Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is an American band from Nashville, Tennessee, formed in 1986. Frontman and primary songwriter Kurt Wagner has remained the project's sole constant member across multiple line-up changes. The band's current line-up also includes Andrew Broder (keyboards), Ryan Olson (brass, woodwind), C.J. Camerieri (brass, woodwind) and Tim Purnell (drums). Lambchop is loosely associated with the alternative country genre. Initially indebted to traditional country, the music has subsequently moved through a range of influences including post-rock, soul and lounge music.
Across Lambchop's forty years, there have been several significant collaborators, with the project mostly consisting of a large and fluid collective of musicians focused around its creative centre, Kurt Wagner. Former longtime members and collaborators include guitarists Paul Niehaus, Mark Nevers, William Tyler and Alex McManus; bass guitarists Marc Trovillion and Matt Swanson; keyboardists John Delworth and Tony Crow; multi-instrumentalists Deanna Varagona and Jonathan Marx; and drummers Allen Lowrey, Charles Scott Chase, Paul Burch and Scott Martin. Other former collaborators include drummer Andy Stack and Yo La Tengo's James McNew.
The band has released seventeen albums across its career, with its most recent, Punching the Clown, released in August 2026 to widespread critical acclaim.
Description and history
Initially formed as a three piece in 1986 with Kurt Wagner, bassist Marc Trovillion and guitarist Jim Watkins with the name Posterchild. They released some low-fi bedroom recordings on cassette such as I’m Fucking Your Daughter. In 1992 they released a split 7” with Crop Circle Hoax which got the attention of entertainment lawyer George Regis, who sued on behalf of the similarly named band Poster Children. After trying a few different names they settled on Lambchop and signed to Merge Records in 1993 releasing their debut single Nine that year.
Whatever the style, the characteristic mood of Lambchop's music is evoked by Wagner's distinctive songwriting: lyrically subtle and ambiguous, the vocals melodic but understated. American Songwriter described Wagner's lyrics as "witty and deeply insightful."
They were the backing band for Vic Chesnutt on his 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette.
Personal lives Singer Kurt Wagner is married to founder of Nashville 90's record store, Lucy's Record Shop and Tennessee Democratic Party leader Mary Mancini.
Personnel
Summary of members as credited on studio albums (1994–present)
Former bass player Marc Trovillion died of a heart attack in October 2013, aged 56.
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums Title Album detailsI Hope You're Sitting Down/Jack's Tulips Released: September 19, 1994 Label: Merge Records Formats: CD/Double LP/CassetteHow I Quit Smoking Released: January 30, 1996 Label: Merge Records/City Slang (Europe)/Virgin France Formats: CD/LP (single sided)Thriller Released: September 23, 1997 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LPWhat Another Man Spills Released: September 8, 1998 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)Nixon Released: February 8, 2000 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)Is a Woman Released: February 19, 2002 Label: Merge Records/City Slang/Spunk (AU)/P-Vine (JA)/Trama (Br) Formats: CD/Double LPAw Cmon Released: February 9, 2004 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CDNo You Cmon Released: February 17, 2004 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CDDamaged Released: August 14, 2006 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LPOH (Ohio) Released: October 6, 2008 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP (City Slang)Mr. M Released: February 21, 2012 Label: Merge Records/City Slang/Spunk Formats: CD/Double LP/DVD/MP3FLOTUS Released: November 4, 2016 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LPThis (Is What I Wanted to Tell You) Released: March 22, 2019 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LPTrip Released: November 13, 2020 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LPShowtunes Released: May 21, 2021 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/LP/MP3,FLACThe Bible Released: September 30, 2022 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats: CD/Double LP/MP3, FLACPunching the Clown Released: August 21, 2026 Label: Merge Records/City Slang Formats:
EPs Hank (1996) The Queens Royal Trimma (Live Royal Festival Hall, London – Tour Only) (2000) Treasure Chest of the Enemy (Tour Only) (2001) CoLab (with Hands Off Cuba) (2005) Mr. N (2012) Basement Tapes (2019)
Releases as Posterchild "An Open Fresca" / "A Moist Towlette" (split with Crop Circle Hoax) (1992)
Cassettes Secret Secret Sourpuss (1990) Big Tussie (1992) Sorry About the Deformed Heart (split with Crop Circle Hoax and Spent) (1993)
Singles "Nine" / "Moody Fucker" (1993) "My Cliche" / "Loretta Lung" (1994) "Soaky in the Pooper" (1994) "Your Life as a Sequel" (1995) "Scared Out of My Shoes" (split 5" vinyl single with Spent) (1995) "The Man Who Loved Beer" (1996) "Hank" (1996) "Cigaretiquette" / "Mr. Crabby" (1996) "Whitey" / "Playboy, the Shit" (1997) "Give Me Your Love (Love Song)" (1998) "Your Fucking Sunny Day" (1998) "Up with People!" / "Miss Prissy" (2000) "Is a Woman" (2002) "Something's Going On (and On)" (2004) "The Hustle" / "When You Were Mine" (2017)
Compilation albums Tools in the Dryer (2001) The Decline of the Country and Western Civilization (1993-1999) (2006) The Decline of Country and Western Civilization, Part 2: The Woodwind Years (2006) Turd Goes Back: Essential Tracks from Secret Secret Sourpuss & Big Tussie (2011)
Tour only albums Pet Sounds Sucks (Live at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco) (2002) Mono (Live in Würselen, Germany) (2003–04) Nashville Does Dallas (2004) Boo Fucking Who? (Live in Brussels, Belgium) (2004) Succulence (Live in Vienna, Austria) (2006) Rainer on My Parade (Live, various locations) (2008) Democracy (2012) Live at the Shanghai Symphony Chamber Hall (2017)
Live albums Live at XX Merge (2009)
DVDs No Such Silence (2007)
References
External links