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Smokin Armadillos, Country Music Artists
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Published: March 25, 2007
Not many people would think to combine southern country music with California Indy sensibilities. Then again, Josh Graham, Scott Meeks, Rick Russell, Darrin Kirkindoll, Arron Casida and Jason Theiste were not just any people. Together, the Smokin Armadillos would form one of the biggest independent music successes in history, changing the landscape of music self-marketing forever.
The Smokin Armadillos are an excellent standard for any music act who can't get a big time record deal, but still dreams of big success.
Though it is home of some of the greatest country music writers, including the legendary Merle Haggard, it's still unusual that a band like Smokin Armadillos would pop out of Bakersfield, Calif. In 1992, Josh Graham teamed up with his high school friends Arron Casida, Jason Thieste and Rick Russell to begin writing and recording country songs to play at local gigs. In time, they reached out and collected Meeks and Kirkindoll, two Christian rockers.
The band enjoyed modest success on the thriving California independent music scene, riding the same wave of alternative music as bands like Green Day, Nirvana, and No Doubt. The young men with a silly name and a world class fiddle player slowly began to make waves in a market that had long been dominated by glam rock bands and cookie cutter pop stars. Different was better, and Smokin Armadillos were a breath of fresh air in the stogy country scene.
Despite their growing popularity, however, record labels weren't recognizing the country sensation. With their popularity spiking and the window for country music closing, the band released their first independent EP. Thanks to strong word of mouth, a thriving independent scene, and friendly radio DJs, Smokin Armadillos sold an shocking estimated 150,000 copies of their first album. Quickly, the band went to work on releasing singles, which started getting major radio airplay. The band went from country music quirk in 1992 to an independent success story in 1994. They'd finally attracted the attention of the major labels and signed a record deal with MCG/Curb in 1994.
Unfortunately, Smokin Armadillos didn't achieve the same success as a major act that they'd found in their independent careers. The band maintained a huge following among their loyal fanbase and as a country dance act, but sales of their three commercial CDs, Out of the Burrow in 1994, the self titled debut in 1996, and Strike the Match in 2003, were somewhat lax. Both can still be found at music retailers and web shops for under $10. The band continued to tour voraciously and found new fans wherever they went, but in May of 2005, Smokin Armadillos finally called it quits.
Still, Smokin Armadillos stands today as a tremendous example of hard work and energy propelling a band to stardom without a major PR firm behind them. To sell 150,000 copies of their independent EP is an incredible feat and why the Smokin Armadillos remain in the lexicon of Independent music acts even long after the bad had played its last show.
Sources:
Smokin Armadillos Bio VH1. 2007. MTV Networks. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/smokin_armadillos/bi o.jhtml.
Smokin Armadillos Discography. CD Universe. 1996-2007. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?HT_Search=xa rtist&HT_Search_Info=Smokin%27+Armadillos& />Roberts, Frank. “Here's the ‘Story' Behind the Smokin Armadillos”. The Virginian-Pilot. 30 July 1996. 12 Mar. 2007. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/ 1996/vp960730/07300034.htm.
Smokin Armadillos. Unlock Austin. 2006. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.unlockaustin.com/Band/41225.
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Though it is home of some of the greatest country music writers, including the legendary Merle Haggard, it's still unusual that a band like Smokin Armadillos would pop out of Bakersfield, Calif. In 1992, Josh Graham teamed up with his high school friends Arron Casida, Jason Thieste and Rick Russell to begin writing and recording country songs to play at local gigs. In time, they reached out and collected Meeks and Kirkindoll, two Christian rockers.
The band enjoyed modest success on the thriving California independent music scene, riding the same wave of alternative music as bands like Green Day, Nirvana, and No Doubt. The young men with a silly name and a world class fiddle player slowly began to make waves in a market that had long been dominated by glam rock bands and cookie cutter pop stars. Different was better, and Smokin Armadillos were a breath of fresh air in the stogy country scene.
Despite their growing popularity, however, record labels weren't recognizing the country sensation. With their popularity spiking and the window for country music closing, the band released their first independent EP. Thanks to strong word of mouth, a thriving independent scene, and friendly radio DJs, Smokin Armadillos sold an shocking estimated 150,000 copies of their first album. Quickly, the band went to work on releasing singles, which started getting major radio airplay. The band went from country music quirk in 1992 to an independent success story in 1994. They'd finally attracted the attention of the major labels and signed a record deal with MCG/Curb in 1994.
Unfortunately, Smokin Armadillos didn't achieve the same success as a major act that they'd found in their independent careers. The band maintained a huge following among their loyal fanbase and as a country dance act, but sales of their three commercial CDs, Out of the Burrow in 1994, the self titled debut in 1996, and Strike the Match in 2003, were somewhat lax. Both can still be found at music retailers and web shops for under $10. The band continued to tour voraciously and found new fans wherever they went, but in May of 2005, Smokin Armadillos finally called it quits.
Still, Smokin Armadillos stands today as a tremendous example of hard work and energy propelling a band to stardom without a major PR firm behind them. To sell 150,000 copies of their independent EP is an incredible feat and why the Smokin Armadillos remain in the lexicon of Independent music acts even long after the bad had played its last show.
Sources:
Smokin Armadillos Bio VH1. 2007. MTV Networks. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/smokin_armadillos/bi o.jhtml.
Smokin Armadillos Discography. CD Universe. 1996-2007. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.cduniverse.com/sresult.asp?HT_Search=xa rtist&HT_Search_Info=Smokin%27+Armadillos& />Roberts, Frank. “Here's the ‘Story' Behind the Smokin Armadillos”. The Virginian-Pilot. 30 July 1996. 12 Mar. 2007. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/ 1996/vp960730/07300034.htm.
Smokin Armadillos. Unlock Austin. 2006. 22 Mar. 2007. http://www.unlockaustin.com/Band/41225.
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