The Dexateens

The Dexateens
OriginTuscaloosa, Alabama United States
GenresSouthern rock, punk rock, punk blues
Years active1998 – present
LabelsCornelius Chapel Records
Skybucket Records
Estrus Records
MembersElliott McPherson
Matt Patton
Brian Gosdin
John Smith
Past membersCraig "Sweet Dog" Pickering
Craig Gates
Lee Bains III
Nikolaus Mimikakis
Taylor Hollingsworth
Brad Armstrong
Ronnie Lee Gipson
WebsiteDexateens.org

The Dexateens are a five-piece rock and roll band out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.[1]

History

1998-2010

The Dexateens began as a five-piece band in 1998 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama,[2][3] with co-lead singer-songwriters and guitarists Elliott McPherson, John Smith, and Craig Gates, with drummer Craig "Sweet Dog" Pickering and bassist Matt Patton rounding out the group.[4][5][6] Patton pulls double duty, as he is also a full-time member of the Drive-By Truckers,[7] with whom The Dexateens have toured in the past.[8] In its earliest form, the band was known for its punk shows at The Chukker and Egan's.[1][9]

McPherson said The Dexateens' name originated from a guitar pick Smith's brother/roommate had signed by Dexter Romweber, "DEX," which subliminally stuck with him when thinking up names for the band. Once they had the name, they tried to change it to something else (The Highwatts, Red Dirt Five, Sweet Dog) but the name stuck.[9][10]

Starting in 2004 with their debut self-titled record,[11] The Dexateens have released two albums on Estrus Records and three albums Skybucket Records.[12] Their 2004 self-titled debut and 2005 followup, Red Dust Rising, were both produced by Tim Kerr (Big Boys, Poison 13, Jack O'Fire, Lord High Fixers).

In 2006, The Dexateens released the EP, Teenager, on Dell'orso Records. The record is made up of material from 2000 and consists of the band's earlier punk rock sound.[13]

2007's full-length record, Hardwire Healing, features the acoustic song "Nadine," a song notable for its portrayal of devastation.[3][14] The record features artwork by Jimmi Hole and was mastered by JJ Golden.[15] Patterson Hood (Drive-By Truckers) and David Barbe co-produced the record, which was recorded in Athens, Georgia, at Chase Park Transduction Studios.[13][16] Also in 2007, original Dexateens drummer Craig "Sweet Dog" Pickering left the band[3] and Brian Gosdin joined the band on drums.[17]

In 2008, the band released the record, Lost and Found, on Skybucket Records. It was initially released as a free digital download with a purchase-able physical product released later.[18] They recorded 2009's Singlewide with Tim Kerr producing over a three-day period in Birmingham.[19][20] The artwork is by Mike Egan.[21]

In 2008, Brad Armstrong (13ghosts) joined the band, also on guitar and backing vocals.[22]

They appeared at the 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival.[23][24]

In 2010, singer-songwriter and guitarist John Smith left the band. In July 2010, The Dexateens announced the band was disbanding.[25][26]

2013-present

In 2013, the band returned from a two-year hiatus[27] with the EP Sunsphere, which is named after the Knoxville, Tennessee, observation tower that was built for the 1982 World's Fair.[19]

Teenage Hallelujah was released October 7, 2016. McPherson said the record is inspired by the C.S. Lewis novel The Screwtape Letters.[28] The record was recorded in 2011 in McPherson's barn and was produced and engineered by Bronson Tew (Seratones, Jimbo Mathus, Water Liars), and features liner notes by WFMU's Kevin Nutt.[29] Teenage Hallelujah was a shift for the band, as guitarist and vocalist Lee Bains moved on to work on his own band, Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires.[30][31] The band welcomed the addition of Taylor Hollingsworth (Dead Fingers, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band) on lead guitar and backing vocals.

A new record called Struggler was reportedly tracked at Dial Back Sound Studios in Water Valley, MS in 2017. The band reunited as a four piece with original member, guitarist and songwriter John Smith at Heathens Homecoming 2020 in Athens, GA and recorded a live album. It was released in 2020. They have played a few intermittent shows as a four piece since the release of the live album.

Cornelius Chapel Records

In 2013, the band started the record label, Cornelius Chapel Records, which McPherson and the extended band family run.[17] Bands on the label, in addition to The Dexateens, include Beitthemeans, Brad Armstrong, Vulture Whale, AdamAdam, Chooglin, The Blips, The Bohannons, Will Stewart, Taylor Hollingsworth, Janet Simpson and Sarah Lee Langford.

Other projects

In addition to the record label, McPherson works as a cabinet-maker and woodworker in Tuscaloosa.[32] He is involved in various music projects including the band Rattler[33] and has a solo project he is working on. The rest of the band members are also involved in various bands.[26]

Current band members

  • Elliott McPherson, vocals and guitar
  • Matt Patton, bass
  • Brian Gosdin, drums
  • John Smith, vocals and guitar

Discography

Albums
  • 2004: The Dexateens (Estrus Records)
  • 2005: Red Dust Rising (Estrus Records)
  • 2007: Hardwire Healing (Skybucket Records)
  • 2008: Lost and Found (Skybucket Records)[34]
  • 2009: Singlewide (Skybucket Records)[35][36]
  • 2016: Teenage Hallelujah (Cornelius Chapel Records, CCR/009)
  • 2020: "Live from Athens, GA - Heathens Homecoming 2020 (Cornelius Chapel Records)
EPs
  • 2006: Teenager (Dell'orso Records)
  • 2013: Sunsphere (Cornelius Chapel)
Compilations
  • 1999: A Fistful of Rock N' Roll Vol. 2 (Tee Pee) − "Teenagers Piss Off" aka "Teenager"
  • 2005: Boxcars on 1st, Vol. I − "Talladega Tornado"
  • 2009: Lake Fever Sessions (Tugboat Productions (video) / Lake Fever Productions (audio)) − "Down Low," "Missionary Blues," "New Boy"[37]
  • 2010: The Country Way Digital Vol. 1 (American Songwriter) − "Granddaddy's Mouth"[38]
Video
  • "We Have Signal: Dexateens, Birmingham, AL". We Have Signal: Live from Birmingham, Alabama Public Television. The Bottletree Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama: PBS. January 2009.
  • Hanninen, Paavo (director); McPherson, Elliott (producer); Lollar, Shane (sound) (October 28, 2009). "The Dexateens present Old Bryce". {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)[39]
  • Kacker, John (July 2010). "The Dexateens "Live at the Nick" Full Release". YouTube. The Nick (Birmingham, AL). Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.

References

  1. ^ a b Davis, Lance (February 14, 2009). "Rebel Land, Alabam: The Dexateens & Archibalds". The Adios Lounge.
  2. ^ Windham, Ben (April 10, 2006). "The Dexateens". The Tuscaloosa News.
  3. ^ a b c Dowdy, Morgan (August 24, 2010). "Dexateens represent new South, new values". The Crimson White. University of Alabama.
  4. ^ Hughes, Mark (May 21, 2014). "Meet The Band: Craig 'Sweet Dog' Pickering". The Tuscaloosa News.
  5. ^ Editor, Mark Hughes Cobb Tusk. "The Dexateens". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved October 1, 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Larkin, Colin (January 1, 2009), "Dexateens", The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780195313734.001.0001/acref-9780195313734-e-92792, ISBN 978-0-19-531373-4, retrieved October 1, 2023
  7. ^ "English Oceans". Drive-By Truckers. October 30, 2015.
  8. ^ Zuppardo, Scott (January 21, 2016). "This Yankee Survived 10 Days with the Dexateens and the Drive-By Truckers, A Tour Journal - Glide Magazine". Glide Magazine.
  9. ^ a b Pennington, Cory (April 11, 2009). "The Dexateens". The Tuscaloosa News.
  10. ^ "We Have Signal: Dexateens, Birmingham, AL". We Have Signal: Live from Birmingham, Alabama Public Television. The Bottletree Cafe, Birmingham, Alabama: PBS. January 2009.
  11. ^ Windham, Ben (March 19, 2004). "Music Review: Dexateens' debut offers a sample of 'Southern Rock'". The Tuscaloosa News.
  12. ^ Ulibas, Joseph (November 29, 2015). "The Dexateens are preparing to release their latest studio album in 2016". AXS.
  13. ^ a b "About Dexateens". Myspace. Archived from the original on January 14, 2007.
  14. ^ "Spotlight: The Dexateens". SPIN. February 5, 2007.
  15. ^ "5/21/06: Brothers and sisters". Dexateens.net. Archived from the original on June 27, 2006.
  16. ^ Mark, Hughes (January 26, 2007). "The Dexateens". The Tuscaloosa News.
  17. ^ a b "Biography" (PDF). The Dexateens. 2016.
  18. ^ Parker, Chris (December 11, 2008). "The Dexateens may be a part-time love, but they're more faithful than a lot of other bands". Nashville Scene.
  19. ^ a b "Dexateens". Cornelius Chapel Records.
  20. ^ Woxy Radio (December 21, 2009). "Dexateens". American Songwriter.
  21. ^ McPherson, Elliott (March 9, 2008). "The Dexateens are about to release our 4th full length record". Cabinet Makers Notebook.
  22. ^ Kristoff, Anne (May 31, 2016). "With Dexateens and solo success, Birmingham native Brad Armstrong an artist on the verge in upstate New York". Alabama NewsCenter.
  23. ^ "BMI Sets Stage for ACL Music Festival 2009". BMI. July 14, 2009.
  24. ^ Pennington, Cory (May 29, 2009). "Dexateens hitting the road for new CD". The Tuscaloosa News.
  25. ^ Pennington, Cory (March 23, 2012). "The Dexateens will retire the name, not the music". The Tuscaloosa News.
  26. ^ a b Flanagan, Ben (January 19, 2011). "Are the Dexateens done? Guitarist Elliott McPherson opens up about the quiet end as a new beginning". The Birmingham News.
  27. ^ Flanagan, Ben (March 22, 2012). "Lee Bains & Glory Fires happy to rock for recovery at Tuscaloosa Get Up concert (Q&A)". The Birmingham News.
  28. ^ Ells, Blake (February 19, 2015). "Spiritual matters". Weld for Birmingham.
  29. ^ LaBate, Steve (October 7, 2016). "Dexateens - "Boys with Knives"". Paste.
  30. ^ "10 New Artists You Need to Know: April 2014. Lee Bains III and the Glory Fires". Rolling Stone. April 10, 2014.
  31. ^ Pareles, Jon; Ratliff, Ben; Chinen, Nate (May 26, 2014). "Southern Rock, Proudly Revised: New Albums From Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires, Sleaford Mods and Owen Pallett". The New York Times.
  32. ^ Hughes, Mark (May 21, 2014). "Local Q&A: Elliot McPherson". The Tuscaloosa News.
  33. ^ Flanagan, Ben (February 20, 2015). "Watch the concert film 'The Dexateens: Live at the Nick' now; see Rattler in Birmingham tonight". The Birmingham News.
  34. ^ Kerr, Tim (February 2008). "The Dexateens: Lost and Found". Skybucket Records. Archived from the original on March 15, 2008.
  35. ^ Haag, Stephen (May 26, 2009). "Dexateens: Singlewide". PopMatters.
  36. ^ Dearmore, Kelly (May 28, 2009). "Dexateens – Singlewide". Twangville.
  37. ^ "The Dexateens Lake Fever Session". No Depression. October 12, 2009.
  38. ^ Pace, Jessica (June 1, 2010). "Singles Reviews: Dexateens, Cass McCombs, David Ball (The Country Way Digital Vol. 1)". American Songwriter.
  39. ^ Hughes, Mark (September 25, 2009). "'Old Bryce' started out as a Dexateens documentary". The Tuscaloosa News.
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