Back in the mid-to-late 90’s, I wasn’t at all interested in the local music scene. I knew nothing about local bands, live music venues or anything at all related to the “scene.” However, the first live show I ever attended was an album release show for local band Tablet. The reason for this particular outing was because my very best friend in the whole world Jim had a brother named Mike who happened to be in Tablet at the time.
I remember diggin’ the band. Then I sort of lost track of what Mike was doing musically until a few years ago. Mike moved from Dallas to Portland a long time back, then he put together a band called I Can Lick Any SonofaBitch in the House and began touring with such outfits as Slobberbone, Grand Champeen, Drive-By Truckers, Two Cow Garage, etc. I contacted Alex Steininger of In Music We Trust, and he hooked me up with a copy of Creepy Little Noises and it’s been among my favorites ever since.
The band was booked a few times in DdFW, playing to tiny crowds - typical Dallas, and it’s too bad cuz they are/were amazing live.
Sounds like Mikey has hit a similar wall as yours truly. It seems the end of 2006 has brought the need to throw out the old and start anew for several of us in the biz…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 18, 2006
I CAN LICK ANY SONOFABITCH IN THE HOUSE CALL IT QUITS; FRONT MAN MIKE DAMRON CITES IRRECONCIABLE DIFFERENCES
Though the break-up of I Can Lick Any Sonfoabitch in the House happened a month ago today (November 18, 2006), and many of you have heard via rumors or the band¹s email blast that was prematurely sent out, I wanted to send out an official statement of the band¹s demise, complete with an explanation from front man Mike Damron (aka Michael Dean Damron).
On the night of November 18, 2006, following a show at Outlaw¹s in Portland, Oregon, Mike Damron left the stage during the middle of I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House¹s set, frustrated by poor sound and P.A. failure at the club.
After returning home, he called guitarist Jon Burbank to explain.
During his explanation, he told Burbank that the Outlaw¹s show was an eye opener and that the P.A. failure, coupled with the light crowd of only approximately sixty paid attendees, made him realize that he was not having fun in I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House and that he wanted to focus on more varied music, something he felt SOB was incapable of.
Burbank, pleading with Damron and trying to reason with him, soon ended the call, hoping Damron would sleep it off.
The following night, In Music We Trust, I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House’s label, head Alex Steininger received a message from SOB¹s manager after landing in Portland, returning home from a business trip to New York.
The message simply stated, “Alex, call me, this is Howard, something big happened with SOB last night”.
Steininger quickly called Howard Libes at Candide Entertainment, the manager for SOB, and was briefed on Saturday, November 18th, the previous night¹s incident.
He was also informed that Damron was not answering his phone.
Trying his luck at it, Steininger called Damron and left a message. The following night Damron called Steininger and expressed his feelings and viewpoint.
It was then confirmed by Steininger that Damron was ending his run with I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House, thus putting the band to rest.
Management and the band were notified and proceedings started to take place to sell off the band¹s touring van and liquidate their bank account.
“We had a great run with I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House. We toured this country many times over for nearly six years. But, after six years and four records, I felt it was starting to run its course, and I wanted to do more things musically that this band was incapable of,” comments Damron on his decision to break up the band. “I want to write more rock songs, yeah, but I also want to write country songs, more folk-y songs, and other stuff, stuff the band wasn¹t willing to do. They wanted to make all the songs rock songs and a lot of the newer stuff I was writing wasn¹t going in that direction. And I didn¹t feel like trying to force it upon the song. If the song was a rock song, I was all for it. But if it wasn¹t, it needed to not be a rock song”.
Prior to the band¹s demise, Damron and band - guitarist Jon Burbank, bassist Mole Harris, drummer Flapjack Texas, and harpist David Lipkind finished tracking what would be their forth studio full-length, “Bad Days Ahead”.
“Bad Days Ahead” will be digitally released by In Music We Trust in April 2006. Guitarist Jon Burbank is currently in the studio mixing the record.
Bassist Mole Harris has given up recording and touring, stating that the band breaking up has killed his musical drive.
Jon Burbank and Flapjack Texas continue to play in Portland rock outfit The Runaway Boys.
David Lipkind will continue to be an in-demand harpist, playing with many bands around the NW.
Mike Damron will continue on with his solo project, Michael Dean Damron. He has recently formed a band, featuring former Wipers¹ drummer Sam Henry behind the kit, and an as-of-yet confirmed bassist. The trio will play out under the name Michael Dean Damron and The Loyal Bastards.
Michael Dean Damron and The Loyal Bastards are currently working on an upcoming full-length; Damron is busy writing many songs to choose from for the as-of-yet untitled record, which will be recorded in February and come out in summer ¹07. Four songs from “Bad Days Ahead” will be on the record as well.
Look for Michael Dean Damron and The Loyal Bastards to tour in March down to SxSW and back and another tour in summer, following the release of their full-length.
Mike Damron is available for interviews.
For more information, press shots, an interview with Mike Damron, etc. please contact Alex Steininger at In Music We Trust, Inc. 503-557-9661 or alex@inmusicwetrust.com.
I hate to hear this news, I loved SOB and all the guys, but Mike is an amazingly passionate and talented songwriter, so I am looking forward to his new project. I can’t wait to see him live on stage again in March at SXSW. Meantime, you can check out some tuneage here.
