The Volebeats

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The Volebeats are an American alternative country band from Detroit, Michigan, United States. Formed in Hamtramck, Michigan in 1988, the Volebeats were started as an acoustic outfit by Matthew Smith, Jeff Oakes, Al Oakes and Terry Rohm.^[1] The band was part of the roots revival in the 1980s that would become known as the alternative country movement, releasing several tracks and a single on Chicago's Bloodshot Records. The band was featured in Steve Martin's 2005 film Shopgirl,^[2] and was hailed by Ryan Adams as “the best band in America".^[3]

The band has released eight albums, one EP and several singles.

Members[]

Current[]

Jeff Oakes - Vocals, guitar
Matthew Smith - Guitars, vocals
Peter Andrus - Guitars
Russell Ledford - Bass
Scott Michalski - Drums, guitar

Past[]

Terry Rohm
Al Oakes
Brian Oakes
Rebecca Kaplan
Mike Murphy
Mark Niemenski
Bob McCreedy
Keir McDonald
James McConnell
Bill Peterson

Discography[]

Albums[]

• Ain't No Joke (Relapse, 1989)
• Up North (Safe House, 1994)
• Bittersweet EP (Third Gear, 1995)
• The Sky and the Ocean (Safe House, 1997)
• Solitude (Safe House, 1999)
• Mosquito Spiral (Third Gear, 2000)
• Country Favorites (Turquoise Mountain, 2003)
• Like Her (Turquoise Mountain, 2005)
• The Volebeats (Rainbow Quartz, 2010)

Compilation tracks and singles[]

• "One I Love" on Hell Bent (Bloodshot, 1995)
• "Hamtramck Mama" on Straight Outta Boone County (Bloodshot, 1997)
• "Maggot Brain" (Bloodshot, 1997)

References[]

External links[]

• The Volebeats at Bloodshot Records