Mark Deming - frontman
Bryan Ramirez - guitars
William Tennant - violin
Fred Beldin - bass guitar
The Steve - drums
Pat Bills - drums
Recorded by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders, 1996-1997
Songs by Fred Beldin except:
"From Here To There" by Bryan Ramirez
"Quiet Outlaw" by Bryan Ramirez and Fred Beldin
"I Don't Wanna Think About You Tonight" by Mark Deming and Fred Beldin
Born in a frozen Lansing basement in January 1996, the Clutters stumbled and swore their way through life for some thirty months before succumbing to the very vices that made the band inevitable. A local rock journalist signs a pact with a life-stunned ex-punk to always face obscurity head on, then assembles cast-off, forgotten musicians from a decade’s worth of Capital City rock bands – the Wayouts, El Smasho, Apollo Nine, Down MF, Universal Indians, the Lime Giants and other local noisemakers.
A burst of activity follows even as the band’s raucous, chaotic garage/country/outlaw approach perplexes and alienates listeners from all spheres, as alt-country fans find the Clutters too ramshackle and abrasive, while punk-minded types reject the band’s many beards and frequent stabs at balladry. Still, the Clutters remain stubborn and contrary, releasing 7-inch singles on two start-up record labels during 1997 and logging shows across Michigan with bands like Mike Ireland and Holler, the Waco Brothers, the Backsliders, Robbie Fulks, the Cowslingers, the Sovines, the Volebeats, the Witches, Bantam Rooster, the Chinese Millionaires, Cash Money, Easy Action, the Dirtys and more.
However, the Clutters’ steady diet of weed, whites and wine inspires violent interband fracases that result in broken fingers, manic depression and mild heart attacks. A spring 1998 tour is scuttled by the pressures of part-time jobs and newfound love, and a dejected Clutters sputters to an end without anyone even realizing it.
Guitarist Bryan Ramirez moved on to Montana, where he founded Killertree Records and formed the heralded noise-folk duo Ex-Cocaine. Frontman Mark Deming continued his career as a cultural critic and writes prodigiously for All Media Guide. Violinist William Tennant made his way to Portland and moved into the management side of the music business. Bassist Fred Beldin chose Seattle and formed apocalyptic doom-folk band The End Times. Drummers The Steve and Pat Bills remained in the Lansing area to raise their respective broods and continue to drum locally for a host of country, rock and lounge acts.
Online Now!
