Chooglin'

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Photo by Daniel Corrigan

Page contents

1 History
2 Members
3 Former Members
4 Discography
5 Audio
6 Related Web sites
7 Related groups

History

Formed in the fall of 2005 from the flotsam of the Midnight Evils, Chooglin's pile-driving music and loud, fast, rump-shaking live shows are a staple of the Minneapolis music scene. Brian Vanderwerf and Jesse Tomlinson, the Evils’ guitarist/vocalist and drummer, respectively, were not interested in joining the rest of the Evils in the rock ‘n’ roll mausoleum once the group disbanded. To stave off retirement, Tomlinson traded in the skins for guitar strings, and, with Vanderwerf brushing off the detritus, they pocketed stalwart bassist Jeff Johnson and Shawn Walker, a finalist on any list of Minnesota’s best drummers.

Their very first show opening for The Detroit Cobras and The Reigning Sound at the Triple Rock was a rousing popular and critical success, but it wasn’t until they picked up the three-horned attack of trumpeter Bob DeBoer, trombonist Steve Erickson, and bass trombonist/tubist Hal Longley that the furious sound of Chooglin’ had finally fully formed. Vanderwerf had recruited the three brassmen for First Avenue’s annual cover band contest, and, after winning the whole shebang by performing Exile on Main Street, added the tripartite horns to Chooglin’s lineup.

Soon, Chooglin’ placed number four on the City Pages’ 2006 “Picked to Click” list, and their eponymous debut album was named by the same publication as Minneapolis’ “Best Album of the Past 12 Months”. Though the album was described as “as addictive and unstoppable—a bender that's too good to park in rehab”, it was their live shows where they earned their reputation as a high-energy, lo-fi, no-frills garage-rock dynamo. After a craigslist.com abduction brought sleaze-core trombonist Zachary Zephyr Zins into the fold in April 2007, Chooglin’ went on to share the stage with The Reverend Horton Heat, X, King Khan & BBQ, The Dirtbombs, The Black Lips, Jay Reatard, The Black Diamond Heavies, The Soledad Brothers, The Buffalo Killers, Birthday Suits, Silver Lions 20/20, and scores of other marvelous local and national bands. With a live show braying to be captured on vinyl, Chooglin’ decided to record a live gig at the legendary 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis on December 22nd, 2007. When local label Heart of a Champion graciously offered support, Chooglin’ enlisted Dave Gardner, Brian Herb, and John “the Killer” Miller to record and mix the show, and the Entry was booked. Brewing everything together with scads of panting fans and oceans of booze, their second release, Nice Place, Nice Party, Nice Folks, was completed, and the album was released in February of 2009.

It was during another live show at the Entry in July 2008 that Chooglin’ caught the ear of Fat Possum/Big Legal Mess owner Bruce Watson. In town to support Hezekiah Early, Robert Cage, and Pure Country Gold—several Fat Possum and Big Legal Mess artists performing at that summer’s Deep Blues Festival—Watson was hot and bothered by Chooglin’s show in support of Cage and Early, and shortly thereafter signed them to Fat Possum/Big Legal Mess. Armed with the support of Watson’s highly-respected labels, Chooglin’ recorded their second studio effort, Sweet Time, in December 2008 at the storied Creation Studio in south Minneapolis. Records by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Dave Dudley, and The Trashmen are all members of Creation’s rich roster. Produced and recorded by Watson and Third Ear’s Tom Herbers, Sweet Time was recorded on tape with live, full-band takes and minimal overdubs to properly capture Chooglin’s intensity. The album is slated for a July 2009 release, with national and international tours to follow in support. In the interim, Paul Wells has joined on the bass guitar to replace Jeff Johnson, who departed for the sunny climes of Southern California.

Also scheduled for 2009 is a split 7" single with Chooglin' and Alabama band The Dexateens.

Members

Jesse Tomlinson/guitar & vocals

Shawn Walker/trap kit

Brian Vanderwerf guitar & vocals

Paul Wells/bass

Harold Longley/bass trombone/tuba/mellophone

Steve Erickson/trombone

Bob DeBoer/trumpet

Zach Zins/trombone

Former Members

Jeff Johnson/electric bass guitar

John Miller/keyboards

Discography

Chooglin', released November 17, 2006.
Nice Place, Nice Party, Nice Folks, released February 3, 2009.
Sweet Time, scheduled for release on July 7, 2009.