The Neckbones

The Neckbones were a garage punk band from Oxford, Mississippi. The band was distinguished by having three vocalists each with a distinct style and for their legendary, high energy live performances. They released three albums: “Pay the Rent”, self release (1995) and “Souls on Fire” (1997) and The Lights Are Getting Dim (1999), both on Fat Possum Records. They also released the 10" vinyl-only release “Gentleman”, which was their final release, on Misprint Records in 1999.[1]

The Neckbones
OriginOxford, Mississippi
GenresGarage punk
Years active1994-2001; Currently perform live sporadically
LabelsFat Possum Records
MembersDave Boyer, Van Thompson, Tyler Keith, Forrest Hewes
Past membersDave Boyer, Robbie Alexander, Tyler Keith, Forrest Hewes

History

The band's original four members first began playing together as the Neckbones in the fall of 1994.[2] While the band was active, they were the only rock group signed to Fat Possum Records—the other artists on the label were all blues artists.[3] They recorded their debut album for Fat Possum, Souls on Fire, in 1996, but it was not released until the following year due to Fat Possum Records' legal issues.[2] The band released its second and last full length album, The Lights are Getting Dim, in 1999, and officially disbanded in 2001.[4] After disbanding, guitarist/vocalist Dave Boyer and drummer/vocalist Forrest Hewes joined with guitarist/vocalist Jack Oblivion and bassist/vocalist Scott Rogers to form the group, The Cool Jerks, which released an album entitled "Cleaned A Lot Of Plates In Memphis" in 2002 on the Sympathy For The Record Industry label. During the same period, Tyler Keith, The Neckbones', other guitarist and vocalist, formed the group "Tyler Keith and the Preacher's Kids", which released an album entitled "Romeo Hood" in 2001.[5] The Neckbones continue to perform live sporadically, with their most recent performance being on September 28, 2018 at the 15th Annual "Gonerfest" garage rock festival in Memphis, TN.[6]

Reception

Robert Christgau reviewed Souls on Fire and gave it an A–. In his review, Christgau compared the band's music favorably to that of Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments.[7] A review of the album for MTV described the album's music as "the greasy, ballsy kind of rock ‘n’ roll that most bands have either forgotten or abandoned."[8] Writing in Billboard, Chris Morris described the album as "a steaming slab of raving punk rock served up southern-fried".[9]

A review of The Lights are Getting Dim in CMJ compared the band's style to that of Iggy Pop and the Ramones, and praised the band's displays of humor on the album. However, the review also said that the album's music is "unlikely to win over fans looking for a more arcane musical experience."[10] Anthony Mariani wrote in Houston Press that the album was "stuffed with solid tunes".[2] Mike Joyce of the Washington Post reviewed the album favorably, writing that on it, "roadhouse collides with garage, producing a reckless and clangorous hybrid that celebrates the quartet's punk leanings."[11]

Discography
  • ”Pay the Rent” (self released, 1995)
  • Souls on Fire (Fat Possum, 1997)
  • The Lights are Getting Dim (Fat Possum, 1999)
  • “Gentleman”, 10 in vinyl only (Misprint, 1999)
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References
  1. Rayburn, Newt. "Interview with Tyler Keith on his legendary Garage Rock band, The Neckbones". The Local Voice. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  2. Mariani, Anthony (14 October 1999). "Oxford Punks". Houston Press. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  3. Jordan, Mark (16 August 1999). "Sticking Their Necks Out". Memphis Flyer. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  4. Howorth, Lisa (22 November 2011). "Issue 75: The Neckbones". Oxford American. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  5. Daniels, Craig (1 May 2001). "Romeo Hood Review". Exclaim!. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  6. "Gonerfest 15". Goner Records. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
  7. Christgau, Robert. "The Neckbones". Consumer Guide. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  8. Nelson, Chris (29 July 1997). "ATN Album Review: The Neckbones' Souls On Fire". MTV. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  9. Morris, Chris (16 August 1997). "Neckbones Dish Up Southern-Fried Punk". Billboard. p. 53. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  10. "The Lights are Getting Dim". CMJ. September 1999. p. 60. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  11. Joyce, Mike (29 October 1999). "The Lights Are Getting Dim Review". The Washington Post. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
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