Bedhead
1991–1998
Matt Kadane
Bubba Kadane
Tench Coxe
Kris Wheat
Trini Martinez
History[edit]
Founding[edit]
The roots of the band trace back to brothers Matt and Bubba Kadane playing music together as children in Wichita Falls, Texas.[1] They later began playing music together in Dallas, Texas.[1] The brothers founded Bedhead after their father died from a brain tumor: Matt Kadane stated that a lot of their music was rooted in "an outpouring of grief... Bubba and I didn’t talk much about [their father's death]. But we played music together".[5] Drummer Trini Martinez was the first addition to the duo's band in 1990, followed by guitarist Tench Coxe and bassist Kris Wheat.[6] The band was formed into Bedhead in 1991. After playing their debut show in Austin in early 1992, they released two early singles on Dallas-based record label Direct Hit Records, one in 1992 and one in 1993.[1]
Musical style and influences[edit]
Bedhead's music was generally subdued, with a polyphonic sound based on the interlocking of single-line melodies played by three electric guitars and one electric bass guitar (often played with a capo), nearly always using clean (undistorted) tones, prompting comparisons to the Velvet Underground.[2] According to Matt Kadane, one major influence on their minimalist approach was the later work of Talk Talk, especially their album Spirit of Eden.[5]
According to Allmusic, "What distinguished [Bedhead] was the way it combined [indie rock]'s modest ambitions with careful song construction and rock & roll's sense of grand dynamic excitement. This was the quintessential indie rock band because it delivered some of the best the genre is capable of: workaday vocals that actually work, gorgeous melodies (though uncommercial, this music doesn't have to be indigestible), and dynamics that could crush the listener."[3]
The group's vocals were often delivered in such a low key manner that they could be difficult to decipher.[11] This unusual sound was dubbed by some critics as "slo-core," referring to the slow tempos of many of the band's songs, though the band's members objected to the labeling in interviews. In reality, many of the group's songs only begin slow before building in speed, intensity and volume. Bedhead also experimented with time signatures less commonly used in rock music, by playing some songs in 7/8 or 5/4 meter.