The Greenhornes are an American garage rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1996 by vocalist/guitarist Craig Fox, bass guitarist Jack Lawrence and drummer Patrick Keeler. They released their debut album Gun For You in 1999, followed by a self-titled album in 2001. A third studio album, Dual Mono, was released in 2002, with the band taking a small hiatus. The Greenhornes returned in 2005 to release a new EP, East Grand Blues, and a compilation album, Sewed Soles. In 2010, the band reunited once again to record a studio album, Four Stars, their first in eight years. (More from Wikipedia)
Along with the second album, Big Red and Barbacoa by past UARB Hacienda, I got a copy of his debut CD, Brian Olive in a surprise package of 3 albums that Suzy Shaw sent me in one of my Bomp! mailorder orders. Brian Olive was previously in two rock bands having long Wikipedia articles, the Greenhornes and Soledad Brothers, though there is no article on him individually.
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While he was still in high school in Ohio, Brian Olive was the guitarist in a band called Us and Them that released a four-track tape. The garage rock band called the Greenhornes that included some members of Us and Them was formed in Cincinnati, Ohio by Craig Fox (guitar and vocals), Jack Lawrence (bass guitar), Patrick Keeler (drums), Brian Olive (guitar), and Jared McKinney (keyboards). The group relocated to Detroit and released two albums in their original incarnation, Gun for You (1999) and The Greenhornes (2001). Brian Olive left the band to join Soledad Brothers before the second album was released, and Jared McKinney also departed the following year; Olive was replaced by guitarist and vocalist Eric Stein. This line-up of the Greenhornes released an album called Dual Mono in 2002. Eric Stein left in 2002 to join the Griefs, leaving the three core members – Craig Fox, Jack Lawrence, and Patrick Keeler – by 2003.
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Jack White of the White Stripes organized a band called the Do-Whaters that included the rhythm section from the Greenhornes, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler, plus Dave Feeny, another Detroit musician and producer. They became the backing band for Loretta Lynn on her universally acclaimed 2004 comeback album, Van Lear Rose, which was masterminded and produced by Jack White.
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A collaboration by the Greenhornes with British singer/songwriter Holly Golightly resulted in the song “There is an End”; it became the theme song for the Jim Jarmusch film, Broken Flowers (2005).
An EP by the band called East Grand Blues came out in 2005, and a compilation album called Sewed Soles followed quickly. While members are involved in other projects, the three-member Greenhornes remain active and released an album in 2010, Four Stars.
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Jack White’s next musical project, the Raconteurs grew out of the Do-Whaters that had backed Loretta Lynn on Van Lear Rose; the band was organized in 2005 by Jack White, Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler of the Greenhornes, and Brendan Benson (vocals, guitars, keyboards). Since a Queensland band was already using that name, they are called the Saboteurs in Australia. The Raconteurs was a high-profile band from the beginning, since Jack White was so well known.
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The Dead Weather is Jack White’s current band and was organized in 2009; other bandmembers include Jack Lawrence of the Greenhornes, Dean Fertita (previously in Queens of the Stone Age – he also contributed to the Raconteurs album Consolers of the Lonely), and Alison Mosshart (lead singer of the indie rock band the Kills).
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Brian Olive, who was then in the Greenhornes, was recruited by Soledad Brothers shortly before the release of their second album, Steal Your Soul And Dare Your Spirit To Move. In keeping with the stage names being used by the other two bandmembers in Soledad Brothers, Olive took the name Oliver Henry (“O. Henry”) during his time with the band. Additionally, Brian Olive and Meg White had a long-term relationship in this time period.
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Brian Olive regained his name and sought to be in a band where he was the one calling the shots; that normally means a solo career. His debut album, Brian Olive came out in 2009 on Alive Records (the same label as the last album by Soledad Brothers). Brian Olive provides lead vocals and plays guitar, piano and woodwinds. Backing musicians include his old friends Jared McKinney and Craig Fox of the Greenhornes, Mike Weinel (formerly of Heartless Bastards), and Dan Allaire, who has been the drummer for the Brian Jonestown Massacre since 2002. Also there was a vocal trio assembled for the sessions composed of the Kadish Sisters and Donna Jay.
(February 2015)
