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Tripping Daisy is a neo-psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck (drums), Wes Berggren (guitar) and Mark Pirro (bass).

The group disbanded in 1999 following the sudden death of Berggren. The remaining members reformed in 2017 for a reunion performance at the Homegrown Festival in Dallas, following which they played a number of concerts in Texas during 2017, 2019, and 2022. In June 2024, the band officially reformed, and have plans to tour and record a new album.

History

First album

After playing local gigs, the band released their first single, "Lost and Found", which received moderate airplay on local radio station KDGE. The band incorporated a light show similar to The Joshua Light Show at the Fillmore East. It used effects such as hand made slide shows with multi layered 16 mm projections along with oil and water. This visual attention was present in their very first show and was the beginning of many multimedia attractions to come.

The band soon began recording what would become their first full-length album, Bill, released on the independent label Dragon Street Records. The album was a favorite on Dallas radio. The sound on Bill is characterized by the heavy use of vocal effects and unconventional riffs, both of which lend to a neo-psychedelic sound. Bill was re-released on major label Island Records, with a different mix and mastering from the Dragon Street version. It also excludes the cover song "Green Tamborine".

In 1992 Bryan Wakeland replaced Jeff Bouck as the band's drummer. The band released a live album in 1994 titled Get It On. The album closes with a cover of the Bad Religion song "We're Only Gonna Die". DeLaughter has been noted as saying in 1990s era interviews that the record label pushed the live album out to capitalize on the popularity of Bill, and it is not one of his favorite albums.

Commercial breakthrough

After signing a deal with Island Records, which re-released Bill (minus the cover song "Green Tambourine"), the band recorded their first major-label release, I Am an Elastic Firecracker. The music video for the song "I Got a Girl" received extended airplay on MTV. A segment of the video was used in a Beavis and Butt-Head episode, a show known to lampoon popular music videos of the time. Wakeland remained in the band until after the tour for I Am an Elastic Firecracker when he chose to leave, and was replaced by Mitch Marine and Cory Lemons. Phil Karnats joined the band on lead guitar soon after Wakeland's departure, allowing DeLaughter more freedom to focus on lead vocal duty.

Later albums

The band's third album, Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, was a mix of both creativity and experimentalism. DeLaughter has been quoted as saying that the album "is the band at their best". The album has a fragmented style: from one vignette to another. While the album was not a commercial success, it was critically acclaimed; the Dallas Observer later ranked the album's third track, "Sonic Bloom", at number 100 on their "100 Best Texas Songs of All Time" list. Marine toured with the band until he was replaced by Ben Curtis, who drummed on Jesus Hit Like the Atom Bomb and their fourth album, the self-titled Tripping Daisy. Other releases during this period include Time Capsule (a mix of old demos, b-sides, and one new song – the only officially released studio recording to feature drummer Mitch Marine) and The Tops Off Our Heads (an impromptu "jam" EP recording that marked the band's first post-major label release).

Death of Wes Berggren and split

Wes Berggren was found dead of a drug overdose in his apartment on October 27, 1999. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office found traces of cocaine, propoxyphene, and benzodiazepine in his body. With Berggren's death, the band cancelled its upcoming tour dates and finished some minor recording sessions for the final album. The self-titled album was released posthumously, with Berggren's father Don playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano on the unfinished song "Soothing Jubilee". The album included a re-recording of "One Through Four", a song originally featured on Bill. Tripping Daisy officially disbanded on December 14, 1999.

After the band disbanded, Tim DeLaughter, Mark Pirro, Bryan Wakeland and Jeff Bouck formed the chamber pop group The Polyphonic Spree. Ben Curtis went on to join brother Brandon Curtis in the progressive space rock trio called The Secret Machines and later, the dream pop trio School of Seven Bells. Curtis died on December 29, 2013, from complications of lymphoma.

Reunion

On January 5, 2017, the band's official Facebook page teased a possible reunion event. News later confirmed the remaining members would perform at the Homegrown Festival in Dallas on May 13, 2017. On March 9, 2017, they announced four additional Texas dates, making it the first Tripping Daisy tour in nearly twenty years. Christopher Penn announced during Homegrown Fest 8 in Dallas, Texas, on May 13, 2017, that Tripping Daisy would be recording a live album during a concert July 7, 2017, during the NYTEX Summer Concert Series at the NYTEX Sports Centre in North Richland Hills, Texas. The band went idle again until reuniting in 2019 for the 10th Homegrown Festival. Shortly thereafter, the band played a "secret" show at the Dada in Dallas. Dylan Silvers filled in for Curtis during this concert. On August 28, 2022, the band played a surprise show at the Kessler Theater in Dallas.

On June 18, 2024, the Dallas Observer announced that Tripping Daisy had officially reformed, and that the band had plans to tour and record a new album. The band then played at The Factory in Deep Ellum, Dallas on June 29, 2024.

Band members

Discography

Albums

EPs

Demo albums

• Tripping Daisy – the shoe demo cassette

Singles

References

1. Schreiber, Ryan. "Tripping Daisy: Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb: Pitchfork Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
2. Tripping Daisy - Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved February 4, 2023
3. Cable, Collin (November 9, 2021). "Tripping Daisy's 'Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb' Still Very Much Hits". Central Track. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
4. Dansby, Andrew (February 1, 2017). "Tim DeLaughter of the Polyphonic Spree looks back ... and forward". Chron. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
5. Night, DC9 At (August 2, 2012). "The 100 Best Texas Songs: The Complete List (100–92)". Dallas Observer. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
6. Night, DC9 At (July 25, 2012). "The Best Texas Songs of All Time: #100-80". Dallas Observer. Retrieved February 5, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. "Tripping, Falling". Dallas Observer. November 25, 1999. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
8. "Tripping Daisy Returning for Homegrown Festival - D Magazine". D Magazine. January 6, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
9. "Tripping Daisy reunites again for Homegrown Festival's 10th anniversary". January 11, 2019.
10. "After headlining Carrollton festival, Tripping Daisy plays surprise show in Deep Ellum". Dallas News. November 4, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
11. Freedman, Pete (April 12, 2019). "A Re-Reunited Tripping Daisy Hit Like An Atom Bomb At Dada". Central Track. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
12. Brooks, Mike (August 29, 2022). "Tripping Daisy's Surprise Show at the Kessler Was Tonic for the Soul". Dallas Observer. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
13. Erickson, Bethany (August 29, 2022). "Tripping Daisy Takes The Kessler's Stage in a Surprise Show Sunday". D Magazine. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
14. Pruitt, Simon (June 18, 2024). "It's Official: Tripping Daisy Reunites, Plans To Tour and Record New Album". Dallas Observer. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
15. Tucker, Scott (July 1, 2024). "Tripping Along Just Fine: Tripping Daisy Delivers Sonic Bloom at The Factory". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
16. "Billboard > Artists / Tripping Daisy > Chart History > Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
17. Anon. (September 9, 1995). "The Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 36. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 128. ISSN 0006-2510.
18. Anon. (August 26, 1995). "Billboard's Heatseekers Albums Chart". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 19.
19. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Library and Archives Canada. October 23, 1995. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
20. "charts.nz > Tripping Daisy in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
21. ^ UK chart peaks:
    • Top 100 peaks: "Official Charts > Tripping Daisy". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
    • Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > DJ T – Tzant". zobbel.de. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
22. ^ Borzillo, Carrie (September 9, 1995). "Tripping Daisy Blooms at Island". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 36. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 1, 120. ISSN 0006-2510.
23. Anon. (April 2, 1994). "Russians Seek New U.S. Aid With Copyright Law". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 14. p. 15. ISSN 0006-2510.
24. "Flower Power Pop: The Atomic Reformation of Tripping Daisy". Velocity Magazine. July 1998. Archived from the original on August 31, 2002. Retrieved February 7, 2023 – via trippingdaisy.com.
25. "Gold/Platinum". Music Canada. May 1998. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
26. Kaufman, Gil (April 29, 1997). "Net-Only Cure & Tripping Daisy CDs". MTV. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
27. "Billboard > Artists / Tripping Daisy > Chart History > Radio Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
28. "Billboard > Artists / Tripping Daisy > Chart History > Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
29. "Billboard > Artists / Tripping Daisy > Chart History > Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
30. Australian (ARIA) chart peaks:
    • Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 285.
    • "I Got a Girl": "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 25 Feb 1996". Retrieved July 21, 2017 – via Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA). N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
31. "lescharts.com > Tripping Daisy dans les Charts Français" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 21, 2017.

External links

• Official website

• Alternative rock groups from Texas
• Musical groups disestablished in 1999
• Musical groups established in 1991
• Musical groups from Dallas
• Grunge musical groups
• 1991 establishments in Texas
• American neo-psychedelia groups
• Musical groups reestablished in 2017
• American musical sextets