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Soul Coughing

{{short description|American alternative rock band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}

{{Use American English|date=November 2022}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Soul Coughing

| image = Soul Coughing 2024 Tour.jpg

| caption = Soul Coughing on tour in 2024

| origin = New York City, U.S.

| genre = {{Flatlist|

| years_active = 1992–2000, 2024–present

| label = Slash/Warner Bros.

| website =

| current_members = Mike Doughty
Mark Degli Antoni
Sebastian Steinberg
Yuval Gabay

}}

Soul Coughing is an American alternative rock band composed of vocalist/guitarist Mike Doughty (also known as M. Doughty), keyboardist/sampler Mark Degli Antoni, bassist Sebastian Steinberg, and drummer Yuval Gabay. They developed a devout fanbase and garnered largely positive response from critics. Steve Huey of AllMusic described the band as "One of the most unique cult bands of the '90s. Driven by frontman M. Doughty's stream-of-consciousness poetry, Soul Coughing's sound was a willfully idiosyncratic mix of improvisational jazz grooves, oddball samples, hip hop, electronics, and noisy experimentalism".{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p45247|pure_url=yes}}|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Soul Coughing band profile|work=AllMusic|access-date=June 13, 2005}} Doughty described the band's sound as "deep slacker jazz".{{cite news|last1=Jenkins|first1=Mark|title=Soul Coughing: El Oso|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/10/23/soul-coughing-el-oso-slashwarner-bros/f3bc04b8-d117-467b-b733-1b9500e40870/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=October 23, 1998|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623141527/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1998/10/23/soul-coughing-el-oso-slashwarner-bros/f3bc04b8-d117-467b-b733-1b9500e40870/|url-status=live}} The group broke up in 2000.

In June 2024, the group announced it would reunite for a United States tour in September and October of the same year.{{Cite magazine |issn=0035-791X |department=Music > Music News |language=en-US |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=2024-06-20 |date=2024-06-20 |first=Tomás |last=Mier |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/soul-coughing-reunite-first-tour-in-25-years-1235043262/ |title=Soul Coughing Reunite for First Tour in 25 Years}} It made its first television appearance in decades on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.{{cite news |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Reunited Soul Coughing Smash Through "Super Bon Bon" In Their First Late-Night Performance In Decades: Watch |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2280185/watch-the-reunited-soul-coughing-smash-through-super-bon-bon-in-their-first-late-night-performance-in-decades/news/ |access-date=15 September 2024 |work=Stereogum |date=13 September 2024 |language=en}}

Career

All four Soul Coughing members were regulars at The Knitting Factory, a New York City nightclub and performance venue that was part of the 1980s and 1990s experimental downtown scene. Doughty was a doorman known for his improvised comedic quasi-raps, while the others appeared at the Knitting Factory in various bands.{{cite web|last1=Giles|first1=Jeff|title=20 Years Ago: Soul Couging Start to Come Apart with 'Irresistible Bliss'|url=http://diffuser.fm/soul-coughing-irresistible-bliss/|website=Diffuser|date=July 9, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427115943/http://diffuser.fm/soul-coughing-irresistible-bliss/|url-status=live}} Doughty, Degli Antoni, and Steinberg all performed in versions of John Zorn's composition Cobra, appearing on John Zorn's Cobra: Live at the Knitting Factory (recorded 1992, released 1995).Yanow, S. [http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-knitting-factory-mw0000267109 AllMusic Review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427183726/https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-knitting-factory-mw0000267109 |date=April 27, 2018 }} accessed October 24, 2013

Within a year of its formation, the band was signed to Slash Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. The group released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996) and El Oso (1998), with the latter showing a marked drum and bass influence.{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Joshua|title=Soul Coughing: El Oso|url=https://www.avclub.com/soul-coughing-el-oso-1798194461|newspaper=The A.V. Club|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=March 29, 2002|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427045054/https://music.avclub.com/soul-coughing-el-oso-1798194461|url-status=live}} Irresistible Bliss and El Oso both reached the Billboard 200 albums chart.{{cite magazine|title=Chart History: Soul Coughing (Billboard 200)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/tlp/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=June 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626004520/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/tlp/|url-status=live}} The band enjoyed minor hit singles with "Soundtrack to Mary" and "Super Bon Bon".{{cite magazine|title=Chart History: Soul Coughing (Alternative Songs)|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/mrt/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 26, 2018|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627190647/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/mrt/|url-status=live}}

In 1996, Soul Coughing contributed to the AIDS benefit album Offbeat: A Red Hot Soundtrip, produced by the Red Hot Organization. Also in 1996, one of the group's songs, "Unmarked Helicopters", was included in the Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files. The band also placed songs in the soundtracks to the films Batman & Robin ("The Bug"), Tommy Boy ("Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago") and Spawn ("A Plane Scraped Its Belly On A Sooty Yellow Moon", featuring Roni Size). Their song "Super Bon Bon" was included on the soundtrack for the video game Gran Turismo 2 in 1999.

File:Soul Coughing.jpgThe 1998 song "Circles" from El Oso reached #8 on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and was used as the soundtrack to a Cartoon Network extended commercial that poked fun at repeating cartoon backgrounds.{{cite web|title=Lost Gems: "Circles" by Soul Coughing|url=http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012/07/lost-gems-circles-by-soul-coughing.html|publisher=RiffRaf|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=July 30, 2012|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427044938/http://riffraf.typepad.com/riffraf/2012/07/lost-gems-circles-by-soul-coughing.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title='Circles' by Soul Coughing for Boomerang|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTNgfxafCD8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/GTNgfxafCD8| archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|access-date=April 26, 2018}}{{cbignore}}

Soul Coughing broke up in 2000.{{cite news|last1=Klein|first1=Joshua|title=Interview: M. Doughty of Soul Coughing|url=https://www.avclub.com/m-doughty-of-soul-coughing-1798208051|newspaper=The A.V. Club|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=March 19, 2000|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427045027/https://www.avclub.com/m-doughty-of-soul-coughing-1798208051|url-status=live}} Mark Degli Antoni moved on to a career as a film score composer, while Mike Doughty began a prolific solo career, occasionally revisiting Soul Coughing songs in new styles.{{cite web|title=Mike Doughty Annuls The 'Dark Marriage' Of His Former Band|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/09/15/221773720/mike-doughty-annuls-the-dark-marriage-of-his-former-band|publisher=NPR Music|access-date=April 26, 2018|date=September 15, 2013|archive-date=April 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427045132/https://www.npr.org/2013/09/15/221773720/mike-doughty-annuls-the-dark-marriage-of-his-former-band|url-status=live}}

Lust in Phaze, a greatest hits compilation including a few B-sides, was released in 2002. Rhino Records reissued Soul Coughing's three studio albums on 180-gram black vinyl in 2015, marking the first time Ruby Vroom had been pressed to vinyl.{{cite web|url=http://modern-vinyl.com/2015/06/07/soul-coughing-reissues-coming-this-summer/|title=Soul Coughing reissues coming this summer|website=Modern-vinyl.com|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113203101/http://modern-vinyl.com/2015/06/07/soul-coughing-reissues-coming-this-summer/|url-status=live}} In 2017, Swedish record label Woah Dad! acquired Soul Coughing's back catalog from Slash Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.gp.se/kultur/musik/g%C3%B6teborgsbolaget-woah-dad-satsar-internationellt-1.4832023|title=Göteborgsbolaget Woah dad satsar internationellt|website=Gp.se|date=November 15, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125151712/http://www.gp.se/kultur/musik/g%C3%B6teborgsbolaget-woah-dad-satsar-internationellt-1.4832023|url-status=live}}

File:Soul Coughing - First Avenue Star.jpg nightclub First Avenue]]Soul Coughing was honored with a star on the outside mural of Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue,{{cite web |url=http://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |title=The Stars |author= |website=First Avenue & 7th Street Entry |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=April 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418135117/https://first-avenue.com/about/thestars |url-status=dead }} which recognizes performers who have played sold-out shows or otherwise made major cultural contributions to the iconic venue.{{cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |url=https://www.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/ |title=10 things you'll learn about First Avenue in new Minnesota History Center show |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616233232/https://m.startribune.com/10-things-you-ll-learn-about-first-avenue-in-new-minnesota-history-center-show/509374312/?clmob=y&c=n&clmob=y&c=n |url-status=live }} Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis", according to journalist Steve Marsh.{{cite news |last=Marsh |first=Steve |url=http://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |title=First Avenue's Star Wall |work=Mpls.St.Paul Magazine |location=Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota |date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=May 10, 2020 |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224033810/https://mspmag.com/arts-and-culture/first-avenue-star-wall/ |url-status=live }} Soul Coughing was especially popular in Minneapolis, thanks to airplay on alternative radio station Rev 105, and regularly performed there to audiences five to ten times larger than in other cities.{{cite news |last=Riemenschneider |first=Chris |date=August 17, 2012 |title=Music: Doughty 'Golden' boy again |url=https://www.startribune.com/music-doughty-golden-boy-again/16839601/ |work=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis |access-date=July 25, 2020 |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726052707/https://www.startribune.com/music-doughty-golden-boy-again/16839601/ |url-status=live }}

In February 2022, Doughty and Steinberg performed together in Los Angeles during Steinberg's set for Watkins Family Hour. The duo performed Soul Coughing songs "Super Bon Bon" and "True Dreams of Wichita", which marked the first occasion members of Soul Coughing appeared on stage together since the split in 2000.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/soul-coughing-mike-doughty-sebastian-steinberg-perform/|title=Soul Coughing's Mike Doughty and Sebastian Steinberg Perform Together for the First Time in 22 Years|date=14 February 2022|website=spin.com}}

At the end of June 2024, Soul Coughing reformed with all the original members and announced that there would be a short tour with limited shows throughout September and October 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-28 |title=Soul Coughing Reunite for First Tour in 25 Years |url=https://consequence.net/2024/06/soul-coughing-reunion-tour/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |language=en-US}} On September 12th, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Ruby Vroom, the band performed "Super Bon Bon" live on Jimmy Kimmel Live.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGvxrVObKbY |title=Soul Coughing – Super Bon Bon |date=2024-09-12 |last=Jimmy Kimmel Live |access-date=2024-09-19 |via=YouTube}}

Discography

= Albums =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Overview of studio albums by Soul Coughing

!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details

!scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

scope="col"| US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/tlp/|title=Soul Coughing Chart History: Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626004520/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/tlp/|url-status=live}}

!scope="col"| CAN
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6990&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6990.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6990|title=Top Albums/CDs - Volume 68, No. 8 Nov 16, 1998|magazine=RPM}}

scope="row"| Ruby Vroom

|

| —

| —

scope="row"| Irresistible Bliss

|

  • Released: July 9, 1996
  • Label: Slash/Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, CS, LP

| 136

| —

scope="row"| El Oso

|

  • Released: September 29, 1998
  • Label: Slash/Warner Bros.
  • Formats: CD, CS, LP

| 49

| 69

colspan="10" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

= Compilations =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Overview of Soul Coughing compilation albums

! scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Details

scope="row"| Lust in Phaze

|

  • Released: March 19, 2002
  • Label: Slash/Rhino
  • Format: CD

= Live albums =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Overview of Soul Coughing live albums

! scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Details

scope="row"| Tokyo, Japan 03.02.97

|

  • Released: 2004
  • Label: Kufala Recordings
  • Recorded: February 2–3, 1997
scope="row"| New York, NY 16.08.99

|

  • Released: January 4, 2005
  • Label: Kufala Recordings
  • Recorded: August 16, 1999
scope="row"| Berlin/Amsterdam 1997

|

  • Released: January 4, 2005
  • Label: Kufala Recordings
  • Recorded: 1997
scope="row"| Rennes, France 03.12.94

|

  • Released: January 4, 2005
  • Label: Kufala Recordings
  • Recorded: December 3, 1994
scope="row"| Rennes, France 03.12.94

|

  • Released: January 4, 2005
  • Label: Kufala Recordings
  • Recorded: December 3, 1994
scope="row"| LIVE 2024{{Cite web |title=Soul Coughing - LIVE 2024 Double CD (PREORDER) |url=https://soulcoughingstore.com/products/soul-coughing-live-2024-double-cd |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Soul Coughing Store}}

|

  • To Be Released: April 2025
  • Label: TBD
  • Recorded: 2024

= Singles =

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+Overview of Soul Coughing singles

!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Year

!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Title

!scope="colgroup" colspan="3" |Peak chart positions

!scope="col" rowspan="2"|Album

scope="col"|US
Alt.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/mrt/|title=Soul Coughing Chart History: Alternative Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627190647/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/mrt/|url-status=live}}

!scope="col"|US
Main.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/rtt/|title=Soul Coughing Chart History: Mainstream Rock|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=June 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627184711/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/rtt/|url-status=live}}

!scope="col"|US
Bub.
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/hbu/|title=Soul Coughing Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=May 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519172248/https://www.billboard.com/artist/soul-coughing/chart-history/hbu/|url-status=live}}

1994

!scope="row"|"Down to This"

| —

| —

| —

|align="left" rowspan="3"|Ruby Vroom

rowspan="2"|1995

!scope="row"|"Sugar Free Jazz"

| —

| —

| —

scope="row"|"Screenwriter's Blues"

| —

| —

| —

rowspan="2"|1996

!scope="row"|"Soundtrack to Mary"

| 37

| —

| —

|align="left" rowspan="3"|Irresistible Bliss

scope="row"|"Super Bon Bon"

| 27

| —

| —

1997

!scope="row"|"Soft Serve"

| —

| —

| —

rowspan="2"|1998

!scope="row"|"Circles"

| 8

| 38

| 24

|align="left" rowspan="3"|El Oso

scope="row"|"St. Louise Is Listening"

| —

| —

| —

1999

!scope="row"|"Rolling"

| —

| —

| —

colspan="10" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart.

= Music videos =

class="wikitable"

|+

!Year

!Album

!Title

!Director

rowspan="2" |1995

| rowspan="2" |Ruby Vroom

|Down to This

|Mark Kohr

Screenwriter's Blues

|Jim McKay

rowspan="2" |1996

| rowspan="2" |Irresistible Bliss

|Soundtrack to Mary

|John Flansburgh

Norwood Cheek

Super Bon Bon

|Jamie Caliri

1998

|El Oso

|Circles

|Chris Applebaum

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.scug.net/ Soul Coughing Underground] – An unofficial website including a discography, guitar tablature, and other information
  • {{AllMusic}}
  • {{Discogs artist}}
  • [https://archive.org/details/SoulCoughing Soul Coughing collection] at the Internet Archive's live music archive
  • {{MusicBrainz artist}}
  • [http://www.noripcord.com/?q=node/516 Suckerfied Assman Tripping In His Own Dribble: An Appreciation of Soul Coughing (No Ripcord feature)]

{{Soul Coughing|state=expanded}}

{{Mike Doughty}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1992 establishments in New York City

Category:2000 disestablishments in New York (state)

Category:Alternative rock groups from New York (state)

Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2000

Category:Musical groups established in 1992

Category:Musical groups from New York City

Category:Slash Records artists