Dumb Numbers
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Dumb Numbers
| image = Dumbnumbers4.JPG
| image_upright = 1.2
| caption =
| origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| genre = Indie rock, noise rock
| years_active = {{Start date|2012}}–present
| label = Joyful Noise
| associated_acts = Melvins, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, The Jesus Lizard, Best Coast Magic Dirt, Useless Children, Warpaint, Swans, My Bloody Valentine
| website = {{URL|http://dumbnumbers.com/}}
| current_members =
| past_members =
}}
Dumb Numbers is the musical project of Adam Harding. Harding selects musicians for each Dumb Numbers project from a large group of friends and collaborators.”{{cite web|title=Dumb Numbers Debuts|url=http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/journal/dumb-numbers-debut/|publisher=Joyful Noise Recordings|access-date=November 5, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Seury|first=Marion|title=Dumb Numbers|url=http://www.noisemag.net/?shopp_product=new-noise-18-sebadoh|access-date=November 5, 2013|newspaper=New Noise Magazine|date=September 2013}} Lou Barlow, Dale Crover, Bobb Bruno (of Best Coast) and others contributed to the first two studio albums.{{Cite web|title=Various - 2012 Winter Sampler|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-2012-Winter-Sampler/release/4122568|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=Discogs|date=December 19, 2012 |language=en}}
A genre-defying act, Dumb Numbers musical style has been described variously as doom, sludge, and "swooning feedback pop", however there is general agreement that none of these labels are definitive.{{cite web|last=Weingarten|first=Christopher|title=Stream Dumb Numbers' Swooning Feedback-Pop Self-Titled Debut Album|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/dumb-numbers-adam-harding-joyful-noise-melvins-dinosaur-jr-sebadoh/|publisher=Spin|access-date=November 17, 2013|date=August 5, 2013}}
History
Harding's native country is Australia. He began making music in the mid-90's. Prior to the debut of Dumb Numbers, Harding was better-known as a videographer (having directed music videos for DJ Shadow, Warpaint, Best Coast, Swervedriver, Sebadoh, Lou Barlow, and Magic Dirt).
The self-titled Debut was released on Joyful Noise Recordings in August 2013, with the single ("Redrum") premiering in the AV Club and in InSound's weekly mixtape.{{cite web|last=Eakin|first=Marah|title=Listen to the new track from indie rock semi-supergroup Dumb Numbers|date=July 16, 2013 |url=https://www.avclub.com/listen-to-the-new-track-from-indie-rock-semi-supergroup-1798239375|publisher=AV Club|access-date=November 5, 2013}} The video for "Redrum", directed by David Yow, premiered in Rolling Stone, and Spin the following month.{{cite web|last=Luerrsen|first=John D.|title=Dumb Numbers' Story 'Tells Itself' in 'Redrum' – Premiere|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/dumb-numbers-story-tells-itself-in-redrum-premiere-20130813|publisher=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 5, 2013|date=August 13, 2013}}{{cite web|last=McGovern|first=Kyle|title=Dumb Numbers Teams With Jesus Lizard Singer for Freaky 'Redrum' Video|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/dumb-numbers-redrum-video-jesus-lizard-david-yow/|publisher=Spin Magazine|access-date=November 5, 2013|date=August 13, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Dumb Numbers release LP, to tour with The Lemonheads (2013)|date=August 8, 2013|url=http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2013/dumb-numbers-release-lp-to-tour-with-the-lemonheads-2013/|publisher=Ghettoblaster|access-date=November 5, 2013}} Reviews of the album were generally positive, citing an atavistic and primal indie-rock sound.{{cite web|author=Gumshoe|title=Dumb Numbers|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/dumb-numbers-dumb-numbers|publisher=tinymixtapes|access-date=November 15, 2013}}{{cite web|first=Justin|last=Spicer|title=Agitated Atmosphere: Dumb Numbers Debuts|url=http://blog.kexp.org/2013/08/09/agitated-atmosphere-dumb-numbers-dumb-numbers/|publisher=KEXP|access-date=November 15, 2013}}
Since that time, Dumb Numbers II, the Stranger EP, and numerous other side-projects and singles have been released.{{Cite web|title=Dumb Numbers {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/collections/dumb-numbers|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=joyfulnoiserecordings.com}}
In addition to his work on Dumb Numbers, Harding also plays in the super-group Kidbug.{{Cite web|title=Kidbug {{!}} Kidbug {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/kidbug|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=joyfulnoiserecordings.com}}
Personnel
The list of personnel involved with Dumb Numbers include, but is not exclusive to: Adam Harding, Murph (of Dinosaur Jr.), Bonnie Mercer (Warpaint, Swans), Steve Patrick (Useless Children, Magic Dirt), Lou Barlow (of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Folk Implosion et al), Dale Crover (of Melvins, Altamont, Nirvana), Toshi Kasai (of Deaf Nephews Studio in Los Angeles), David Yow (of Scratch Acid, The Jesus Lizard, Qui, Flipper), Bobb Bruno (of Best Coast), Thor Harris (Swans, Thor & Friends), Jenny Lee Lindberg (Warpaint) and others.
David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks) did the cover art for the first LP{{Cite web|title=Roots Vinyl Guide|url=https://www.rootsvinylguide.com/ebay_items/dumb-numbers-s-t-lp-haze-vinyl-w-david-lynch-signed-print-18-25-melvins-sebadoh|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=rootsvinylguide.com}}{{Cite web|date=August 5, 2013|title=Stream Dumb Numbers' Swooning Feedback-Pop Self-Titled Debut Album|url=https://www.spin.com/2013/08/dumb-numbers-adam-harding-joyful-noise-melvins-dinosaur-jr-sebadoh/|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=Spin}} and Malcolm Bucknall provided artwork for the second album.{{Cite web|title=Designer's Liners: Dumb Numbers II Cover Art {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/blogs/news/designers-liners-dumb-numbers-ii-cover-art|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=joyfulnoiserecordings.com}} Lynch and Harding released a seven inch split together on Joyful Noise Recordings in 2015.{{Cite web|title=Dumb Numbers - Split Series w/ Lynch, Melvins, Yow {{!}} Joyful Noise Recordings|url=https://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/products/dumb-numbers-split-series|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=joyfulnoiserecordings.com}} David Yow (Jesus Lizard) directed a video for the debut album's single which appeared at Rolling Stone.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
|Year |Label |
| Dumb Numbers
|2013 |Joyful Noise Recordings |
| Dumb Numbers II
|2016 |Joyful Noise Recordings |
=EPs=
| class="wikitable" |
| Title
|Year |Label |
| Stranger EP
|2017 |Joyful Noise Recordings |
| Broken Pipe EP
|2020 |Joyful Noise Recordings |
Touring
The band's roster for live shows fluctuates depending upon the touring schedule of members. Personnel who consistently appear onstage during Dumb Numbers shows include Harding, Murph (of Dinosaur Jr.), Bonnie Mercer, and Steve Patrick. Dumb Numbers toured with the Lemonheads, My Bloody Valentine, and Sebadoh during the latter half of 2013.{{cite web|last=Pearis|first=Bill|title=Dumb Numbers released guest-filled LP (Lou Barlow, David Yow, Dale Crover & more), opening for MBV (dates, streams)|date=October 25, 2013 |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/10/dumb_numbers_re.html|publisher=BrooklynVegan|access-date=November 5, 2013}}{{cite web|title=Dumb Numbers release LP, to tour with The Lemonheads (2013)|date=August 8, 2013|url=http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2013/dumb-numbers-release-lp-to-tour-with-the-lemonheads-2013/|publisher=Ghettoblaster|access-date=November 5, 2013}} Reports of the band's live performances on tour were positive. According to the Brooklyn Vegan, "Their sludgy, doom went over pretty good."{{cite web|last=Pearis|first=Bill|title=My Bloody Valentine played Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Dumb Numbers|date=November 13, 2013 |url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2013/11/my_bloody_valen_15.html|publisher=Brooklyn Vegan|access-date=November 15, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Slaybaugh|first=Stephen|title=My Bloody Valentine @ Hammerstein Ballroom: November 11, 2013|url=http://www.cmj.com/live/bloody-valentine-hammerstein-ballroom-november-11-2013/|publisher=CMJ|access-date=November 17, 2013}}