Kurt Neumann (musician)
Encyclopedia
Kurt Neumann 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
.
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 1986, and have since released nine studio albums and two live albums. Neumann's introspective songwriting and unique guitar playing style has 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".
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
.
and echo
effects, which often leads him to be compared to guitarists such as The Edge
. His solos often utilize the whammy bar, creating a modulated, chorus-like sound that is magnified by the delay. He also uses hybrid picking
, a technique that involves fingerpicking while using a plectrum
simultaneously. He has used several guitars over the years (most of them Fenders
), but his most common include a heavily modified Telecaster Custom
, a custom-made purple guitar, and a brown Stratocaster. His current stage rig consists of two Fender Hot Rod DeVille
amplifiers (for stereo effects), several rackmount effects (primarily a Rocktron VooDu Valve effects processor) controlled by a MIDI floorboard controller, and a DB-01 Dimebag
Signature Cry Baby
wah-wah pedal.
BoDeans
The BoDeans are a rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 1983 by Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas . In 1985, after adding a drummer and a bassist, the band signed a contract with Slash Records and recorded their first album...
. Although primarily a guitar player, Neumann has also been known to play drums (his first instrument), bass, keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, and mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
.
History
In 1977, Neumann and Sam LlanasSam Llanas
Sam Llanas is a singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter in several rock and roots rock bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including the BoDeans and Absinthe...
met while in high school in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. 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
Guy Hoffman
Guy Hoffman is a drummer and vocalist, formerly of such bands as Oil Tasters, BoDeans, Violent Femmes and Absinthe. He is a composer for such films as Field Day and a founding member of Radio Romeo.-Life:...
and bassist Bob Griffin. The band signed with Slash/Warner Records in 1986, and have since released nine studio albums and two live albums. Neumann's introspective songwriting and unique guitar playing style has 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".
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
Modern rock
Modern rock is a rock format commonly found on commercial radio; the format consists primarily of the alternative rock genre...
, funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
, and hip-hop. In 2005, Neumann provided the soundtrack for the movie The Godfather of Green Bay
The Godfather of Green Bay
The Godfather of Green Bay is a fictional comedic movie released in 2005. It follows the tale of stand-up comedian Joe Keegan...
.
Guitar Style
Neumann makes extensive use of delayDelay (audio effect)
Delay is an audio effect which records an input signal to an audio storage medium, and then plays it back after a period of time. The delayed signal may either be played back multiple times, or played back into the recording again, to create the sound of a repeating, decaying echo.-Early delay...
and echo
Echo (phenomenon)
In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound. Typical examples are the echo produced by the bottom of a well, by a building, or by the walls of an enclosed room and an empty room. A true echo is a single...
effects, which often leads him to be compared to guitarists such as The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
. His solos often utilize the whammy bar, creating a modulated, chorus-like sound that is magnified by the delay. He also uses hybrid picking
Hybrid picking
Hybrid picking is a guitar-playing technique that involves picking with a pick and one or more fingers alternately or simultaneously. Hybrid picking allows guitar players who use a pick to perform music which would normally require fingerstyle playing. It also facilitates wide string leaps Hybrid...
, a technique that involves fingerpicking while using a plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
simultaneously. He has used several guitars over the years (most of them Fenders
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
), but his most common include a heavily modified Telecaster Custom
Fender Telecaster Custom
Fender Telecaster Custom is a model of electric guitar made by Fender. This model should not be confused with the "Fender Custom Telecaster" model manufactured between 1959 and 1968, which only differs from a standard Telecaster in having a bound body...
, a custom-made purple guitar, and a brown Stratocaster. His current stage rig consists of two Fender Hot Rod DeVille
Fender Hot Rod DeVille
The Fender Hot Rod DeVille is a combo tube guitar amplifier manufactured and sold by Fender. It was introduced in 1996 as part of Fender's Hot Rod line of amplifiers, and since then has been in continuous production...
amplifiers (for stereo effects), several rackmount effects (primarily a Rocktron VooDu Valve effects processor) controlled by a MIDI floorboard controller, and a DB-01 Dimebag
Dimebag Darrell
Darrell Lance Abbott , also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe...
Signature Cry Baby
Dunlop Cry Baby
The Dunlop Cry Baby is a popular wah-wah pedal, manufactured by Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. It is the best selling guitar pedal of all time. The name Cry Baby was from the original pedal from which it was copied, the Thomas Organ/Vox Cry Baby wah-wah. Thomas Organ/Vox failed to register the name as...
wah-wah pedal.