Jackleg Devotional to the Heart

Oblivion Overture

Crafting lo-fi, acoustic indie rock that draws comparisons to artists like Roky Erickson, the Band, Will Oldham, and Howlin' Wolf, Denton, Texas' the Baptist Generals feature main members singer/guitarist Chris Flemmons and drummer Steven Hill. Originally named the Poor Bastard Sons, the group formed in the late '90s and mixed folk and country sounds and song structures with an indie rock attitude. Flemmons was a drummer for eight years before switching to guitar (teaching himself to play on a largely plywood model he bought at a pawnshop) and brings a raw, percussive emphasis to his playing; likewise, Hill's minimal kit -- a snare, floor tom, and bass drum -- keeps their sound on the simple side. The Generals' penchant for recording on 4-track adds extra grit and authenticity to their sound, particularly on early releases like the 1998, cassette-only collection In Excretio: The Difficult Years and 2000's The Dog EP. After adding bassist Jeff Helland, the band signed to Sub Pop and upgraded to 8-track to record 2002's Void Touching Faster Victuals EP and the full-length No Silver, No Gold, which arrived in early 2003 on Sub Pop. It would be ten years before the next album from the Baptist Generals, with Flemmons writing, recording, and then shelving a first attempt in 2005 and then avoiding the process for years to come. He kept himself busy with the successful 35 Denton festival, a project he started to highlight local music annually and one that kept him busy. Eventually fans and supporters pushed Flemmons enough to complete what was threatening to become his "lost album" and in 2013 the Baptist Generals' sophomore release Jackleg Devotional to the Heart arrived, again on Sub Pop.  -by Heather Phares 

Oblivion Overture

The Baptist Generals