| Bush League | |
|---|---|
 Bush League in their first run. | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Louisville, Kentucky, USA |
| Genres | Crossover, Hardcore Punk, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal |
| Years active | 1989 - 1994, 2010 - 2016 |
| Labels | Better Days Records, Slamdek Records, Three Little Girls Recordings, Gubbey Records |
| Associated acts | Slint, The Glasspack, Big Deal, Deathwatch, Endpoint, The Hookers, Old Vikings, Monolith, Papa M |
| Website | Bush League on Facebook |
Bush League was a band based out of Louisville, Kentucky. Initially the band formed in 1989 and released three 7" EPs but broke up in 1994. A reunion would happen in 2010 with the band choosing to remain active up until 2016. The band's sound drew heavily from crossover thrash and hardcore punk but also invoked doom elements inspired by Black Sabbath in more mid-tempo songs such as "Sicko", "Bain", "Fetor" and "Taste Me". The band's lyrics dealt in mental illness and criticisms on government and religion.
History[]
Original Run (1989 - 1994)[]
Bush League formed on 16 January 1989 by Waggener High School classmates Norman "Buzz" Minnick (vocals) and Michael Borich (guitar). Eventually recruiting a rhythm section by the summer the band would host their first concert on 17 September 1989 at Uncle Pleasant's alongside Oblong Box and Kinghorse. Bush League would build themselves up as a part of the revered late-80s/early-90s Louisville music scene, performing alongside the likes of Crain, The Indignant Few, Endpoint, Cherub Scourge, Undermine, Rodan and Slint. Much of this era has been documented in photographs, recordings, and concert flyers that have been featured in White Glove Test, published by Drag City, and in the Louisville Underground Music Archive at the University of Louisville.
In 1990 Bush League would recruit Rusty Sohm on bass and David Pajo on drums, the latter who joined the band after Slint had broke up. This lineup would record two EPs, with Better Days Records releasing them as Sicko and Fetor in 1991. Pajo would leave the group by the end of 1991, with Mark Tuazon performing as the new drummer on their third EP Smut, released in 1992. Bush League performed regionally, but ventured out on stints that took them mainly throughout the Southeast and the Midwest. They toured with bands such as Loppybogymi, Floor, Load, and F.U.C.T. Locally they opened for a variety of touring bands such as The Lemonheads, Seaweed, Tad, Poster Children, and Public Enemy. Their last show was in March 1994 at Uncle Pleasant's in Louisville with Veruca Salt and Erchint. Better Days would later release a compilation album known as Discography in the late 90s, capturing nearly every studio recording the band did in their original run.
Reunion (2010 - 2016)[]
Amid several bands in Louisville performing one-time reunions in 2010 such as Endpoint, Sunspring, Cerebellum and My Own Victim, Bush League would be announced to reunite for two shows in September along with other reuniting locals in The Indignant Few and Son of Dog for a "Better Days Bash". Along with founding members Minnick and Borich would be new members Doug Walker (Old Vikings) and Mike Giralico. The reunion was originally intended to take place at Uncle Pleasant's but would be moved to The Vernon Club, taking place on 4 and 5 September to a packed audience.[1] Bush League later revealed two more live shows in early 2011 as the band was reunited.
One of these return shows for 2011 would take place on 11 February to a past-capacity attendance of 450, notably introducing a new song in "Doublethink".[2] The new lineup would perform regularly in Louisville, Indianapolis, Evansville and Lexington in this return, sharing the stage with the likes of Trap Them, Torche, The Hookers, Vice Tricks, Bam Margera, The Ender, Black God, The Decline Effect and many others.
In 2011 Giralico would move away with David Mancini (The Glasspack) joining on bass. This lineup would record a host of songs at Mancini's home studio, later revealing two songs ("Doublethink" and "I Created God") on their Reverbnation page. By the end of 2011 Walker would re-locate to the West Coast with Tony Rymniak taking over on drums. The band remained active for a time and talks were lined up for the band to release a debut album, having written and recorded enough material over the next couple years. A local label in Little Heart Records would reissue the Discography album circa 2012. Notably in 2013 original recording bassist Rusty Sohm would rejoin the group after the band parted ways with Mancini. Sohm would record bass tracks for the album that December.[3] The band's first show with this lineup would be on 8 February 2014 at The New Vintage (Uncle Pleasant's), ultimately proving to be their last show as they essentially disbanded some time after.[4] A local label in 28/48 Records attempted to release the Bush League album but issues with the mastering and conflicts between the band and label caused the release to be canceled along with the label folding.[5]
Discography[]
- Sicko (7" EP) (1991, Better Days Records)
- Fetor (7" EP) (1991, Better Days Records)
- Smut (7" EP) (1992, Better Days Records)
- Discography (Compilation) (Late 1990s, Better Days Records; 2012, Little Heart Records)
Members[]
- Norman "Buzz" Minnick - Vocals (1989 - 1994, 2010 - 2016)
- Michael Borich - Guitar (1989 - 1994, 2010 - 2016)
- Jason Hayden - Bass (1989)
- John Causey - Drums (1989)
- Austin Head - Bass (1989 - 1990?)
- Joe Malone - Drums (1989 - 1990?)
- Woody Delaney - Drums (1990)
- David Pajo - Drums (1990 - 1991)
- Rusty Sohm - Bass (1990 - 1993, 2013 - 2016)
- Mark Tuazon - Drums (1992 - 1994)
- Kyle Blust - Bass (1993 - 1994)
- Mike Giralico - Bass (2010 - 2011)
- Doug Walker - Drums (2010 - 2011)
- David Walker Mancini - Bass (2011 - 2013)
- Tony Rymniak - Drums (2012 - 2016)