Bitter are some New York scenesters that another band heisted rock'n'roll glory from the deserving hands of Jonathan Fire*Eater, the band that was as creative and talented as any New York ensemble since, perhaps, the Talking Heads. Jonathan Fire*Eater was supposed to be what The Strokes became. Of Jonathan Fire*Eater, Allmusic remarks: "Press hype and hyperbole surrounded Jonathan Fire Eater's major-label debut, Wolf Songs for Lambs, but amidst all the excitement, someone forgot that the band's music, although amazing and memorable, was never really commercially viable... Artistically a huge success but ultimately a commercial failure, Jonathan Fire Eater broke up in 1998."
The most recent incarnation of Fire*Eater frontman Stewart Lupton, two other Fire*Eaters, as well as two cats from a band called The Recoys, The Walkmen might ultimately be as critically lauded as its precursor, kicking their career as a band off with a brilliant first LP, the curiously titled Everybody Who Pretended To Like Me is Gone, released earlier this year on Star Time Records. Having possibly exorcised demons of inaccessibility, The Walkmen's catchy tune, We've Been Had, is now featured on a new commercial for the Saturn Ion, which, according to Star Time, features "an army of children playing in a cul-de-sac as two bemused, vaguely hip twenty-somethings drive by, looking through the window of their car."
Article comments
1 - Jen Raj
Well, Galaxie 500 was featured in a car ad too, post mortem of course, but.. still. I am really enjoying this cd and hope to see these guys live sometime soon.
2 - Sabo
Totally agreed. I'm nearly certain that commercial success has little, if anything, to do with talent, and certainly doesn't necessarily correspond to creativity. But if you look at the success of Luna now, though not quite garnering instant fame like the Strokes, is nevertheless further than the Fire*Eaters got and possibly more than the Walkmen ever will.... Dean Wareham has certainly reached cult status by now.
3 - Will
One thing -- Stewart Lupton is not one of the Walkmen. Their singer, Hamilton Leithauser, is one of the two former Recoys, along with Peter Bauer. The former Fire*Eaters are guitarist Paul Maroon, drummer Matt Barrick and organist Walter Martin. Lupton, it seems, is languishing in obscurity someplace.
4 - Sabo
Great point. And an oversight on my part. Given the similarities in vocal styles, I assumed, without verifying, the singer was the same. My bad on that one. That said, Leithauser's vocals are truly stellar.
5 - Sabo
Great point. And an oversight on my part. Given the similarities in vocal styles, I assumed, without verifying, the vocalist was the same. My bad on that one. That said, Leithauser's vocals are truly stellar. Lupton is now fronting a band called Child Ballads.
6 - Dio De Puerco
Are you fuck'n DEAF!!! Leithauser can't touch Lupton with an open flame on his ass!!! The Walkmen hug nuts compared to Fire * Eater. Nuff Said
7 - Sabo
Wow! Stunning imagery. Apparently, a closer reading would suit you as I called the Fire*Eater "as creative and talented as any New York ensemble since, perhaps, the Talking Heads". So where are the Child Ballads now?
8 - J.Read
the Child ballads are in D.C., quietly
playing shows, getting ready to remind
the world that good music still exists.
9 - Sabo
Great. Can't wait to hear 'em.
10 - A.T.
As far as topping Lupton is concerned, I believe anyone would be hard pressed to do so (especially considering the amount of singer/guitarists out there now.) Lupton was one of the last REAL frontman, and JFE would have been only a great IDEA for a band with out his execution on the microphone. If anyone has any info on the Child Ballds please send me an email...
11 - A.T.
As far as topping Lupton is concerned, I believe anyone would be hard pressed to do so (especially considering the amount of singer/guitarists out there now.) Lupton was one of the last REAL frontman, and JFE would have been only a great IDEA for a band with out his execution on the microphone. If anyone has any info on the Child Ballds please send me an email...
12 - Mike Alvin
Yeah! Please email me any info on the Child Ballads also! I agree Lupton is one of the great frontmen in history and certainly a model for all up and coming rockers.
13 - Ryan
Where is Stewart Lupton? He must be a part of a band somewhere. I'd kill for his voice.
14 - stewart lupton
from the desk of stewart lupton / the childballads
thank you to everyone who remembers. your generosity is heartening indeed. i would like to tell you about a band called the childballads that i play in. we are a three piece, myself , ms. betsy wright and mr hugh macintosh. i sing alot and play a very old acoustic guitar on some of the numbers. ms. betsy wright, whose beauty is rivaled only by her talent, is a vibe polyglot. she speaks so many vibes, plays the wurlitzer, farfisa (yes i know but i was there too) and the viola. in addition, she sings. beautifully. our voices / bodies are particularly well suited to eachother. sometimes we weave it together and sometimes we let it unravel (the singing). someguy at this show once said we had a art folk royal trux vibe at times and , although that was probably my favourite description (head still swelling) betsy's voice is a silver dagger like joan baez when she wants it that way, and i do what i do with the pipes moses gave me. as for our drummer, a childhood friend and current schoolmate (he is lapping me several times at george washington university, i am studying poetry while hugh is getting a p.h.d. in 19th century literature, has to read 200 pages of dickens a night which is slowly driving him insane and poisoning his worldview but that is beside the point (for now). what is not beside the point is his gift for rythms that are warm, hustling, wooden healthy rickety trailblazing that serves the songs in a completly unexpected, generous, humble and stately mannner. he played w/ the recoys and the french kicks but saved his best for us . hugh is really great. you all would like him alot.okay. so, we made a record this summer and are crossing the t's and taking out the dirty words and someone/company actually seems inclined to help us, give us money to put it out. i don't want to hex it but i really hope it works out because i am so very proud of what we did this summer, the drum tones, betsy's multiple offerings, all bearing the seal of savant warmth. so this is to thank her for taking time off from chopin and to thank hugh for taking leave of dickens and to thank all those that have the tiniest spore of interest in what we are doing and i hope that interest will germinate and cross pollinate with the forthcoming record and live shows. we are playing with rtx tommorow (dec. 2) at the warehouse next door in d.c. jenifer's new record is wonderful, sounds like jeff koons stuff looks. also please buy james tate's new volume of poetry callled the return of the white donkey as it is undoubtedly the best poetry out there , life changing stuff, gives your aesthetic worldview a tune-up. finally, (some people call me "tangent man") we don't have web page but my e-mail serves as mailing list/info/bookings/holiday recipe hotline. it is easy to remember. childballad@aol.com
this is first a fledgling attempt at self promotion. i hope it takes.
thanks again for kind words and remembrances....stewart lupton
p.s. send money fast
promise not to play the ponies anymore
15 - the childballads
the childballads have a new website...
www.thechildballads.net
16 - theoldmule
Lupton is a far more talented musician and entertainer than Leithauser, but the lacks the style and tropism that really sells tickets these days. A man like Lupton is further out past the fray, ticking off the lessons of verse, reminding us that we all need to think with our ears, maybe tap our feet(s) a bit.