An Evening With Souled American

The elusive & influential Souled American return to Pittsburgh after more than three decades to promote the long-awaited SANCTIONS, their first record in forever. John Darnielle (Mountain Goats) "The chance to see them do what only they can do should not be missed by anyone who cherishes the true alchemy of music." The elusive and influential Souled American emerge this year to promote "Sanctions," their first record in thirty years. Souled American formed in 1987 with four musicians from Illinois--vocalist/rhythm guitarist Chris Grigoroff, vocalist/bassist Joe Adducci, electric guitarist Scott Tuma, and drummer Jamey Barnard. They were scouted and signed by popular independent label Rough Trade Records. Their 1988 debut Fe and Lucinda Williams’s "Lucinda Williams" became the label’s initial US releases. The band made a total of four records for Rough Trade before the label went bankrupt and the music vanished. They then made two records for Germany’s small Moll Tontrager which, scarcely distributed and poorly promoted, were (as Abraham Lincoln would say) little noted nor long remembered. The Internet arrived but none of Souled American’s six records ever found it. Engineer Jim Rondinelli (Wilco, The Jayhawks, Matthew Sweet, Urge Overkill) co-produced Fe and calls Souled American, “far and away the most unique and fresh and talented band I ever worked with.” Engineer Brian Deck (Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine, Counting Crows, Califone) co-produced their next three records. “I was flabbergasted that they existed. I couldn’t believe there were people singing together like that in my generation. I was utterly in love.”