Boxcar Satan
Encyclopedia
Boxcar Satan is a three-piece band from San Antonio, Texas
, that deconstructs American roots music, depression-era Delta blues, post-industrial field hollers, free improvization and a healthy dose of post-punk noise into a modern blend unique to Texas. When cornered, the band labels themselves as no-account, no wave blues.
Formed in 1990 by guitarist and vocalist Sanford Allen and bassist Patrick Sane; at the time, both were members of the band Evil Mothers, the band has churned out a substantial catalog of releases that have received critical praise from home and abroad. The angular, genre-jumping disks have drawn comparisons to Pere Ubu
, Howlin’ Wolf, The Birthday Party
, Muddy Waters
, Captain Beefheart
, Eric Dolphy
and The Fall, among others. Sane has also played with Pigface
, Genesis P-Orridge
, Reverend Vince Anderson & s.p.a.s.m.
The band has changed personnel numerous times, frequently shuffling drummers. Its current percussionist is Aaron Seibert, previously of the bands Gorch Fock and the Snails.
In addition to his work with Boxcar Satan, Allen is a published author of horror and dark fantasy short stories and prose poems.
The follow-up, Crooked Mile March was released in October 2001 on DogFingers Recordings. Again recorded at Tribal Studios in San Antonio, Texas by Chad Garrett and Bobdog Catlin with cover art by James Cobb.
October 2003 saw the release of Boxcar Satan's third long player Upstanding and Indigent, again for DogFingers, expanding its already diverse sonic palette by ornamenting its noisy, post-punk take on pre-war blues with touches of Cajun music, gospel and even tasteful prog rock. Honing their songs with a newfound melodicism and complexity, the Boxcars spin tales of train-wreck lives, bandit queen Phoolan Devi
and carnival freakshow stars. And their take on the Depression-era song "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
" seems all too appropriate in the current political environment. Recorded after the addition of former Worm, 1.0 and Shit City Dreamgirls drummer Ken Robinson, at Tribal Studios in San Antonio, Texas by Chad Garrett. Cover art by James Cobb.
In April 2006 Boxcar Satan released their first DVD collecting videos for seven of their songs by Texas filmmaker Brant Bumpers along with a 10-song live concert.
No One at the Wheel features videos for the songs songs Calamity Jones, Slow Learner, Traveling Man, Best Be Gone, Ghost of a Chance, Pig in a Dress, and Silent and Automatic. It also includes Boxcar Satan's full performance at the San Antonio Contemporary Art Month's 2004 CAM Carnival. It was released on DogFingers Recordings with cover art by James Cobb.
In 2007, Boxcar Satan collaborated with "folk-punk troubadour" Ghostwriter on the full-length CD Hobo Nouveau. The release features songs written both by Ghostwriter and Boxcar Satan in addition to a handful of folk and country covers. It has a more raw feel than previous disks since it was rehearsed and recorded over a four-day period.
The band recorded and released another studio CD, Trouble All Its Own, in 2009. The 15-track disk is more of a return to the band's stylistic roots, pairing up raw, swampy blues with abrasive no-wave elements. It includes a cover of Blue Oyster Cult's
"Dominance and Submission," which the band often played at live performances.
. They were staples of the seminal San Antonio rock and punk bar Taco Land before the murder of owner Ram Ayala.
called Boxcar Satan's 2004 Album Upstanding & Indigent one of the 10 best Texas releases . The band was also the San Antonio Current's critic's pick for best punk band in the 2004 "Best of San Antonio" issue and they tied for top Blues band in the 2003 issue. Boxcar Satan has even been mentioned on National Public Radio's Day to Day in an article about gig posters.
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, that deconstructs American roots music, depression-era Delta blues, post-industrial field hollers, free improvization and a healthy dose of post-punk noise into a modern blend unique to Texas. When cornered, the band labels themselves as no-account, no wave blues.
Formed in 1990 by guitarist and vocalist Sanford Allen and bassist Patrick Sane; at the time, both were members of the band Evil Mothers, the band has churned out a substantial catalog of releases that have received critical praise from home and abroad. The angular, genre-jumping disks have drawn comparisons to Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu (band)
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1975. Despite many long-term band members, singer David Thomas is the only constant...
, Howlin’ Wolf, The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party (band)
The Birthday Party were an Australian rock band, active from 1973 to 1983.Despite being championed by John Peel, The Birthday Party found little commercial success during their career...
, Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
, Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
, Eric Dolphy
Eric Dolphy
Eric Allan Dolphy was an American jazz alto saxophonist, flutist, and bass clarinetist. On a few occasions he also played the clarinet and baritone saxophone. Dolphy was one of several multi-instrumentalists to gain prominence in the 1960s...
and The Fall, among others. Sane has also played with Pigface
Pigface
Pigface is an industrial rock supergroup formed in 1990 by Martin Atkins and William Rieflin.-History:Pigface was formed from Ministry's The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste tour, which produced the In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up live album and video. For the tour, Al Jourgensen brought...
, Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is an English singer-songwriter, musician, writer and artist. P-Orridge's early confrontational performance work in COUM Transmissions in the late 1960s and early 1970s along with the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, which dealt with subjects such as prostitution,...
, Reverend Vince Anderson & s.p.a.s.m.
The band has changed personnel numerous times, frequently shuffling drummers. Its current percussionist is Aaron Seibert, previously of the bands Gorch Fock and the Snails.
In addition to his work with Boxcar Satan, Allen is a published author of horror and dark fantasy short stories and prose poems.
Discography
Boxcar Satan's first full-length studio recording, Days Before the Flood was released in July 1999 on Compulsive Records. It was recorded at Tribal Studios in San Antonio, Texas by Chad Garrett and Bobdog Catlin and featured cover art by James Cobb.The follow-up, Crooked Mile March was released in October 2001 on DogFingers Recordings. Again recorded at Tribal Studios in San Antonio, Texas by Chad Garrett and Bobdog Catlin with cover art by James Cobb.
October 2003 saw the release of Boxcar Satan's third long player Upstanding and Indigent, again for DogFingers, expanding its already diverse sonic palette by ornamenting its noisy, post-punk take on pre-war blues with touches of Cajun music, gospel and even tasteful prog rock. Honing their songs with a newfound melodicism and complexity, the Boxcars spin tales of train-wreck lives, bandit queen Phoolan Devi
Phoolan Devi
Phoolan Devi , popularly known as the "Bandit Queen", was an Indian dacoit and later a politician. After being gang-raped by some upper-caste members of her gang, Phoolan Devi turned a bandit, and killed 22 upper-caste villagers in 1981. Following this, she became notorious across India as a bandit...
and carnival freakshow stars. And their take on the Depression-era song "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?
"How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?" is an American folk song originally recorded on December 4, 1929 in New York City. It was written, composed, and performed by Blind Alfred Reed, accompanying himself on the violin. The song tells of hard times during the Great Depression...
" seems all too appropriate in the current political environment. Recorded after the addition of former Worm, 1.0 and Shit City Dreamgirls drummer Ken Robinson, at Tribal Studios in San Antonio, Texas by Chad Garrett. Cover art by James Cobb.
In April 2006 Boxcar Satan released their first DVD collecting videos for seven of their songs by Texas filmmaker Brant Bumpers along with a 10-song live concert.
No One at the Wheel features videos for the songs songs Calamity Jones, Slow Learner, Traveling Man, Best Be Gone, Ghost of a Chance, Pig in a Dress, and Silent and Automatic. It also includes Boxcar Satan's full performance at the San Antonio Contemporary Art Month's 2004 CAM Carnival. It was released on DogFingers Recordings with cover art by James Cobb.
In 2007, Boxcar Satan collaborated with "folk-punk troubadour" Ghostwriter on the full-length CD Hobo Nouveau. The release features songs written both by Ghostwriter and Boxcar Satan in addition to a handful of folk and country covers. It has a more raw feel than previous disks since it was rehearsed and recorded over a four-day period.
The band recorded and released another studio CD, Trouble All Its Own, in 2009. The 15-track disk is more of a return to the band's stylistic roots, pairing up raw, swampy blues with abrasive no-wave elements. It includes a cover of Blue Oyster Cult's
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
"Dominance and Submission," which the band often played at live performances.
Touring & shows
Boxcar Satan has toured the United States numerous times, playing everywhere from smoky dive bars and bingo halls to highbrow art galleries and San Francisco’s Church of SatanChurch of Satan
The Church of Satan is an organization dedicated to the acceptance of the carnal self, as articulated in The Satanic Bible, written in 1969 by Anton Szandor LaVey.- History :...
. They were staples of the seminal San Antonio rock and punk bar Taco Land before the murder of owner Ram Ayala.
Reviews
The Austin ChronicleAustin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
called Boxcar Satan's 2004 Album Upstanding & Indigent one of the 10 best Texas releases . The band was also the San Antonio Current's critic's pick for best punk band in the 2004 "Best of San Antonio" issue and they tied for top Blues band in the 2003 issue. Boxcar Satan has even been mentioned on National Public Radio's Day to Day in an article about gig posters.