Biography
Old Pike formed as a five-piece rock & roll group in Bloomington, Indiana, drawing primary inspiration from Bruce Springsteen—evident in frontman Tim Jones’s vocal phrasing and onstage demeanor—and fellow Indiana native John Mellencamp. Their sound blended anthemic choruses, emotionally charged lyrics, understated organ textures, and a driving rhythm section into an alternative-country-inflected brand of rock that persisted until the band’s dissolution in 2000; guitarist and principal songwriter Carl Broemel subsequently joined My Morning Jacket, while Jones later established Truth & Salvage Co.
The group’s roots lie in a high-school introduction arranged by future bassist Jason Brammer among Jones, Broemel, and himself. The trio first assembled Planet Earth, which rapidly built a substantial teenage audience around Indianapolis through support slots for local friends Split Lip. After Planet Earth ended in 1995, Broemel and Jones briefly operated as Pony Boy; Broemel also contributed to Neena Foundry during this period. Old Pike coalesced in autumn 1995 once Neena Foundry drummer Eric Hopper and Brammer aligned with Jones and Broemel.
A demo cassette titled The Night I Spent was recorded with assistance from Mike Flynn—pianist and keyboardist for Bloomington’s Showermast—who appeared on two tracks. The band began a Monday-night residency at the Outback bar, where Flynn’s increasing involvement led to his inclusion on Old Pike’s half of a split EP with Chamberlain (the renamed Split Lip) issued by Toledo’s Doghouse Records. Flynn became a permanent member, and by summer 1996 the quintet was traveling to New York City for major-label showcases. Six songs cut at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington were assembled by Flat Earth Records into a self-titled EP that soon acquired the nickname Video Saloon EP from its cover photograph. At the 1997 College Music Journal conference, Sony 550’s Ben Goldman encountered the band; conversations with labelmate Ben Folds confirmed the latter’s enthusiasm, prompting Ben Folds Five to invite Old Pike on tour—an opportunity that also placed them onstage with Heather Nova and Soul Asylum.
Goldman attended another New York performance at Brownie’s in January 1998 and offered a contract, which the band executed on 20 March 1998 during the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas. That summer they tracked their major-label debut with producer Jim Scott across studios in Indiana, Minnesota, and California. Released 13 April 1999, the introspective, narrative-driven heartland-rock album Ten Thousand Nights appeared after Hopper’s departure the preceding January; powerhouse drummer Pat Spurgeon stepped in, propelling the group through an intensive national touring schedule. Despite favorable notices, the record failed to gain commercial traction. Following personnel shifts at the label, Old Pike was asked to submit new demos; Sony 550 found the material unsatisfactory, dropped the band, and Old Pike disbanded soon afterward. Jones moved to California, occasionally reuniting with former Chamberlain vocalist David Moore in Chevy Downs, while Broemel toured and recorded with several major-label acts, most prominently My Morning Jacket.
The group’s roots lie in a high-school introduction arranged by future bassist Jason Brammer among Jones, Broemel, and himself. The trio first assembled Planet Earth, which rapidly built a substantial teenage audience around Indianapolis through support slots for local friends Split Lip. After Planet Earth ended in 1995, Broemel and Jones briefly operated as Pony Boy; Broemel also contributed to Neena Foundry during this period. Old Pike coalesced in autumn 1995 once Neena Foundry drummer Eric Hopper and Brammer aligned with Jones and Broemel.
A demo cassette titled The Night I Spent was recorded with assistance from Mike Flynn—pianist and keyboardist for Bloomington’s Showermast—who appeared on two tracks. The band began a Monday-night residency at the Outback bar, where Flynn’s increasing involvement led to his inclusion on Old Pike’s half of a split EP with Chamberlain (the renamed Split Lip) issued by Toledo’s Doghouse Records. Flynn became a permanent member, and by summer 1996 the quintet was traveling to New York City for major-label showcases. Six songs cut at Echo Park Studios in Bloomington were assembled by Flat Earth Records into a self-titled EP that soon acquired the nickname Video Saloon EP from its cover photograph. At the 1997 College Music Journal conference, Sony 550’s Ben Goldman encountered the band; conversations with labelmate Ben Folds confirmed the latter’s enthusiasm, prompting Ben Folds Five to invite Old Pike on tour—an opportunity that also placed them onstage with Heather Nova and Soul Asylum.
Goldman attended another New York performance at Brownie’s in January 1998 and offered a contract, which the band executed on 20 March 1998 during the South by Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas. That summer they tracked their major-label debut with producer Jim Scott across studios in Indiana, Minnesota, and California. Released 13 April 1999, the introspective, narrative-driven heartland-rock album Ten Thousand Nights appeared after Hopper’s departure the preceding January; powerhouse drummer Pat Spurgeon stepped in, propelling the group through an intensive national touring schedule. Despite favorable notices, the record failed to gain commercial traction. Following personnel shifts at the label, Old Pike was asked to submit new demos; Sony 550 found the material unsatisfactory, dropped the band, and Old Pike disbanded soon afterward. Jones moved to California, occasionally reuniting with former Chamberlain vocalist David Moore in Chevy Downs, while Broemel toured and recorded with several major-label acts, most prominently My Morning Jacket.
Albums
