Lambchop

Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is an American band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 1986. Frontman and primary songwriter Kurt Wagner has remained the project's sole constant member across multiple line-up changes. The band's current line-up also includes Andrew Broder (keyboards), Ryan Olson (brass, woodwind), C.J. Camerieri (brass, woodwind) and Tim Purnell (drums). Lambchop is loosely associated with the alternative country genre. Initially indebted to traditional country, the music has subsequently moved through a range of influences including post-rock, soul and lounge music. Across Lambchop's forty years, there have been several significant collaborators, with the project mostly consisting of a large and fluid collective of musicians focused around its creative centre, Kurt Wagner. Former longtime members and collaborators include guitarists Paul Niehaus, Mark Nevers, William Tyler and Alex McManus; bass guitarists Marc Trovillion and Matt Swanson; keyboardists John Delworth and Tony Crow; multi-instrumentalists Deanna Varagona and Jonathan Marx; and drummers Allen Lowrey, Charles Scott Chase, Paul Burch and Scott Martin. Other former collaborators include drummer Andy Stack and Yo La Tengo's James McNew. The band has released seventeen albums across its career, with its most recent, Punching the Clown, released in August 2026 to widespread critical acclaim. Initially formed as a three piece in 1986 with Kurt Wagner, bassist Marc Trovillion and guitarist Jim Watkins with the name Posterchild. They released some low-fi bedroom recordings on cassette such as I’m Fucking Your Daughter. In 1992 they released a split 7” with Crop Circle Hoax which got the attention of entertainment lawyer George Regis, who sued on behalf of the similarly named band Poster Children. After trying a few different names they settled on Lambchop and signed to Merge Records in 1993 releasing their debut single Nine that year. Whatever the style, the characteristic mood of Lambchop's music is evoked by Wagner's distinctive songwriting: lyrically subtle and ambiguous, the vocals melodic but understated. American Songwriter described Wagner's lyrics as "witty and deeply insightful." They were the backing band for Vic Chesnutt on his 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette. Singer Kurt Wagner is married to founder of Nashville 90's record store, Lucy's Record Shop and Tennessee Democratic Party leader Mary Mancini. Summary of members as credited on studio albums (1994–present) Former bass player Marc Trovillion died of a heart attack in October 2013, aged 56. Hank (1996) The Queens Royal Trimma (Live Royal Festival Hall, London – Tour Only) (2000) Treasure Chest of the Enemy (Tour Only) (2001) CoLab (with Hands Off Cuba) (2005) Mr. N (2012) Basement Tapes (2019) "An Open Fresca" / "A Moist Towlette" (split with Crop Circle Hoax) (1992) Secret Secret Sourpuss (1990) Big Tussie (1992) Sorry About the Deformed Heart (split with Crop Circle Hoax and Spent) (1993) "Nine" / "Moody Fucker" (1993) "My Cliche" / "Loretta Lung" (1994) "Soaky in the Pooper" (1994) "Your Life as a Sequel" (1995) "Scared Out of My Shoes" (split 5" vinyl single with Spent) (1995) "The Man Who Loved Beer" (1996) "Hank" (1996) "Cigaretiquette" / "Mr. Crabby" (1996) "Whitey" / "Playboy, the Shit" (1997) "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" (1998) "Your Fucking Sunny Day" (1998) "Up with People!" / "Miss Prissy" (2000) "Is a Woman" (2002) "Something's Going On (and On)" (2004) "The Hustle" / "When You Were Mine" (2017) Tools in the Dryer (2001) The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization (1993-1999) (2006) The Decline of Country and Western Civilization, Part 2: The Woodwind Years (2006) Turd Goes Back: Essential Tracks from Secret Secret Sourpuss & Big Tussie (2011) Pet Sounds Sucks (Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco) (2002) Mono (Live in Würselen, Germany) (2003–04) Nashville Does Dallas (2004) Boo Fucking Who? (Live in Brussels, Belgium) (2004) Succulence (Live in Vienna, Austria) (2006) Rainer on My Parade (Live, various locations) (2008) Democracy (2012) Live at the Shanghai Symphony Chamber Hall (2017) Live at XX Merge (2009) No Such Silence (2007) Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 551. ISBN 1-84195-017-3. Stewart, Allison (October 20, 1998). "Vic Chestnutt Sweats the Music Biz". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 27, 2020. "Lambchop: Mixed Media". American Songwriter. Retrieved April 12, 2012. "Mary Mancini". October 28, 2019. Reed, Ryan (October 18, 2013). "Marc Trovillion, Ex-Lambchop Bassist, Dead at 56". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 25, 2016. Minsker, Evan (October 30, 2019). "Lambchop Release New Basement Tapes EP: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 30, 2019. Official website