Biography
Following the 1992 dissolution of the Gibson Bros., the underground scenes of garage rock and blues saw the rise of three pivotal acts: Bassholes, '68 Comeback, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Among them, Bassholes adhered most faithfully to the isolated rural ethos of traditional American folk-blues even as the group pushed its sound farthest from conventional rock & roll structures. The duo originated in Columbus, OH, uniting Gibson Bros. drummer Rich Lillash with Don Howland, who handled songwriting, vocals, and guitar while directing all other elements. Bassholes revived the potent blues-duo approach pioneered by figures such as Lightnin' Hopkins, incorporating punk, folk, and the “Old Weird America” that Greil Marcus identified in his writings on Harry Smith's Anthology of American Folk Music. Although the band issued numerous singles and albums, its full-length releases represent the artistic peaks. The debut appeared on In The Red Records in 1992; shortly afterward Lillash departed, and Howland recruited nineteen-year-old drummer Bim Thomas. Thomas’s energetic, apparently spontaneous style—always rooted in blues and rock rhythms—gave Howland a platform for guitar and vocals that could wail, weep, shout, or scream. Bassholes’ lyrics typically explore sexual and social frustration alongside the eccentric undercurrents of rock, folk, and blues. Howland has cited the work of idiosyncratic country-blues performers Skip James, Blind Willie McTell, and Furry Lewis, together with the Ramones’ first album, as key influences (“There’s a menacing undertone, something not quite right, but really catchy”). Most Bassholes recordings remain resolutely lo-fi, captured on limited budgets, yet Howland conveys his intent without compromise; the approach was never lo-fi as an end in itself. Instead, the band maximized whatever resources were available, bridging folk’s single-microphone atmosphere with punk’s DIY principles. Standout releases—Blue Roots, Long Way Blues, and Deaf Mix—find Bassholes at their most wide-ranging, blending disparate genres, recording qualities, instruments, themes, and vocal deliveries across an expansive sonic range. Additional tracks emphasize the group’s punk origins through heightened rock & roll volume, tempo, and attitude. Although Howland now resides in North Carolina and Thomas remains in Cleveland, OH, Bassholes persist in creating unconventional music for listeners drawn to equally unconventional sounds.
Albums
