Artist Detailed Info: Spud Puddle

Spud Puddle was a post grunge alternative rock band that formed in the early 90′s in Southern California. They released their fantastic label debut ”Linoleum” under the band name “Spud Puddle” in 1996 on the label Brainstorm Records. Spud Puddle played a style of alternative rock not at all unlike Sunny Day Real Estate, Silverchair, even touches of Soul Asylum, yet edgy enough to avoid the commercial tag. They were emo before there was emo, yeah I said it. Spud Puddle was an underated band that would often plays shows with their contemporaries like Prayer Chain, Plankeye, Pushstart Wagon, Driver Eight, and all the other local alternative rock bands from back in the day. They were little known and the fact that they were on a little known “Christian” record label didn’t help things either.
Spud Puddle changed their name to the aptly titled “Quayle” around the end of 1996 and signed with new upstart label Sub Lime Records soon after. Sub Lime Records was a division of Essential Records/Brentwood Music/Zomba Label Group and had distribution through Provident Music. As far as Christian music goes, that was big time back then. Quayle entered the studio with the legendary Michael Knott at the helm and recorded their “Self Titled” debut. The band released the album in 1997 on Sub Lime Records to mostly glowing reviews and international notice (from what I recall). However, I think the name change was defeating them. Being a new band on a new label in a new scene wasn’t easy. Their style wasn’t punk rock (which was all the rage), it wasn’t Hardcore (again, all the rage), and wasn’t even Ska (yep, more of the rage). They were sort of a combination of styles and had that high gloss commercial appeal that so many bands avoided. I think for Nashville, they were too edgy and for Southern California, they weren’t punk rock enough. They were sort of just in the middle. For so many bands like them back then, it was very difficult to “break out” and make a mark, in a scene that was just starting to identify with itself.
Quayle’s “Self Titled” debut had some winners on it like “The Pretender” “True Blue”, “Hero to Heart” among many other noteable tracks. I remember getting this album back in 97′ and instantly drawn to it’s edgy yet positive, uplifting, and often romantic leaning songs. I was impressed and definite put this album at the top of my favorites list for a long time. Unfortunately, like so many bands of their era, they had to call it quits way too soon and didn’t even go on a national tour (that I recall) to make their album worthwhile to fans. They were just another number in a long list of little known names succumbing to their unfortunate yet not at all unexpected fate. A cool little fact about lead singer Nick Garissi, he tried to come out with a solo career for a bit and even had a song on the Ben Affleck/Gwenyth Paltrow Film Soundtrack to Bounce.Yep, I had that too. The sad ending to this little write up is that you can’t even find their music online to purchase anywhere and the only way to get it is through illegal methods (for those of you that don’t like purchasing cds on Amazon or Rad Rockers).


by Brandon Jones

http://oldschooltribute.com/2009/10/15/in-the-old-school-spud-puddle-quayle/

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