Grifters is an American indie rock/alternative rock band based in Memphis who have released albums on Darla Records, Doink, Sonic Noise, Shangri-La Records, and Sub Pop Records. The band released five studio albums from 1992 to 1997. In the years following 1997, the band had breaks in activity with some members pursuing other musical projects and with the band sporadically touring in the years after. However, in recent years they have continued to tour on a consistent basis and have stated interest in recording new material. The band has released and reissued some of their material on Bandcamp.
The band originally formed in the late 1980s as A Band Called Bud, with vocalist/guitarist Scott Taylor, bassist Tripp Lamkins, and vocalist/drummer Dave Shouse who founded the band and became its leader. After being renamed Grifters (after the novel by Jim Thompson) by 1990, Shouse joined Taylor on guitar, with Stanley Gallimore taking over on the drums. Songwriting duties were shared between Shouse, Taylor and Lamkins. For several years in the 1990s, they recorded primarily at Easley McCain Recording and were closely affiliated with Memphis's Shangri-La Records label. Jeff Buckley was a vocal supporter of The Grifters and was close friends with the band.
Links to Peel[]
Peel first played the band's material in 1992 and continued playing their songs including two sessions for his programmes between 1994 and 1996. After 1996, Peel didn't play any further material from the group and did not play any material from their final album, which was released in 1997.
Sessions[]
GRIFTERS John Peel 4th February 1996
1. Recorded: 1994-05-22. First Broadcast: 29 July 1994
- Meanwhile / Ten Thousand / Wreck / Clot
2. Recorded: 1996-02-04. First Broadcast: 16 February 1996
- Steam / Subterranean Death Ride Blues / Life Is Swell
Other Shows Played[]
- 08 March 1992: Encrusted (7") Doink
- 28 March 1992: Encrusted (7 inch - The Kingdom of Jones) (Doink Records)
- 10 August 1992 (BFBS): Soda Pop (7") Shangri-La
- 29 August 1992: Soda Pop (7") Shangri-La
- 11 September 1992: Dry Bones (CD - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 11 September 1992: Hate (CD - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 12 September 1992: Tat (album - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 18 September 1992: Oar (CD - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 30 October 1992: Wreck (album - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 31 October 1992: Meanwhile (album - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 31 October 1992: 10,000 (album - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 01 November 1992 (BFBS): Love Explosion (CD - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 13 November 1992: The Want (album - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 15 November 1992 (BFBS): The Want (LP - So Happy Together) Sonic Noise
- 1993
- 05 June 1993: Bummer / She Blows Blasts Of Static / Teenage Jesus (LP - One Sock Missing) Shangri-La
- 12 June 1993 (BFBS): Bummer (LP - One Sock Missing) Shangri-La
- 18 June 1993: ’Side (LP – One Sock Missing)’ (Southern Records)
- 26 June 1993 (BFBS): Tupelo Moan (CD-One Sock Missing) Shangri-la
- 03 July 1993 (BFBS): Corolla Hoist (album - One Sock Missing) Southern
- 1994
- 07 January 1994: ‘Under The Ground (7 inch - Working Holiday (October))' (Simple Machines Records)
- 18 February 1994: Holmes (7 inch) Darla
- 30 April 1994 (BFBS): Get Outta That Spaceship & Fight Like A Man (album - Crappin' You Negative) Southern
- 20 May 1994: ‘Get Outta That Spaceship & Fight Like A Man (CD - Crappin' You Negative )’ Shangri-La
- 28 May 1994 (BFBS): Black Fuel Incinerator (album - Crappin' You Negative) Southern
- 10 June 1994: Rats (LP - Crappin' You Negative ) Shangri-La
- 11 June 1994 (BFBS): Get Outta That Spaceship & Fight Like A Man (album - Crappin' You Negative) Southern
- 19 November 1994: Queen Of The Table Waters (7") Sub Pop
- 26 November 1994 (BFBS): 'Queen Of The Table Waters (7")' (Sub Pop)
- 1995
- 28 April 1995: 'His Jesus Song (10 inch-The Eureka EP)' (Shangri-La)
- 09 June 1995: 'Slow Day For The Cleaner (EP-The Eureka EP)' (Shangri La)
- 10 June 1995 (BFBS): 'Slow Day For The Cleaner (10"-The Eureka EP)' (Shangri-La)
- 30 June 1995: Founder's Day Parade (10 inch - The Eureka EP) Shangri-La
- 16 December 1995: Covered With Flies (album - Ain't My Lookout) Sub Pop
- 23 December 1995 (BFBS): 'Covered With Flies (LP-Ain't My Lookout)' (Sub Pop)
- 30 December 1995 (BFBS): 'Mysterious Friends (LP-Ain't My Lookout)' (Sub Pop)
- 1996
- 12 January 1996: 'Parting Shot (LP-Ain't My Lookout)' (Sub Pop)
- 03 February 1996: Parting Shot (LP Ain't My Lookout) Sub Pop