Three Nails For A False Prophet

From Louisville Punk/Hardcore History
3 Nails Stats
3 Nails logo
Record Labels: RKT 327
Started By: Jon Walraven and Jason Oliver
Based In: Louisville
Largest show: 300+ people
First show: @ Pandamonium on Dec 19,1999.
Last show: January 8, 2005 w/ Ganthet, A Suburban Blood Drive
Reunion show: Will Never Occur
Number of Members: 12

Three Nails For A False Prophet was born from the collapse of Sister Helen Prejudice and a couple of high school friends restarting their old band (The xRiGx). Mike Giralico and Bigtime were trying to start a new band while at the same time the drummer they had apporached, Jason Oliver, was putting The RiG back together. Mike had already been asked to play bass for The xRiGx and was planning on pulling double duty. All the while one band had everything but a singer and the other had everything but a stable guitarist. Finally it dawned upon everyone that between the two bands there were enough members for one band.

Between August and December 1999 The xRiGx literally threw together 4 original songs, learned a cover and picked up two old Sister Helen Prejudice songs. Also during this time, Josh Banks quit the band with less than 2 weeks before their slated debut on December 19. The xRiGx made a less than spectacular debut at Pandamonium, ripping through what should've been a 15-20 mintue set in under 10 mintues. The band was fast, furious, and very sloppy. The show featured many propaganda style posters hung around the stage touching on many issues that the band tried to cover in it's lyrics. For some reason, the band got lazy and didnt do this again after this show (a theme that would plague the band through out it's tenure).

At the show, an old friend of the entire band's, Andrew Turner, was approached to join on guitar to replace Josh. He accepted, and was quickly contributing to the writing process. Soon after Andrew's settling in, Jason announced his departure from the group, citing commitments to his then fiancee, work and school. Doug Walker agreed to be a temporary drummer until a new one could be found.

Jason's last show was also the band's first local show under the name Three Nails For a False Prophet. The band had to change names upon discovering another band was using the name The Rig. This show was also marred by an ugly incident involving Bigtime and some members of the Courage Crew having a disagreement of opinion over an issue.

After the show as Doug was just nailing down the songs the band had, Andrew announced he was departing the group to start Kodan Armada. The band scrambled and recuited the services of Sweet Ass Tony Ash on guitar. Tony played the first InFESTed with the band and then decided it wasnt what he wanted to do. Again the band was left to find a new guitarist.

Enter Chris Jett, militant vegan guitarist extraordinaire. With Chris on baord and assuring the band he was in it for the long haul, the band again started work on new songs and trying to get shows out of town on a regualr basis. Three Nails recorded some songs for a demo and then Doug was asked to leave the band due to his time being consumed with other commitments.

The band then recruited Mike Harpring to play drums. However the band realized that they would then be over the legal limit of people named Mike in one band and decided to bring in Ella Lumpkins. Ella was reluctant at first but came in, learned the songs and started pulling shows in for the band left and right.

It was during this time that the band found a second home in Madison, IN. The sleepy little town had kids coming out of the woodwork for shows. They embraced the band as one of their own and several of the regualrs would make the 40 mintue drive to Louisville for several Three Nails shows.

Ursa w/ mic, Jon, Mike 2002. Photo: Audrey Harrod

In early 2002 the band recorded a full length with Lee Fetzer, which was due to be released prior to the South End show that March that the band would finally be playing. However, band laziness caused the CD to not see a release until the middle of the year after several supposed CD release shows were booked. Around this same time the band and Chris Jett parted ways. What would become the final line-up of the band was now assembled with the addition of Big Jim on guitar.

The band quickly set out on a Memorial Day weekend tour and things looked to be picking up for the band. There came a lull in early 2003 when Jim temporarily departed the band to take on 32 Frames full time. However as soon as the band was back from their midwestern tour Jim came to his senses and rejoined the band. The band continued with a flurry of shows to close out 2003 and hit Sonic Iguana studios (Layfayette, IN) in January 2004 to record a demo at the request of Revelation Records. This would be the band's final recording as well as their best.

The band followed up the recording and hopes of soon being on a label with a Northeastern US tour which included playing at the venerable CBGB's in Manhattan, NYC. However what started out as suh a promising year soon fell victim to the band's now very lethargic state. Revelation turned down the demo saying it wasnt the style they were looking for but did offer to put in a good word for the band with a couple of other labels. The ball was in the band's court and the band dropped it; never shipping off another copy of the demo to another label. The band also finished up 2004 by playing only 2 shows between April and December, including cancelling on a beneift show in Novemeber that would lead to the band's demise.

The band all agreed that their last show would be the Adele Collins' benefit they were already booked for in January 2005 in Elizabethtown, KY - just less than 1 month after making it to their 5 year anniversary.

Fun trivia note - this is a band that will NEVER play a reunion show.

MP3s are available their website - http://www.3nails.tk/

Members:

Former members:


Releases:

Compilations:

Shirts/Merch:

  • Van - tour 2004 shirt. light colored shirts w/ the front of a van in black and band name in red.
  • skull - "Thug Free XXX" on back by collar, skull w/ band name on front in black. grey, white, red shirts.
  • Generic hardcore - band logo and albumn title logo in black on light shirts. band logo on front, the rest on the back.
  • buttons - with the three "bloody" nails logo.

Videos: