Kurt Neumann (musician)
| Kurt Neumann | |
|---|---|
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Kurt Neumann (right) in 1988 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kurt Robert Neumann |
| Born |
9 October 1961 Milwaukee, WI |
| Genres | Alternative, roots rock |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums, mandolin |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Stratocaster, Fender Telecaster | |
Kurt Robert Neumann (October 9, 1961) is a singer, guitarist, and songwriter of the roots-rock band BoDeans. Although primarily a guitar player, Neumann has also been known to play drums (his first instrument), bass, keyboards, and mandolin.
History
In 1977, Neumann and Sam Llanas met while in high school in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Soon after, they began writing songs together and performing as a duo. In 1983, they formed the band BoDeans with the addition of drummer Guy Hoffman and bassist Bob Griffin. The band signed with Slash/Warner Records in 1985, and have since released nine studio albums and two live albums. Neumann's introspective songwriting and unique guitar playing style added significantly to the band's sound. Some BoDeans albums have been produced and recorded by Neumann, including 2004's "Resolution", 2010's "Mr. Sad Clown", and 2011's "Indigo Dreams". Neumann also has contributed guitar and guest vocals to several albums, most notably Robbie Robertson's debut album in 1987, Good Evening by Marshall Crenshaw in 1989, and Flyer by Nanci Griffith in 1994.
In 1997, Neumann recorded a cover of Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City for the compilation One Step Up/Two Steps Back: The Songs of Bruce Springsteen.[1]
In 2000, Neumann released "Shy Dog", his only solo album to date. Playing all the instruments, the album's sound is influenced by genres such as modern rock, funk, and hip-hop. In 2005, Neumann provided the soundtrack for the movie The Godfather of Green Bay.
Guitar style and equipment
Neumann's guitar playing style with the BoDeans has changed significantly from album to album. Although not a heavy user of effects, Neumann has made use of delays throughout most of his career, in addition to occasional use of modulation such as wah, tremolo, and chorus. In the band's early days, he favored a clean tone with slap-echo in the style of rockabilly, using modified Fender Telecasters and Super Reverb amps almost exclusively. By the late 1980s, he began using longer quarter or dotted-eighth note stereo delays. Because of this, his style was sometimes compared to U2's The Edge. Around this time, he moved to a large rackmount setup with several digital effects processors, two GT Electronics studio preamps, and three Fender Super Reverb amps modified for rackmounting. Around the Go Slow Down era, Neumann began using Mesa Boogie preamps and power amps for a dry, heavier tube-overdriven tone, along with a custom single-cutaway purple guitar. Later in the decade, he also played Gibson and Epiphone hollowbodies. By the early 2000s, he was using two Fender Hot Rod DeVille amps along with a small rack featuring a Rocktron VooDu Valve. Since the late 2000s, he has been using Fulton-Webb and Dr. Z amps, and a mono pedalboard. He builds and plays custom "Bastard" guitars created from unique parts, mostly in the form of Stratocasters.[2]
His playing style is characterized by ringing open chords and use of the whammy bar, often creating a modulated sound that is magnified by the delay. He also uses hybrid picking, a technique that involves fingerpicking while using the pick simultaneously. In recent times, he has been playing without a pick on many songs.
Discography
- Shy Dog (2000)
References
External links
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