Giant Sand (formerly Giant Sandworms) is an American musical group from Tucson, Arizona, United States. Its most constant member is singer-songwriter Howe Gelb. The groups have developed idiosyncratic sound rooted in alternative country, but touching on a wide range of other styles and featuring Gelb's beatnik-influenced vocals and songwriting. Since about 2012, they have also performed as Giant Giant Sand when featuring a larger ensemble than their traditional four to six musicians.
Howe Gelb, also a prolific solo artist, started the group as Giant Sandworms in the late 1970s in Tucson, Arizona. In 1980, an EP was released entitled Will Wallow and Roam After the Ruin. After which Gelb sacked the other members. 1983 saw the release of Valley of Rain on Enigma Records with the shortened name of Giant Sand. It had Scott Garber on bass, Winston Watson on drums for most tracks, with Tommy Larkins drumming on the others. By 1990, John Convertino had become the band's drummer. Multi-instrumentalist Joey Burns joined around that time. Convertino and Burns formed Calexico in 1996, later leaving the group to concentrate on that project. In 2004, saw the first release without Convertino and Burns; the Is All Over the Map album.
(read more on Wikipedia)
Links to Peel[]
Peel discovered the band in 1985 and would play the group's music often in the late 80's. In 2002, he played a track, 'Johnny Hit And Run Pauline' from the band that featured backing vocals from PJ Harvey and in 2004, he nominated their album, Is all Over the Map, as one of his records of the month for September 2004 (Peel's Record Box). He also played Convertino and Burns band, Calexico, on his radio programmes between the late 90's and early 00's.
Shows Played[]
- 10 December 1985: Don't Turn Away (7") One Big Guitar
- 28 December 1985 (BFBS): Don't Turn Away (7") One Big Guitar
- 20 January 1986: Don't Turn Away (7") One Big Guitar
- 10 September 1985: Valley Of Rain (LP - Valley Of Rain) Zippo
- 16 September 1985: Artists (LP - Valley Of Rain) Enigma
- 16 September 1985 (BFBS): Curse Of A Thousand Flames (album - Valley Of Rain) New Rose
- 30 September 1985: October Anywhere (album - Valley Of Rain) Enigma
- 02 October 1985: Curse Of A Thousand Flames (LP - Valley Of Rain) Black Sand
- 16 October 1985: Artists (album - Valley of Rain) Enigma
- 22 October 1985: Death, Dying & Channel 5 (LP - Valley Of Rain) Enigma
- 08 December 1986: You Can't Put Your Arms Around A Memory (LP - Ballad Of A Thin Line Man) Zippo
- 08 January 1987 (Andy Kershaw): You Can't Put Your Arms Around The Memory (LP - Ballad Of A Thin Line Man) Zippo
- 09 March 1988: Right Makes Right (LP - Storm) Demon
- 21 March 1988: Town Where No Town Belongs (LP - Storm) Demon
- 05 April 1988: Town With Little Or No Pity (album - Storm) Demon
- 13 April 1988: Town Where No Town Belongs (LP - Storm) Demon
- 10 April 2002: Johnny Hit And Run Pauline (LP - Cover Magazine) Thrill Jockey
- 29 September 2004: NYC Of Time (LP - Is All Over The Map) Thrill Jockey