ''Wreck Your Life'' is the second studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, first released on October 3, 1995 (see 1995 in music). The album's title comes from a Texas Department of Transportation bumper sticker with the slogan, "Don ...
'' brought them to the attention of Elektra Records, who hoped that alt-country could be a new post- grunge trend. Lead singer Rhett Miller, born in Austin, later lived in New York City and Los Angeles. Many of the band's songs include local
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
references, with references to New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago appearing as well. Most songs are written and sung by Miller, with bassist Murry Hammond picking up the vocals on one or two tracks per album. Hammond also handled a number of country covers, especially in the band's earlier years. Hammond also performs gospel at his local church. The band's 2004 album ''
Drag It Up ''Drag It Up'' is a studio album by American country/rock band Old 97's, released in 2004 (see 2004 in music). The album's title comes from the fourth track, "Smokers." The album peaked at #120 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Critical reception '' ...
'' also includes a song written and sung by guitarist Ken Bethea, "Coahuila." In 2005, ''
Blender A blender (sometimes called a mixer or liquidiser in British English) is a kitchen and laboratory appliance used to mix, crush, purée or emulsify food and other substances. A stationary blender consists of a blender container with a rotating me ...
'' magazine ranked the band's then most successful single, 1999's "Murder (Or a Heart Attack)", as the 176th greatest song "since you were born." Their music has been featured in a number of films and TV series, including ''
The Break-Up ''The Break-Up'' is a 2006 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Peyton Reed, starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston. It was written by Jay Lavender and Jeremy Garelick from a story by them and Vaughn, and produced by Universal Pict ...
'' ("Salome", "Melt Show", "Timebomb"), ''
Clay Pigeons ''Clay Pigeons'' is a 1998 black comedy film written by Matt Healy and directed by David Dobkin. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn, and Janeane Garofalo. It is the second film on-screen collaboration between Vaughn and Phoenix, the ...
'' ("Timebomb"), '' Slither'' ("The New Kid"), ''
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide ''Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide'' (sometimes shortened to ''Ned's Declassified'') is an American live action sitcom on Nickelodeon that debuted on the Nickelodeon Sunday night TEENick scheduling block on September 12, 2004. The serie ...
'' ("Big Brown Eyes"), '' Ed'' ("Question", "King of All the World"), '' Scrubs'' ("Question"), ''
Veronica Mars ''Veronica Mars'' is an American teen noir mystery drama television series created by screenwriter Rob Thomas. The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the eponymous character. The series pr ...
'' ("Adelaide", "Four-Leaf Clover", "The New Kid") and ''
Scorpion Scorpions are predatory arachnids of the order Scorpiones. They have eight legs, and are easily recognized by a pair of grasping pincers and a narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back and always en ...
'' ("Question"). With respect to ''The Break-Up'', a key scene toward the end of the film takes place at an Old 97's concert. Rhett Miller has recorded seven solo studio albums and one live album, with 2002's '' The Instigator'' receiving substantial airplay on
alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * ''The Alternative'' (film), a 1978 Australian television film * ''The Alternative ...
-oriented radio stations. He toured with
Neil Finn Neil Mullane Finn (born 27 May 1958) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician who is known for being a member of Crowded House, Split Enz (which he co-fronted with brother Tim), and Fleetwood Mac. Finn rose to prominence in the late ...
in 2004. Miller's second major commercial album, '' The Believer'', was released in February 2006. Murry Hammond's solo album, ''I Don't Know Where I'm Going But I'm on My Way'', was released April 21, 2008. Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band, although they claim never to rehearse their act. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on ''Satellite Rides'', and released a live double CD set recorded at historic
Gruene Hall Gruene Hall, built in 1878 by Henry (Heinrich) D. Gruene and located in the historical town of Gruene, Texas (now a part of New Braunfels), bills itself as "the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas". By design, not much has physically change ...
in 2005, '' Alive & Wired''.
Rhino Entertainment Rhino Entertainment Company is an American specialty record label and production company founded in 1978. It is currently the catalog division for Warner Music Group. Its current CEO is Mark Pinkus. History Founded in 1978, Rhino was originall ...
released '' Hit by a Train: The Best of Old 97's'', an eighteen-track compilation of songs from the band's beginnings through 2001, featuring liner notes and an essay by rock critic Robert Christgau. Satellite Riders is a faux "tribute band"—it is actually an alias the band performs under when contractual obligations prevent them from using the Old 97's name. The Ranchero Brothers is the name used when only Rhett and Murray Hammond perform. The recording of "Timebomb" from the live album '' Alive & Wired'' was made available for download along with other alt-country songs for the music video games '' Rock Band'' and '' Rock Band 2''. Their next studio project, ''The Grand Theatre'', was released in two volumes. The first, '' The Grand Theatre, Volume One'', was released on October 12, 2010. The second, '' The Grand Theatre, Volume Two'', was released on July 5, 2011. In 2013 the band released an EP containing two tracks with vocals by country music legend
Waylon Jennings Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He pioneered the Outlaw Movement in country music. Jennings started playing guitar at the age of eight and performed at age f ...
entitled '' Old 97's & Waylon Jennings''. Rhett Miller called the previously unreleased tunes with Jennings "the band's 'holy grail.'" The band's tenth studio album, '' Most Messed Up'', was released April 29, 2014, by ATO Records and was their best-selling album to date, reaching #30 on the Billboard 200. Their next two releases on ATO Records were ''Graveyard Whistling'', their 11th studio album, released February 24, 2017, and ''Love the Holidays'', an album of mostly original Christmas songs, released November 16, 2018. ATO Records released the band's next studio album, aptly named ''Twelfth'', on August 21, 2020. The twelve tracks were produced by Vance Powell, who produced ''Graveyard Whistling''. Old 97's noted that the recording sessions in Nashville started on the night of a deadly tornado outbreak and right before the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
hit. The band members portrayed the alien rock band Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen in ''
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special ''The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special'' is an American television special written and directed by James Gunn for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy. It is the sec ...
'', singing the original song "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (But Christmastime Is Here)" and their 2018 song "Here It Is Christmastime," the latter with
Kevin Bacon Kevin Norwood Bacon (born July 8, 1958) is an American actor. His films include the musical-drama film '' Footloose'' (1984), the controversial historical conspiracy legal thriller '' JFK'' (1991), the legal drama '' A Few Good Men'' (1992), t ...
singing lead.


Band members

;Current members * Rhett Miller – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1992–present) * Murry Hammond – bass guitar, backing and lead vocals, acoustic guitar (1992–present) * Ken Bethea – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals (1992–present) * Philip Peeples – drums, backing vocals (1992–present) ;Session substitutes * Clark Vogeler – lead guitar (1994) * Alan Wooley – lead guitar (1994) ;Touring substitutes *
Fred Armisen Fereydun Robert Armisen (born December 4, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. With his comedy partner Carrie Brownstein, Armisen was the co-creator and co-star of the IFC sketch comedy series '' Portlandia''. ...
– drums (2017) * Jason Garner – drums (2017)


Discography


Albums


Singles


DVDs

* 2005: '' Old 97's Live'' (New West Records)


References


External links


Old 97's Official web siteOfficial Rhett Miller WebsiteHit By A Train, FansiteJuly 2009 Interview
with ''L.A.Record'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Old 97s 1993 establishments in Texas American alternative country groups American power pop groups Musical groups established in 1993 Musical groups from Dallas New West Records artists Bloodshot Records artists Elektra Records artists ATO Records artists