Mule

Mule specialized in a sloppy, whiskey-drenched backwoods punk approach that echoed the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, yet vocalist and guitarist P.W. Long drew from the Southern hillbillies of traditional country along with the shouty manner of Captain Beefheart, creating a distinct angle separate from Spencer’s blues- and R&B-rooted delivery. Born Preston Cleveland, Long performed with Detroit’s Wig through 1991, contributing solely to the EP Lying Next to You, before assembling Mule alongside bassist Kevin Munro, also known as Kevin Strickland, and drummer Jim Kimball, both formerly of Ann Arbor’s Laughing Hyenas, whose frontman John Brannon is Long’s brother. Quarterstick Records of Chicago issued the group’s self-titled debut in 1992, a raucous effort showcasing Long’s throaty shouting and bluesy hooks under Steve Albini’s production. Following Kimball’s departure to the Dennison-Kimball Trio, Daniel Jacob Wilson joined on drums, enabling the trio to complete the Wrung EP and, later in 1994, the album If I Don't Six. Although that second LP fell slightly short of the debut’s raw energy, it compensated through heightened musicianship and several standout tracks. The release marked the trio’s final outing, after which Long disbanded Mule in 1996 to pursue solo performances before starting a new project. Long consistently selected instrumentalists whose energy matched his intense recordings, enlisting drummer Mac McNeilly of the Jesus Lizard and bassist Dan Maister to form P.W. Long’s Reelfoot, which issued We Didn't See You on Sunday in mid-1997.