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The Sound of Urchin
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York &
New Hope, Pennsylvania
GenresAlternative rock
Experimental rock
Heavy metal
Arena rock
Outsider music
Years active1998–present
LabelsRCA, Hybrid,
Steven Records
MembersTomato (Chris Harfenist)
Reverend B-ILL (Bill Fowler)
Matt Holloman
Brian Ellingham
Websitewww.soundofurchin.com

The Sound of Urchin (Sound Of Urchin / SOU / TSOU / Urchin) is a musically diverse "outsider arena-rock" band from Brooklyn, New York and New Hope, Pennsylvania. SOU is known for their eclectic songs, for energetic, spontaneous live shows, and for their heavy touring schedule.[1]

Band History

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The Sound of Urchin's debut E.P. was released on lead-singer/drummer Tomato’s own independent label, Steven Records.[2][3]

After further developing their style and sound, they signed to major label RCA Records and began working with Dean Ween of Ween. From 2000 to 2002, the band released two E.P.’s, The Orange E.P. (produced by Dean Ween) and the Jack And Diane E.P. (produced by Keith Cleversley of Flaming Lips and Hum fame), and their first full length album, You Are The Best (produced by Keith Cleversley), on RCA Records.[4] In 2002, the band made a video for their song "Scary Skull Eyes". It was directed by Lorin Finkelstein and featured on MTV2’s 120 Minutes.[5]

In 2005, The Sound of Urchin's second full length album The Diamond was released on Hybrid Recordings, and produced by Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger, and mixed by Chris Shaw. The independent label is led by former A&M Records label head Al Cafaro and legendary concert promoter John Scher.[6] SOU performed their best-known song from 2005, "There Are People In The Clouds", before nationwide audiences on CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson,[7]

In 2007 SOU released the "Rejoice (Limited Edition)" album, their 3rd full-length release, as a fans-only CD, to those who attended the Rejoice US Tour. It was produced by Tomato and mixed by Josh Wilbur. And features the lineup that included Tomato on vocals/drums, B-ILL and Robbie “Seahag” Mangano on lead guitars, and Michael Davidson on bass. Rejoice also features vocal legend Ellen Foley (Meatloaf, The Clash) on the song “The Rooster Says Good Morning”.

2014 saw the vinyl-only release of the 4th full length Urchin album, "Black Castle", on Tucson AZ's Baby Gas Mask Records. Black Castle was produced by Tomato and showcases a more experimental studio/home-recording hybrid sound.

In 2015, Urchin released the full length "The WoozyFly Sessions" album, which were live-in-the-studio recordings of live show staples of the Rejoice-era line-up.

2017 saw the re-release of both "The Diamond" album as "The Diamond Deluxe", and the "Jack And Diane E.P." as "Jack And Diane Deluxe", as extended albums with unreleased recordings from each era as bonus tracks.

2019 saw the official release of the "Rejoice" album on Tomato's Steven Records, with the bonus “Rock n’ Roll is True E.P." as extended tracks; and also saw the official release of the "Black Castle" album on Tomato's Steven Records in 2019, with the bonus “The Crypt E.P." as extended tracks.

Touring History and Affiliations

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The Sound of Urchin are Zelig-esque chameleons of rock, as their diverse style has gained them entrance into likewise diverse rock circles. For example, over the years SOU has toured with bands like Tenacious D, Ween, Dio/Deep Purple/Scorpions, Cracker, Mike Watt, Slightly Stoopid, Fishbone, The North Mississippi Allstars, The Urge, SR-71, Trik Turner, Bargain Music, The Ziggens, as well as sharing stages with Public Enemy, Twisted Sister, Slash's Snakepit, Dick Dale, Butthole Surfers, Everclear, Project/Object, Vernon Reid, Lit, 2 Skinnee J's, Cobra Verde, and Local H.

Urchin has had a long affiliation with the band Ween; Dean Ween has been a mentor to the band and produced their first major label release The Orange E.P.,[8] Tomato and B-ILL play in Dean Ween and Guy Heller's Moistboyz (featured on the "Live Jihad" DVD release[9]) and have played with Ween, Dean Ween's Tenderloin and toured with the Dean Ween Group in 2018. B-ILL also played guitar on Ween's “The Mollusk” album, and Tomato plays drums with Ween's bassist Dave Dreiwitz, as a duo called Crescent Moon.

They have also collaborated with Tenacious D; Urchin was the opening act on their 2001 tour, and Tomato played drums with them for their 2002 Comedy Central Crank Yankers recording of “Friendship”.

Members

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Current members

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  • Tomato (Chris Harfenist) – drums, lead vocal
  • Reverend B-ILL (Bill Fowler) – lead guitar, main backup vocal

Side members

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  • Black Sebabbitt (Jack Krause) – co-writer, character vocals
  • Mr. Richard Rickles (Wayne Price) – tambourine, dancer
  • Jah Rob (Rob Marcario) - artwork
  • Johnny Stees (Jason Pietropaulo) - Greek runs, tour manager, ruling the night

Live members

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  • Jordan Shapiro - keyboard
  • Chris Shepherd - lead guitar
  • Conor Kinsman – bass
  • Matt Holloman - lead guitar
  • Brian Ellingham - bass

Past members

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  • Doo Doo Brown (Chris Huetz) – bass, backup vocal
  • Hollywood Scotty Choc (Scott Heydt) – lead guitar, backup vocal
  • Barbie Smooth (Mike Huetz) – producer, guitar
  • Seahag (Robbie Mangano) - lead guitar, bass, backup vocal
  • Michael Davidson – bass[10][11]
  • Josh Musto - guitar, backup vocal
  • Karina Rykman - guitar, bass, keyboards

Discography

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Early pre-official SOU 4-track albums (1994-1998)

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Year Title Label
1994 Four Fours From A Calendar Fan Steven Records (originally released on Mighty Monster as cassette only)
1995 Springtime Makes Me Feel Steven Records
1996 Approval – Cob 9 Steven Records
1997 Earth Blanket Steven Records
1998 Willow For Gasoline Alley Steven Records

Official SOU Studio albums (1998–present)

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Year Title Label
1998 All That And A Brandy Alexander Steven Records
2000 The Orange E.P. RCA Records
2001 The Jack And Diane E.P. RCA Records
2002 You Are The Best RCA Records
2002 Blame Canada – Live In Toronto RCA Records promo only
2005 The Diamond Hybrid Recordings
2008 Rejoice CD-Only release Self-Release To Fans Only
2014 Black Castle Vinyl-Only Release Baby Gas Mask Records
2015 The WoozyFly Sessions Baby Gas Mask Records
2017 The Diamond Deluxe Steven Records
2017 Jack And Diane Deluxe Steven Records
2019 Rejoice Official Extended Release Steven Records/Baby Gas Mask Records
2019 Rock n' Roll Is True E.P. Steven Records
2019 Black Castle Official Extended Release Steven Records/Baby Gas Mask Records
2019 The Crypt E.P. Steven Records

References

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  1. ^ "Sound of Urchin at CBGB, SPIN, Newswire". 8 June 2005. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  2. ^ "Pointless Questions: The Sound of Urchin". April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  3. ^ "NIPP: Sound of Urchin". April 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2013.
  4. ^ allmusic.com
  5. ^ altmusictv.com
  6. ^ allmusic.com
  7. ^ imdb.com. The album also includes cameos by Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French and Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha
  8. ^ allmusic.com
  9. ^ nytimes.com
  10. ^ Czerwinski, Christian (November 11, 2008). "Music: Sound of Urchin – High-energy attitude keeps rock band tuned into its fans". Lansing State Journal. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  11. ^ Brodeuer, Melissa (March 24, 2009). "Sound of Urchin". Glide magazine.
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