Trampled By Turtles Are Going on Hiatus
Maybe you came for the speed, but you stayed for the songs. It’s hard to believe that the bluegrass-esque band from Duluth, MN has been around for going on 14 years, but in that time Trampled By Turtles amassed a strong fan base in Minnesota and beyond, and released eight records, including their latest Wild Animals from 2014.
But now it’s time for a pause according to the band, and specifically songwriter and frontman Dave Simonett. Though the band hasn’t said much publicly, on Sunday, October 23rd the Trampled By Turtles Twitter account updated with, “Going away for a little while. We love you all. Thanks for an amazing first chapter.”
A hiatus in Trampled By Turtles is confirmed via a press released sent out on October 13th, not about Trampled By Turtles, but about Dave Simonett‘s solo project called Dead Man Winter. According to the release, Dead Man Winter will be releasing its sophomore album on January 27th called Furnace.
It also says in the press release, “After 14 years of leading the successful progressive bluegrass outfit, Simonett chose to put the band on hold, and for the first time, dedicate an entire album to one topic. The 10 songs that comprise ‘Furnace’ reflect a man coming to terms with a painful divorce and the heartbreaking separation from his two children. While Simonett did not initially set out to chronicle these experiences, the process proved to be cathartic and highly therapeutic.”
Much of the album was written in 20-below weather in the dead of a Minnesota winter, and was recorded at Pachyderm Studio in Cannon Falls, MN where Nirvana’s In Utero was also cut.
So even though there’s no definitive news that Tramples By Turtles is breaking up, it’s safe to say it may be a while before we hear new music, or see new tour dates posted. The band played their last show together on October 22nd at the The Grand Minnesota Taste Together. A Dave Simonett solo tour starts in November.
It’s tough to find a more technically adroit band in the greater roots world than Trampled By Turtles, or one that could write a song to strike at the heart strings. Hopefully a breather by all will be the perfect reset for another 14 years, and a second chapter.
October 25, 2016 @ 8:11 am
Man this sucks. These guys put on the absolute best show I’ve seen in my life. They’re absolutely insane in a live setting. Hopefully they are not breaking up for good as I was looking forward to seeing these guys when they came back around my neck of the woods again.
October 25, 2016 @ 8:36 am
They’ll be back. Divorce songs aren’t much fun.
October 25, 2016 @ 8:46 am
Not quite my cup of tea (a bit too progressive for my taste), but undeniably awesome musicianship. Let’s hope the “going away for a little while” is truly that – just a little while.
October 25, 2016 @ 2:35 pm
Thats too bad. For years ive thought these guys were very talented and certainly innovative. As far as the progressive bluegrass genre goes, i think these guys are right at the top. Palomino and Stars and Satelites were truly great albums. I always got a sense of punk infused attitude with a lot of their more upbeat numbers, kinda like green day or early Blink with banjos, lol. A great song of theirs i like just so happens to be a ballad however, and that is “Midnight on the Interstate.” Musicianship quality was always good, but the songwriting shouldnt be looked over either. Hope to hear more from them sometime down the road.
October 25, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
Silver lining is we get a new Dead Man Winter album. That first album is great.
October 25, 2016 @ 3:32 pm
bad news for TBT fans, but this could be really good news for Minnesota music. the guys in the band always have some kind of local side gig or collaboration going on.
October 25, 2016 @ 3:58 pm
One of the best live acts I’ve ever seen, they play with so much energy. It’s a shame that they’ve only came to Bismarck twice, since they’re so nearby.
Here’s hoping they come back better than ever, whenever that may be.
October 26, 2016 @ 10:21 am
Saw them at Bluestem Amphitheater in Moorhead, MN. Incredible show at an incredible venue.
October 27, 2016 @ 4:48 am
Well seeing as their last album sounded like Pink Floyd, probably a good idea.
November 11, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
And what’s wrong with Pink Floyd?