Soul Coughing

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox musical artist

Soul Coughing is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/guitarist Mike Doughty (also known as M. Doughty), keyboardist/sampler Mark Degli Antoni, bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and drummer Yuval Gabay. They developed a devout fanbase and garnered largely positive response from critics. Steve Huey of AllMusic described the band as "One of the most unique cult bands of the '90s. Driven by frontman M. Doughty's stream-of-consciousness poetry, Soul Coughing's sound was a willfully idiosyncratic mix of improvisational jazz grooves, oddball samples, hip hop, electronics, and noisy experimentalism".<ref name=allmusic1>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Doughty described the band's sound as "deep slacker jazz".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The group broke up in 2000.<ref name="allmusic1" /><ref name="Onion" />

In June 2024, the group announced it would reunite for a United States tour in September and October of the same year.<ref name="reunion">Template:Cite magazine</ref> It made its first television appearance in decades on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

CareerEdit

All four Soul Coughing members were regulars at The Knitting Factory, a New York City nightclub and performance venue that was part of the 1980s and 1990s experimental downtown scene. Doughty was a doorman known for his improvised comedic quasi-raps, while the others appeared at the Knitting Factory in various bands.<ref name=allmusic1 /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Doughty, Degli Antoni, and Steinberg all performed in versions of John Zorn's composition Cobra, appearing on John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory (recorded 1992, released 1995).<ref>Yanow, S. AllMusic Review Template:Webarchive accessed October 24, 2013</ref>

Within a year of its formation, the band was signed to Slash Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records.<ref name=allmusic1 /> The group released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996) and El Oso (1998), with the latter showing a marked drum and bass influence.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Irresistible Bliss and El Oso both reached the Billboard 200 albums chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The band enjoyed minor hit singles with "Soundtrack to Mary" and "Super Bon Bon".<ref name=Billboard2>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 1996, Soul Coughing contributed to the AIDS benefit album Offbeat: A Red Hot Soundtrip, produced by the Red Hot Organization. Also in 1996, one of the group's songs, "Unmarked Helicopters", was included in the Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files. The band also placed songs in the soundtracks to the films Batman & Robin ("The Bug"), Tommy Boy ("Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago") and Spawn ("A Plane Scraped Its Belly On A Sooty Yellow Moon", featuring Roni Size). Their song "Super Bon Bon" was included on the soundtrack for the video game Gran Turismo 2 in 1999.

File:Soul Coughing.jpg

Soul Coughing publicity photo, 1998

The 1998 song "Circles" from El Oso reached #8 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart,<ref name="Billboard2" /> and was used as the soundtrack to a Cartoon Network extended commercial that poked fun at repeating cartoon backgrounds.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Soul Coughing broke up in 2000.<ref name="allmusic1" /><ref name="Onion">Template:Cite news</ref> Mark Degli Antoni moved on to a career as a film score composer,<ref name="allmusic1" /> while Mike Doughty began a prolific solo career, occasionally revisiting Soul Coughing songs in new styles.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lust in Phaze, a greatest hits compilation including a few B-sides, was released in 2002. Rhino Records reissued Soul Coughing's three studio albums on 180-gram black vinyl in 2015, marking the first time Ruby Vroom had been pressed to vinyl.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2017, Swedish record label Woah Dad! acquired Soul Coughing's back catalog from Slash Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Soul Coughing - First Avenue Star.jpg

Star honoring Soul Coughing on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue

Soul Coughing was honored with a star on the outside mural of Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,<ref name="FirstAveStars">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> which recognizes performers who have played sold-out shows or otherwise made major cultural contributions to the iconic venue.<ref name="StarTribune2019">Template:Cite news</ref> Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh.<ref name="MSPMag2019">Template:Cite news</ref> Soul Coughing was especially popular in Minneapolis, thanks to airplay on alternative radio station Rev 105, and regularly performed there to audiences five to ten times larger than in other cities.<ref name="StarTribune2012">Template:Cite news</ref>

In February 2022, Doughty and Steinberg performed together in Los Angeles during Steinberg's set for Watkins Family Hour. The duo performed Soul Coughing songs "Super Bon Bon" and "True Dreams of Wichita", which marked the first occasion members of Soul Coughing appeared on stage together since the split in 2000.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the end of June 2024, Soul Coughing reformed with all the original members and announced that there would be a short tour with limited shows throughout September and October 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On September 12th, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ruby Vroom, the band performed "Super Bon Bon" live on Jimmy Kimmel Live.<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>

DiscographyEdit

AlbumsEdit

Overview of studio albums by Soul Coughing
Title	Details	Peak chart positions
Title	Details	US <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	CAN <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Ruby Vroom	Released: September 27, 1994 Label: Slash/Warner Bros. Formats: CD, CS, LP	—	—
Irresistible Bliss	Released: July 9, 1996 Label: Slash/Warner Bros. Formats: CD, CS, LP	136	—
El Oso	Released: September 29, 1998 Label: Slash/Warner Bros. Formats: CD, CS, LP	49	69
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

CompilationsEdit

Overview of Soul Coughing compilation albums
Title	Details
Lust in Phaze	Released: March 19, 2002 Label: Slash/Rhino Format: CD

Live albumsEdit

Overview of Soul Coughing live albums
Title	Details
Tokyo, Japan 03.02.97	Released: 2004 Label: Kufala Recordings Recorded: February 2–3, 1997
New York, NY 16.08.99	Released: January 4, 2005 Label: Kufala Recordings Recorded: August 16, 1999
Berlin/Amsterdam 1997	Released: January 4, 2005 Label: Kufala Recordings Recorded: 1997
Rennes, France 03.12.94	Released: January 4, 2005 Label: Kufala Recordings Recorded: December 3, 1994
Rennes, France 03.12.94	Released: January 4, 2005 Label: Kufala Recordings Recorded: December 3, 1994
LIVE 2024<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1\|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	To Be Released: April 2025 Label: TBD Recorded: 2024

SinglesEdit

Overview of Soul Coughing singles
Year	Title	Peak chart positions			Album
Year	Title	US Alt. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US Main. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US Bub. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	Album
1994	"Down to This"	—	—	—	Ruby Vroom
1995	"Sugar Free Jazz"	—	—	—
1995	"Screenwriter's Blues"	—	—	—
1996	"Soundtrack to Mary"	37	—	—	Irresistible Bliss
1996	"Super Bon Bon"	27	—	—
1997	"Soft Serve"	—	—	—
1998	"Circles"	8	38	24	El Oso
1998	"St. Louise Is Listening"	—	—	—
1999	"Rolling"	—	—	—
"—" denotes a release that did not chart.

Music videosEdit


Year	Album	Title	Director
1995	Ruby Vroom	Down to This	Mark Kohr
1995	Ruby Vroom	Screenwriter's Blues	Jim McKay
1996	Irresistible Bliss	Soundtrack to Mary	John Flansburgh Norwood Cheek
1996	Irresistible Bliss	Super Bon Bon	Jamie Caliri
1998	El Oso	Circles	Chris Applebaum

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Soul Coughing Underground – An unofficial website including a discography, guitar tablature, and other information
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Soul Coughing collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
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Suckerfied Assman Tripping In His Own Dribble: An Appreciation of Soul Coughing (No Ripcord feature)

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