The Gourds

• http://www.myspace.com/thegourdstx
• http://www. thegourds.com livegourds.com
• The Texas group started out with multi-instrumentalist/vocalists Kevin Russell and Jimmy Smith, who also share songwriting duties, accordionist Claude Bernard, and drummer Charlie Llewellin. In late 1997/early 1998, Llewellin was replaced by a longtime friend of the band, Keith Langford, who was kicked out of the Damnations TX when his bandmates saw that he wanted to join the Gourds, but might feel too bad about quitting to actually leave them. Then, after playing banjo, fiddle, and more on Ghosts of Hallelujah, Max Johnston (of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) also became an official member of the band. With the new lineup intact, the Gourds released Bolsa de Agua in the summer of 2000, Cow Fish Fowl or Pig in 2002, Blood of the Ram in 2004, Heavy Ornamentals in 2006, and Noble Creatures in 2007. They also provided the score to the Mike Woolf documentary Growin' a Beard.
  --by Joslyn Layne