Primitive Painters
Active from 1990 - Present
Band Members:
- Don Wood - Guitar (1990-1992)
- Jim Ustick - Guitar (1990-1993)
- Dennis Crupi - Vocals (1990-present)
- Patrick Homa - Bass (1990-2002)/Guitar (2002-present)
- Clint Margrave - Guitar (1994-1997)
- Scott Huckabey - Guitar (1994-present)
- Jared Matt Greenberg - Keys (2002-present)
- Chad Patchen - Drums (2002-present)
- Brian Ross - Bass (2009-present)
Upon signing with English independent GT's Records in 1992, Primitive Painters stormed the scene with its full-length debut "Dirtclods." Based in Garden Grove, California. The band amassed a respectable college following and stacks of favorable press.
Between extensive U.S. tours and support slots for international acts - including The Wonder Stuff, Dramarama, Jonathan Richman, Sublime, The Soup Dragons, Hoodoo Gurus and Modern English - the Painters recorded several post-Dirtclods demos on prospective labels' tabs. But the right offer never came, and, in 1997, the band called it a day.
A new day dawned in the fall of 2002, when founding members Dennis Crupi (vocals) and Patrick Homa (bassist-turned-guitarist) reunited to write new material. In June 2003, the OC Weekly included Primitive Painters in its "129 Greatest OC Bands Ever!" article (Vol. 8 No. 42 June 20-27, 2003) and announced the band had reformed.
The Painters answered with EP33 (Keeper/Earthling), a six-song collection of spirited tunes. No sooner was EP33 released via all major digital outlets, than The Painters began work on their next full-length record, "Say It 'til You Mean It."
Released in November 2008, "Say It 'til You Mean It" is by far Primitive Painters' finest hour. Steeped in powerful lyrics and lush arrangements, the record features a host of accomplished guest musicians, including Erica Nockalls of The Wonder Stuff, Alwyn Wright of the Long Beach Symphony, and local troubadour Jay Buchanan.
Primitive Painters are currently writing for their next full-length record and will be playing local dates throughout 2010.
From OCWeekly's 129 Greatest OC Bands Ever #105
"Garden Grove's Primitive Painters were another one-album wonder, but at least 1992's Dirtclods proved to be an OC alt-rock classic: it still stands up more than a decade later. With atmospheric soundscapes that referenced the Smiths, October-period U2 and Simple Minds, it was filled with vulnerable vocals and stream-of-consciousness lyrics about youthful alienation and independence. We remember our first Painters gig at Cal State Fullerton vividly: Jim Ustick engaged in chiming guitar sounds, while riveting front man Dennis Crupi mumbled incoherent phrases between verses, did a spastic dance and shouted into a megaphone. Their high drama was quite unique at the time, and they amassed a sizeable college following. We recall readily making long treks to catch them at such dearly-departed clubs as Bogart's (a virtual Painters home-away-from-home), Scalzo's, Electric Circus and elsewhere. Fortunately, the Painters have re-formed and are working on new material."
Primtive Painters Flyers:
Independents Day '94 with Sublime and many more.
