Golden Smog
Play Radio
Listen to Golden Smog Radio,
featuring artists like Son Volt, Jeff Tweedy, The Minus 5, Jay Farrar and more…
-
Search on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
783,022 plays (86,689 listeners)
Minneapolis, United States (1989 – present)
Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergroup) comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star.
The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme’s nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities’ musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog’s lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) were relative constants.
The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band’s lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as ‘The Take It To The Limit Band’ played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name “Her Satanic Majesty’s Paycheck.”
The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme’s nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities’ musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog’s lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (The Jayhawks) were relative constants.
The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band’s lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as ‘The Take It To The Limit Band’ played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name “Her Satanic Majesty’s Paycheck.”
Shouts:
39 shouts
Top Albums
-
Another Fine Day
Golden Smog
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $13.73
- eBay Search
-
Weird Tales
Golden Smog Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $11.99
- eBay Search
-
Blood On The Slacks
Golden Smog Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.92
- 7digital Search
- iTunes $7.92
- Buy Album
- Amazon $4.95
- eBay Search
-
Down by the Old Mainstream
Golden Smog Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.99
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $16.29
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
-
brent74 wrote:
They've got some great tunes.
-
acsafialho wrote:
They're pretty much like Wilco, actually
-
Druid66 wrote:
The alt.country super-group, for sure. "Down by the Old Mainstream" definitely helped me through some woman troubles.
-
benadlard wrote:
Love em!
-
acsafialho wrote:
One of the greatest bands ever, I just can't stay one day without listenning their songs.
-
debbiemcdonnell wrote:
just discovered this, v. cool!
-
thisisall1word wrote:
Weird Tales is such a quality album - prefer that album to any by any of the 'parent' bands - makes me wish I could drive and owned a beat up old car which I could tour the states in, from one small town to another.
-
schmeankman wrote:
@ heyhowsitgoing: Try "Pecan Pie" and "Radio King"
-
Debaser987 wrote:
Holy shit, this band is brilliant.
-
Saveall wrote:
Rickenbacker heaven.
-
henry352 wrote:
I love the song called 'V'
-
csankurgoyal wrote:
Best album in a class
-
IamFlood wrote:
Hey, they kinda sound like Wilco.
-
emergingsynergy wrote:
This band's music is so fine!
-
trackaghost wrote:
God, it is spam central here. Shame, because Golden Smog deserve better.
-
beckybartkowski wrote:
What do you guys think of Rhett Miller's new record? Here's a video of him performing "I Need To Know Where I Stand," if you're interested. http://www.shoutfactory.com/av/rhett_miller/Rhett-I_Need_To_Know_Where_I_Stand-512K.mov
-
zhundley wrote:
Hey guys!! If you like Golden Smog, check out the band HYMNS. They hail from Brooklyn, NY and just finished recording their new EP. Check them out here: www.myspace.com/hymnsband
-
DearAdora wrote:
If you're a fan of Golden Smog, check out Chicago based indie artist DEAR ADORA! EP available for free stream... http://www.last.fm/music/Dear+Adora
-
djmann wrote:
obra-prima.
-
vhhaines wrote:
Anyone tabbed any songs from Another Fine Day? I can find next to none on the web and haven't the ear to tab them myself.
Videos
Top Listeners
-
disonanca
Top Listener
-
morazen
Top Listener
-
ga2175
Top Listener
-
ironyboard
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
and 20 other people added Golden Smog to their libraries. Monday evening
-
RPLastFM tagged Golden Smog with radio paradise and radioparadise. last month
-
JessFunnin, rochambeau, EwanMcClure and 8 other people added Golden Smog to their libraries. last month
-
AnUnholyVoid wrote about Golden Smog in Alt-Country's Finest.. December 2011
-
MapTa42, jphinklin, meandmymini and 1 other person added Golden Smog to their libraries. December 2011
-
iwebb27 tagged Golden Smog with ‘need to listen’. December 2011
-
DarkestRose8207, TrippmcCarty, klouwer and 16 other people added Golden Smog to their libraries. December 2011
-
humorbot wrote about Various Artists – Clerks in Albums I Own.. December 2011
-
asciiecho and LAWR3NCE tagged Golden Smog with asciiecho. November 2011
-
longcm88, ludovic11201, JasonFBennett and 3 other people added Golden Smog to their libraries. November 2011
Related Journals
-
Alt-Country's Finest.
by AnUnholyVoid |
30 Dec 2011
-
edit radio podcast 75 - free at www.editradio.org and on iTunes
by editradiouk |
19 May 2011
-
Favorite Albums [26]
by Kellynoso |
7 Nov 2010
Groups (18)
-
Drive By & Truck Yourself
177 members
-
The Jayhawks
119 members
-
Wilco
562 members
-
the neon tumbleweed: where american indie and traditional meet
408 members
-
Postcard From Hell
498 members
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
- Labels
Email Newsletter
Get exclusive tour, release & promotion updates on Golden Smog from Universal Music.
