Lambchop (band)

Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is an American band from Nashville, Tennessee.^[1]

Lambchop
Lambchop playing in Dachau, Germany, July 2009
Background information
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Genres	Alternative country, alternative rock
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Merge
Members	Kurt Wagner Andrew Broder Ryan Olson C.J. Camerieri Tim Purnell (Twit One [de])
Past members	Marc Trovillion William Tyler Sam Baker Jonathan Marx Alex McManus Deanna Varagona Paul Niehaus Roy Agee John Delworth Mark Nevers Chris A. Scott Charles Scott Chase Bill Killebrew Steve Goodhue Allen Lowrey Dennis Cronin Ryan Norris Tony Crow Matt Swanson Scott Martin Matt Glassmeyer Andy Stack James McNew
Website	Lambchop.net

Description and history

Initially formed as a three piece in 1986 with Kurt Wagner, bassist Marc Trovillion and guitarist Jim Watkins with the name Posterchild. They released some low-fi bedroom recordings on cassette such as I’m Fucking Your Daughter. In 1992 they released a split 7” with Crop Circle Hoax which got the attention of entertainment lawyer George Regis, who sued on behalf of the similarly named band Poster Children. After trying a few different names they settled on Lambchop and signed to Merge Records in 1993 releasing their debut single Nine that year.

Never a band with a "core" lineup, Lambchop has consisted of a large and fluid collective of musicians focused around its creative centre, frontman Kurt Wagner. Lambchop is loosely associated with the alternative country genre.^[2] Initially indebted to traditional country, the music has subsequently moved through a range of influences including post-rock, soul and lounge music.

Whatever the style, the characteristic mood of Lambchop's music is evoked by Wagner's distinctive songwriting: lyrically subtle and ambiguous, the vocals melodic but understated. American Songwriter described Wagner's lyrics as "witty and deeply insightful."^[3]

They were the backing band for Vic Chesnutt on his 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette.^[2]

Singer Kurt Wagner is married to founder of Nashville 90's record store, Lucy's Record Shop and Tennessee Democratic Party leader Mary Mancini.^[4]

Personnel

Summary of members as credited on studio albums (1994–present)

Former bass player Marc Trovillion died of a heart attack in October 2013, aged 56.^[5]

Discography

Releases as Posterchild

• "An Open Fresca" / "A Moist Towlette" (split with Crop Circle Hoax) (1992)

Cassettes

• Secret Secret Sourpuss (1990)
• Big Tussie (1992)
• Sorry About the Deformed Heart (split with Crop Circle Hoax and Spent) (1993)

Singles

• "Nine" / "Moody Fucker" (1993)
• "My Cliche" / "Loretta Lung" (1994)
• "Soaky in the Pooper" (1994)
• "Your Life as a Sequel" (1995)
• "Scared Out of My Shoes" (split 5" vinyl single with Spent) (1995)
• "The Man Who Loved Beer" (1996)
• "Hank" (1996)
• "Cigaretiquette" / "Mr. Crabby" (1996)
• "Whitey" / "Playboy, the Shit" (1997)
• "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" (1998)
• "Your Fucking Sunny Day" (1998)
• "Up with People!" / "Miss Prissy" (2000)
• "Is a Woman" (2002)
• "Something's Going On (and On)" (2004)
• "The Hustle" / "When You Were Mine" (2017)

Studio albums

List of studio albums

Title	Album details
I Hope You're Sitting Down/Jack's Tulips	Released: September 19, 1994 Label: Merge Records Formats: CD/Double LP/Cassette
How I Quit Smoking	Released: January 30, 1996 Label: Merge Records/City Slang (Europe)/Virgin France Formats: CD/LP (single sided)
Thriller	Released: September 23, 1997 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP
What Another Man Spills	Released: September 8, 1998 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)
Nixon	Released: February 8, 2000 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)
Is a Woman	Released: February 19, 2002 Label: Merge Records/City Slang/Spunk (AU)/P-Vine (JA)/Trama (Br) Formats: CD/Double LP
Aw Cmon	Released: February 9, 2004 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD
No You Cmon	Released: February 17, 2004 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD
Damaged	Released: August 14, 2006 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP
OH (Ohio)[1]	Released: October 6, 2008 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)
Mr. M	Released: February 21, 2012 Label: Merge Records/City Slang/Spunk Formats: CD/Double LP/DVD/MP3
FLOTUS	Released: November 4, 2016 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP
This (Is What I Wanted to Tell You)	Released: March 22, 2019 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP
Trip	Released: November 13, 2020 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP
Showtunes	Released: May 21, 2021 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP/MP3,FLAC
The Bible	Released: September 30, 2022 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/Double LP/MP3,FLAC

Compilation albums

• Tools in the Dryer (2001)
• The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization (1993-1999) (2006)
• The Decline of Country and Western Civilization, Part 2: The Woodwind Years (2006)
• Turd Goes Back: Essential Tracks from Secret Secret Sourpuss & Big Tussie (2011)

Tour only albums

• Pet Sounds Sucks (Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco) (2002)
• Mono (Live in Würselen, Germany) (2003–04)
• Nashville Does Dallas (2004)
• Boo Fucking Who? (Live in Brussels, Belgium) (2004)
• Succulence (Live in Vienna, Austria) (2006)
• Rainer on My Parade (Live, various locations) (2008)
• Democracy (2012)
• Live at the Shanghai Symphony Chamber Hall (2017)

EPs

• Hank (1996)
• The Queens Royal Trimma (Live Royal Festival Hall, London – Tour Only) (2000)
• Treasure Chest of the Enemy (Tour Only) (2001)
• CoLab (with Hands Off Cuba) (2005)
• Mr. N (2012)
• Basement Tapes (2019)^[6]

Live albums

• Live at XX Merge (2009)

DVDs

• No Such Silence (2007)