Day 43: Heartless B@stards

General Info
Members:
Erika Wennerstrom - Vocals & Guitar, Dave Colvin - Drums, Jesse Ebaugh - Bass

Biography:
Heartless B@stards are a rock trio hailing from Austin, Texas via Cincinnati, Ohio. They were originally founded by lead vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Erika Wennerstrom as a quartet in Cincinnati, Ohio. The group was originally rounded out by Dave Colvin on drums, Adam McAllister on bass, and Michael Weinel on lead guitar. However they first recorded and rose to popularity as a trio consisting of Mike Lamping on bass and Kevin Vaughn on drums alongside Wennerstrom. Lamping and Wennerstrom were involved romantically, and after they split, Wennerstrom decided to recruit original drummer Colvin back into the mix, along with bassist Jesse Ebaugh and relocate to Austin, Texas.

The band, throughout all of its existence, has been a part of the Fat Possum label. They were signed in 2004 on the basis of a 5-song EP that was brought to Fat Possum's attention by Patrick Carney, labelmate and drummer of fellow Ohio band The Black Keys.

Major Discography:

Stairs and Elevators (2005) - Opens with a fury and doesn't let up an ounce, as it is the most straight forward garage rock effort in their catalogue.


All This Time (2006) - Expands on the original sound by adding subtle hints (strings, slower tempo songs, more piano) that the band has more behind them than simply in-your-face garage rock.


The Mountain (2009) - Wennerstrom truly blossoms in her songwriting ability on this effort, as The Mountain transitions beautifully from blues ballads to banjo melody to foot-stomping blues rockers. Recorded in Austin, Texas with the new outfit and with Mike McCarthy (Spoon) on production.


Sounds Like
Genre:
The B@stards were originally pegged into a garage-rock revival genre in their early years, but have since shed the label and expanded their sound into an undefinable combination of roots-inspired blues and folk.

Similar Artists:
Again, early in their career, they could easily be compared to bands like The Black Keys and White Stripes. However, with the expansions that have occurred on All This Time and The Mountain, an accurate comparison is drawn to a female-fronted Wilco.

Wennerstrom's voice is the single most important element to the Heartless B@stards sound. Her range and passion are undeniable, and really drive everything the band does. The most accurate comparison, without exaggeration, is Robert Plant, however everything ranging from Janis Joplin to PJ Harvey can be heard as major influences on her vocals.

Similar Bonnaroo Artists:
The Black Keys
Wilco
Band of Horses


Suggested Listening
All three albums are essential to understanding the evolution of the band. I would say this question depends more on the tastes of the listener. As I explained in the description of the albums, if you're looking for the most straightforward rocking effort, go with Stairs and Elevators. However, as you progress through the albums, the music morphs into something much richer and more developed in terms of musical diversity.

Encore favorite "Gray" from Stairs and Elevators


"Out At Sea" from The Mountain


"All This Time" from All This Time



Physical Reaction/Live Show
I've seen Heartless B@stards approximately a dozen times, as I was fortunate enough to see them a lot living in Cincinnati at the time when they were rising in popularity. When their rocking songs come on, be prepared to rock out with them, as Wennerstrom's voice is so powerful and passionate, she won't leave you the choice. They are a pretty straightforward rock band, so don't expect any theatrics, crazy lighting or anything. They really don't solo that much either. If you know their stuff from the disc, you're pretty much going to get the same thing live, only louder and with a little more umph.


Interesting Facts
The name of the band comes from a question on a Mega Touch trivia quiz game at a bar. A question asked the name of Tom Petty's backing band, and one of the options was "Tom Petty and the Heartless B@stards." Wennerstrom thought it was funny, and used it when she later formed the band.

The band are truly hometown heroes here in Cincinnati, as in relation to the modern rock landscape, they are probably the biggest thing going from here.

Their album Stairs and Elevators was the #12 album of the year in 2005 (based on airplay) by internet radio station WOXY.com. All This Time was #23 the following year.

They played Bonnaroo once before, in 2005, to a near empty That Tent. It was one of the few sets that I've actually been in the front row for, and it was definitely a rocking one.


Personal Notes
I personally think this band is phenomenal. I have loved to see the band grow and expand their sound as well as their fanbase. Wennerstrom alone is reason enough to see this band, as her voice is pure sex to the ears. Barring any major conflicts, I will most definitely be at their set.

If you're looking for additional coverage of the band, the blog Each Note Secure is THE music blog for everything that is related to Cincinnati music, and a lot of valuable content is provided HERE. (ED: I write for Each Note Secure, so I'm a little biased, hehe)