Squirrel Bait
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| Record Labels: | Homestead originally - Drag City reissue | ||
| Started By: | Grubbs | ||
| First show: | ~1982 | ||
| Largest show: | ? | ||
| Last show: | ~1987 | ||
| Reunion show: | There was a semi reunion in the early 1990's, but without Searcy or Daughtrey. | ||
| Number of Members: | 8 | ||
Squirrel Bait was a punk rock band formed in the early 1980's in Louisville, KY, by guitarist David Grubbs and bassist Clark Johnson. The group's first demo tape, released under the name Squirrelbait Youth, featured drummer Rich Schuler and saw Grubbs handle both guitar and vocals. The group's second demo featured drummer Britt Walford and vocalist Peter Searcy and saw the group move away from the hardcore sounds of the first demo. 1985's self-titled EP received much critical accalim and saw Ben Daughtry take over the drums while Brian McMahan join as second guitarist (two of the EP's tracks, which feature Walford on drums, were taken directly from the band's second demo). The same line-up recorded the band's only LP, 1987's "Skag Heaven". The group broke up after its release, with the split owing as much to personal and musical differences within the band as it did to Johnson and Grubbs' decision to leave Louisville for college. Grubbs and Johnson would reunite in Bastro while McMahan and Walford, who, while never in Squirrel Bait at the same time, had played together in various bands since grade school, went on to form Slint. In the mid 1990s, Grubbs reissued the self-titled EP and "Skag Heaven" on his short-lived Dexter's Cigar imprint.
The 'Bait was not only a quite accomplished hardcore band in their own right, but their members begat Slint, Bastro, Evergreen, King Kong, Gastr Del Sol, Brise Glace, Yona Kit, Love Jones, and The For Carnation to name just a few. That's quite a list!
There are several live recordings floating around from a 1986 tour through Chicago and Minneapolis.
Members
- Peter Searcy - vocals
- Ben Daughtery - drums
- Brian Mcmahan - guitar
- Clark Johnson - bass
- David Grubbs - guitar
- Britt Walford - drums
- Ethan Buckler
- David Pajo
Releases
- Squirrel Bait Youth Demo cassette (1982)
- Demo cassette (1983)
- Kid Dynamite 7" (Homestead Records 1986)
- Squirrel Bait 12" (Homestead Records 1985)
- Skag Heaven 12" (Homestead Records 1986)
Compilations
- Homestead Records Presents Really Loud, Really Smart & Really Coming Out Soon (1985)
- The Wailing Ultimate! The Homestead Records Compilation (1987)
- 59 To 1 - King Lear (1987)
- Gimme Indie Rock V.1 (2000)
External Links
- http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/rrcase-7.htm (over view of the 'bait)
- http://www.furious.com/perfect/davidgrubbs.html (interview w/ David Grubbs)
- http://www.southern.com/southern/band/SQUIR/ (SOUTHERN's page on the 'bait)
- https://squirrel-bait.bandcamp.com/music