Mulehead

After departing Ho Hum—a group that had cycled from major-label prospect to regional independent act—Kevin Kerby chose to reassess the direction of his own music. Disillusioned with the standard machinery of label-driven ensembles, he opted for an alternate route.

Raised in Texas, Kerby had performed in multiple groups alongside his longtime associate Brent Best of Slobberbone before relocating to Arkansas for college. In 1992 he became a member of Ho Hum, and around the same period he formed Mulehead, assembling its initial roster from local friends and fellow musicians. The band’s debut album, Never Again, captures that early configuration.

Upon exiting Ho Hum in 1996, Kerby moved to stabilize Mulehead’s personnel. He first recruited guitarist Dave Raymond during the promotional phase for Never Again; Raymond had previously appeared in several area bands. Through this connection, drummer Geoff Curran came aboard. Newly arrived in the region, Curran’s most recent credit at the time was his work on Jim Roll’s 1999 album Lunnette. Bassist Brent Labeau completed the core lineup. Like Kerby, Labeau had earlier pursued a major-label path during his tenure with the Gun Bunnies. This quartet issued Gospel Accordion II in 1999.