Dirtbag
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| Record Labels: | Doodlehound | ||
| Started By: | Hackney | ||
| Years Active: | 2012 - 2022 | ||
| Based In: | Lexington | ||
| First Show | January 14, 2013 at Al's Sidecar, Lexington | ||
| Last show: | July 20, 2022 at The Green Lantern, Lexington | ||
| Number of Members: | 2 | ||
Dirtbag were a doom/sludge metal band from Lexington, with some crust punk elements. A two-piece band that formed in late 2012, they primarily favor themes on weed, personal issues and dark literature. The band is known for their devil-may-care mindset on playing with a motto of "We fuck up and we don't give a fuck". Despite many offers the band was adamant on being a power duo and outright refused to have a bassist.
Since their formation the band put out several releases while establishing themselves as one of Lexington's most notable stoner and doom acts among a bustling scene at the time. While from Lexington, the band performed several times in Louisville and a few of their closest associates (Ace Carrier, Cory Fusting) are based in Louisville.
History
Dirtbag was formed by Joshua Hackney and Logan Hollis in the summer of 2012 based on the interests of playing in a band based in heavy sound with their songs are influenced largely by drugs, literature and personal events. Dirtbag's debut show followed on 14 January 2013 with following shows mainly around the Lexington area with fellow metal bands. The band would play mainly in the Lexington area, writing more songs with time.
Dirtbag would begin 2014 by performing as the opening band for the inaugural edition of the Blood of the Wolf Fest, a festival that primarily featured death metal bands. In the same month of February the band would perform live on WRFL Radio in Lexington. Later in the year Dirtbag would self-release their first record at a show sharing the stage with NYC metal band Mortals and begin a short US tour.
The band followed in 2015 performing songs for an EP titled "Sinking Ship" and a tour with Kentucky death metal band Murrowind under the tour name "Pissing In the Wind". This year would also see a physical release of the radio appearance in the form of Keef Transmissions, a collaboration with Louisville artist Doodlehound.
A second appearance on WRFL happened on November 21, 2015. Three months later the recordings from this session would be mastered and released as Sinking Ship on 20 February 2016. A tour with Lexington, KY grindcore band NerdRage happened in May of 2016 in support of the EP with more new songs sporadically appearing in sets. Dirtbag would begin 2017 with a performance at Best Friend Bar alongside Arktos, performing a set of entirely new songs leading up to a third appearance at Blood of The Wolf Fest.
On 22 May 2017 the band announced they had a new EP in the works titled Voided with plans of a fall tour (Which would change to a 2018 tour with Hawkbill after Hackney sustained an injury skateboarding) and "new shit". Voided would see release on 23 February 2018 via Doodlehound, doing a two-day release party with the likes of Blind Scryer, Hawkbill and Black Kaspar. 2019 would see Dirtbag sharing the stage with the likes of Weedeater, Eyehategod, The Obsessed, Toke, ANTiSEEN, Howling Giant, Vampyre and Spotlights among others, closing out the year with a five-date tour alongside Louisville stoner rockers Blind Scryer.
The band would go on a brief hiatus to begin writing and eventually recording their first true studio album. Dirtbag would finish recording in the Spring of 2022 and perform their first show in over two years at The Green Lantern on 20 July 2022, alongside Schizoid Man, Mother Iron Horse and Bone Church. On 17 August 2022, Doodlehound would upload a blog spot with various details on the eponymous Dirtbag. On 20 December 2022 Josh Hackney would share details on the album on his own Instagram stating it was up for order and Bandcamp was to follow. The next day on Wednesday 21 December (Winter Solstice), Dirtbag would be officially released.
With Logan Hollis relocating to Maryland, Dirtbag would take a hiatus. Josh Hackney would perform in a punk/metal band called Neglect starting in 2021.
Members
- Joshua Hackney - Guitar, Vocals (2012 - 2022)
- Logan Hollis - Drums, Percussion (2012 - 2022)
Releases
- Dirtbag (Demo) (2014, Self-Released)
- Keef Transmissions (Live Album) (2015, Doodlehound)
- Sinking Ship (EP) (2016, Doodlehound)
- Voided (EP) (2018, Doodlehound)
- Dirtbag (Album) (2022, Doodlehound)
Associated Acts
- Bed Sore
- Neglect