The Builders and the Butchers

The Builders and The Butchers are a folk rock band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is fronted by singer/guitar player Ryan Sollee. The other members of the band are Willy Kunkle (bass guitar, vocals, percussion), Justin Baier (drums, backup vocals, percussion),[1] Ray Rude (drums, piano, clarinet, backup vocals, percussion), and Harvey Tumbleson (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals, percussion).

The Builders and The Butchers
The Builders and the Butchers playing live 2014 in Munich.
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresFolk rock, Indie Folk, Alt-country, Folk Punk, Blues, Americana
Years active2005–present
LabelsBladen County Records, Gigantic Music, Badman Recording Co., Song, by Toad Records
MembersJustin Baier
Willy Kunkle
Ray Rude
Ryan Sollee
Harvey Tumbleson
Past membersAlexander Ellis
Brandon Hafer
Adrienne Hatkin
Paul Seely
WebsiteTheBuildersAndTheButchers.com

The band's debut self-titled album was released in 2007 by Bladen County Records.[2][3]

To date, the band has 6 full-length albums, 2 live album and 2 EP splits.

Willy Kunkle & Ryan Sollee, Live in Munich 2014
Harvey Tumbleson, Live in Munich 2014
Willy Kunkle, Live in Munich 2014
Polaris Hall, 2022

History

The Builders and The Butchers formed on October 31, 2005.[4][5] They came together because "a lot of bands were all breaking up around the same time, and we were looking to get into something new—so it just worked out."[6]

Each member is originally from Anchorage, Alaska and migrated separately to Portland, Oregon to start a career in music.[7][8]

Initially they called themselves "The Funeral Band", performing in the streets and outside of music venues. The name eventually changed to The Builders and The Butchers, "for no other reason than it was the only name all five members liked."[8] The first year of acoustic performances were mostly street shows until opening for the experimental band Man Man in 2006.[8] "We very slowly started plugging [our instruments] in." Sollee says,[8] but the group had to figure out how to use its two percussionists on stage. They found that by splitting one drum kit between Seely and Rude, with one handling the kick drum and another playing the snare, they developed what the group calls a "deconstructed" drumming style.[8]

The band's song-writing process involves Sollee writing the lyrics out and presenting it to the other members, who then start playing and putting the music around these lyrics.[6]

In May 2008 the band won the Willamette Week's "Best New Band of 2008"[9] and Seattle Sound’s “Best Live Performers 2008”.

In late 2010, The Builders and the Butchers signed with Badman Recording Co. and released their third album, Dead Reckoning on February 22, 2011.[10][11]

Artwork

The Builders and The Butchers' album artwork is produced by Portland, Oregon artist Lukas Ketner.[12]

Members

Current
  • Justin Baier (drums, backup vocals, percussion)
  • Willy Kunkle (bass guitar, vocals, percussion)
  • Ray Rude (drums, piano, clarinet, backup vocals, percussion)
  • Ryan Sollee (lead vocals, guitar, percussion)
  • Harvey Tumbleson (mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals, percussion)

Former
  • Alex Ellis (bass guitar, vocals, percussion) – "The Builders and The Butchers", "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split, "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well","Dead Reckoning"
  • Brandon Hafer (drums, trumpet, melodica, backup vocals, percussion)
  • Adrienne Hatkin (mandolin, banjo, accordion, vocals, percussion) – live shows[13]
  • Paul Seely (drums, trumpet, melodica, backup vocals, percussion) – "The Builders and The Butchers", "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split, "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"

Guests
  • Annalisa Tornfelt (violin, backup vocals) for "The Builders and The Butchers", "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split, "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Emily Tornfelt (cello) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Tyler Tornfelt (cello) for "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split
  • Skip Von Kuske (cello) for "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split
  • Douglas Jenkins (cello) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Justin Kagen (cello) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Joe Bowden (backup vocals) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Sean Flynn (backup vocals) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Jesse Bettis (backup vocals) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Scott Magee (bass clarinet, backup vocals) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Sebastian Bibb Barrett (trumpet) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Victor Nash (trumpet, french horn) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Amanda Lawrence (viola) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Chris Funk ([backup vocals]) for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • Mike Anzalone (castanets, backup vocals)for "Loch Lomond/The Builders and The Butchers" 12-inch Split, "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • The Flash Choir for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • The Gospel Choir for "Salvation is a Deep Dark Well"
  • The Portland Cello Project – live shows[14]

Discography

Albums
Title Date Label
The Builders and The Butchers 2007 Bladen County Records
Loch Lomond/The Builders and the Butchers Split 12-inch 2007 Bladen County Records(USA) / Song, by Toad Records(UK)
Salvation Is a Deep Dark Well 2009 Gigantic Music
Where the Roots All Grow 2010 Self Released
Dead Reckoning 2011 Badman Recording Co.
Murder By Death/The Builders and The Butchers Split 7-inch 2011 Self Released
Western Medicine 2013 Badman Recording Co.
The Spark 2017 Badman Recording Co.
Live From Doug Fir 2017 None (Released by Banana Stand Media)
Hell & High Water 2022 Badman Recording Co.

References
  1. Kopet, Jeri (23 November 2011). "Remodeling The Builders and the Butchers". Anchorage Press. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. "Artist Biography". All Music. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  3. "Artist Biography". Bladen County Records. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  4. McCullough, Amy (7 May 2008). "The Builders and The Butchers". Willamette Week. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  5. "Builders and the Butchers Artist Biography". All Music. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  6. unknown last name, Morgen (15 April 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers' Killer Show". The Sun Break. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  7. "Artist Biography". The Builders and The Butchers Official Website. Retrieved 9 October 2009.
  8. Werthman, Christine (22 July 2009). "Brick By Brick The Builders and The Butchers Construct a Sound". New York Press. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  9. McCullough, Amy (7 May 2008), "Best New Band 2008", The Willamette Week, Portland, OR, vol. 34, no. 26, p. 19
  10. Caraeff, Ezra Ace (10 December 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers Sign to Badman Recording Co". The Portland Mercury. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  11. White, Ryan (6 December 2010). "The Builders and the Butchers have a body on their hands". Oregon Live (The Oregonian). Retrieved 7 August 2011.
  12. Stoloff, Zach (12 January 2010). "The Bridge to Somewhere". Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  13. Seifert, Brandon (28 March 2007). "The Builders and the Butchers, Friday, March 30". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  14. Salmon, Ben (19 March 2010). "Bend welcomes cello group Portland Cello Project brings classical, pop blend to bars". The Bulletin. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
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