Soul Asylum L-R: Karl Mueller (bass), Grant Young (drums), Dave Pirner (guitar, vocals), Dan Murphy (guitar, vocals)
In 1990, Soul Asylum released my favorite album in their catalog, And The Horse They Rode In On. The band was in their prime, the songwriting was concise, clever, and perceptive, and they destroyed live. I feel lucky that I got to see them twice that year. The first time was in November at the Country Club in Reseda with Thelonious Monster opening (first time seeing both … epic), and a month later at the Warfield in San Francisco, where they (sonic) reduced the headlining band into Pixie dust.
Little did I know that I was seeing two of the final shows in Soul Asylum’s widely acknowledged 1986-90 peak. Within a few months of that SF gig, Pirner and Murphy were playing shows as a duo, more or less busking for labels with the band’s future very much in doubt. Commercial success was still 18 months away. So, let’s freeze-frame Soul Asylum in the fall of 1990, when they were a struggling bar band, but an absolute force of nature on stage.
Soul Asylum – Wipeout + Jessica
http://youtu.be/I74YJ0JnykQ
Bogart’s, Long Beach, CA
December 15, 1990
Soul Asylum at motherfucking Bogart’s in Long Beach! One of the great, underrated bars in southern California. Good sound, not too high a stage, and an open floor with great sightlines. I saw fIREHOSE there a few times, Thelonious Monster twice, The Muffs twice (actually upstaging the Monster), Screaming Trees, Dickies, and a few others. It was a rad place. Next time you crack open a 40 oz, pour out a little in the memory of Bogart’s.
As for the music, “Wipeout” and “Jessica” are a perfect opening tandem. Total pisstake, the sound needs to be cleaned up, but fun as hell. “Wipeout” pays homage to one of SoCal’s greatest musical exports, but don’t forget that one of the founding documents of Minneapolis music was “Surfin’ Bird” from 1963. “Jessica” is noteworthy for me because I saw Thelonious play it a few times in the early 1990s. Given that both bands toured together and were musically simpatico, the common ground makes sense. But, I also think there was some friendly competition between the bands, which usually brought out the best in Bob and the Monster.
Soul Asylum – Gullible’s Travels
http://youtu.be/_WGetlgxCc8
Nectarine Ballroom, Ann Arbor, MI
October 29, 1990
Dan Murphy’s songwriting contribution to Horse was another of his oh by the way masterpieces. The first 2:12 is basically a template for The Jayhawks, who were about a year away from entering a 4-year hot streak of their own. At 2:13, “Gullible’s” inexplicably turns into a U2 song, but at 2:50, Murphy’s guitar wail brings us back to the classic SA sound. Love this song. 3:40-4:05 is why Soul Asylum nerds like me even exist.
Soul Asylum – Nice Guys Don’t Get Paid
http://youtu.be/LQSiuAD8Dd8
Diamond Club, Toronto
1990
“Now all the hopeless romantics are wearing white collars
Upstanding assassins clean as their big dollars
Hijacking fanatics who kill for religion
In a city full of addicts and color television”
Dave Pirner was a perfect frontman. Great voice, great guitar player, good looks, totally engaging stage presence, and a better songwriter than he’s given credit. “Nice Guys” might be the best song on Horse and this video showcases why he was such an asset to the band.
Soul Asylum – Made To Be Broken medley
http://youtu.be/2L6occooEic
Diamond Club, Toronto
1990
OK, so it’s not “James At 16.” Still, it’s an amazing medley featuring a great band at their best. Pirner and Murphy were a telepathic dual rhythm-lead guitar unit. Meanwhile, Karl Mueller (bass, RIP) and Grant Young (drums) were an efficient, locked-in rhythm section, a description that might describe the band as a whole. And where “Gullible’s” demonstrated the link between Soul Asylum and the Jayhawks, “MTBB” demonstrates the link between Soul Asylum, Slobberbone, and Grand Champeen. Oh rock ‘n’ roll, I can’t quit you.
Soul Asylum – Cartoon
http://youtu.be/-AbAq6ksKDU
Nectarine Ballroom, Ann Arbor, MI
October 29, 1990
Is there any doubt this is one of the greatest songs of the 1980s? Ever? It’s in the discussion. Certainly the best song in the Soul Asylum catalog.
“Maybe I’m chasing shadows on your walls
They loom so large
But make me feel so small, it’s so hard
When you’re chasing your own tail
Spinnin your own wheels”
great post- My fav SA album!
nice to see someone giving the spotlight to this particular album. it would be nice if they went and remixed it a bit, a spit shine if you will not a full polishing. this was their apex. nice post.
If you get the 3-disc A&M comp Welcome To The Minority, both Hang Time and Horse have been remastered. I'm normally dubious of such claims, but it does sound punchier. Not revelatory, but certainly better.
Thanks for the shout out to Bogart's. I saw so many amazing bands there, many of which you mentioned in this piece. Its closing was like a death of a really good friend, the kind you only make when you are young and still have your whole world ahead of you.
Thanks for reminding me how great that album is.
Great post, thanks for the article and sharing these videos.
Thanks for the shout out to Bogart's. I saw so many amazing bands there, many of which you mentioned in this piece. Its closing was like a death of a really good friend.
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