The Suffers

The Suffers define their sound as Gulf Coast Soul, a term they define as resulting from the mixture of the different cultures and musical styles present around the Gulf coast and the city of Houston, including Cajun, African American, Mexican, Caribbean, which all come together and mix in the port city. They have said that their biggest influence is their environment and all of the musical styles they encounter (blues, soul, country, caribbean music, cajun styles, and hip hop, among others).{{cite web|title=The Suffers- interview at SXSW 2015|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOg1kS1ABkA|publisher=TheBlot Magazine|accessdate=30 March 2015|date=18 March 2015}}

The Suffers formed in Houston in 2011, and was started by Adam Castaneda and Pat Kelly. The two had played together for some time in other bands before coming together for a new concept that would eventually become The Suffers. The band was originally envisioned as a Reggae cover band, but the group grew, adding various musicians and evolving in style.

Their name comes from the 1978 Jamaican film Rockers. During their February 9, 2016 appearance on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, lead singer Kam Franklin stated "Its a reference to an old Jamaican film called The Rockers. And in that film, the artists are actually the sufferers. The major labels aren't doing what they could be doing to make sure they get their just deserved things. And you know, I feel like us as artists we've been working for so long with no real reward or attention probably until recently..."{{Cite web|title = Exclusive - The Suffers - "Midtown"|url = http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ibvqgg/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-exclusive---the-suffers----midtown-|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160212225001/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ibvqgg/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-exclusive---the-suffers----midtown-|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 12, 2016|website = Comedy Central|access-date = 2016-02-12}}

Since 2011, the band has grown in popularity and has garnered international awards and recognition.

In December 2015, Billboard listed The Suffers debut full-length album as one of "Top 10 Anticipated Rock & Alternative Albums" {{Cite magazine|title = Top 10 Anticipated 2016 Rock and Alternative Albums {{!}} Billboard|url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6820971/rock-alternative-indie-albums-2016-most-anticipated-chairlift-st-lucia|magazine = Billboard|access-date = 2016-02-05}}

In January 2015, BuzzFeed listed The Suffers as one of "25 New Artists You Need in Your Life in 2015".{{cite web|author1=clampdown|title=25 New Artists You Need in Your Life in 2015|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/artists-to-watch-2015#.dynYP772b5|publisher=Buzzfeed (Blogs)|accessdate=13 January 2015|date=11 January 2015}}

The Suffers were an official performer at the 2015 South by Southwest music festival, and were featured by Esquire as one of the 40 bands to see at South by Southwest.{{cite web|title=Songs of the Week, SXSW Edition: 40 Bands You Need to Hear|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a33670/sxsw-2015-music-preview-best-bands/|accessdate=30 March 2015|date=16 March 2015}}

They are the recipients of 11 Houston Press Music Awards in 2015.

The Suffers have been covered by SPIN, The New York Times, and Paste.{{cite web|author1=Brennan Carley|title=The Suffers 'Make Some Room' for Soulful Revival on New Single|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/12/the-suffers-make-some-room-stream/|publisher=Spin Magazine|accessdate=13 January 2015|date=17 December 2014}}{{cite news|author1=Andy Langer|title=Albums to Look Forward to From Texans in 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/28/us/albums-to-look-forward-to-from-texans-in-2015.html?_r=0|publisher=New York Times (Texas Monthly)|accessdate=13 January 2015|date=27 December 2014}}{{cite web|author1=Dacey Orr|title=Video Premiere: The Suffers - "Gwan"|url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2014/04/video-premiere-the-suffers---gwan.html|publisher=Paste Magazine|accessdate=13 January 2015|date=21 April 2014}}

On October 18, 2014, The Suffers performed "Draped Up", "Big Pimpin", "Get Throwed" and "International Player's Anthem (I Choose You)" alongside Bun B at the Premium Goods 10th Anniversary party in Houston, TX.{{cite web|author1=Marco Torres|title=Premium Goods Offers Premium Sounds at 10-Year Bash|url=http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2014/10/premium_goods_houston_10_years.php|publisher=Paste Magazine|accessdate=13 January 2015|date=20 October 2014}}

The Suffers performed at Big D NYE, the largest New Year's Eve celebration in the U.S. Central Time zone, on December 31, 2014.{{cite web|title=About Big D NYE|url=http://bigdnye.com/about/|website=Big D NYE|accessdate=30 March 2015}}

In 2015, The Suffers played a west coast tour to start the year, before performing at South by Southwest. On March 30, 2015, the band performed on the Late Show with David Letterman.{{Cite web|title = Houston band The Suffers to perform on Letterman|url = http://www.khou.com/story/entertainment/2015/03/30/houston-band-the-suffers-to-perform-on-letterman/70663118/|website = KHOU|access-date = 2016-02-12}} After the late night television appearance, The Suffers began an East Coast/Southern U.S. tour that lasted through the summer of 2015.

On October 27, 2015, The Suffers performed "Giver", "Midtown" & "Gwan" on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert for Bob Boilen{{Cite web|title = The Suffers: Tiny Desk Concert|url = https://www.npr.org/event/music/451153094/the-suffers-tiny-desk-concert|website = NPR.org|date = 27 October 2015|access-date = 2016-02-05|last1 = Boilen|first1 = Bob}}

On November 14, 2015, The Suffers performed "Gwan" with The University of Houston Spirit of Houston Marching Band during the football halftime show.{{Cite web|title =Spirit of Houston set to perform with local band the Suffers|date = 7 October 2015|url = http://thedailycougar.com/2015/10/07/spirit-of-houston-set-to-perform-with-local-band-the-suffers/|access-date = 2016-07-13}}

In 2016, The Suffers toured with Galactic and Lake Street Dive.{{Cite web|title = Shows|url = http://www.thesuffers.com/shows/|website = The Suffers|access-date = 2016-02-05}}

On February 9, 2016, they appeared on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, performing "Peanuts" & "Midtown".{{Cite web|title = The Daily Show with Trevor Noah|url = http://www.hulu.com/watch/903796#play-queued-show-by-original_premiere_date-asc|website = Hulu|access-date = 2016-02-09}}

On March 10, 2016, they appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, performing "Peanuts" & "Midtown"{{Citation|last=Jimmy Kimmel Live|title=The Suffers Perform "Midtown"|date=2016-03-11|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0LeTH1A064|accessdate=2016-05-02}}

On August 10, 2016 their song "Gwan" was a part of the soundtrack for Mr Robot Season 2 Episode 6.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/08/11/mr-robot-eps24m4ster-s1aveaes-review|title=Mr. Robot: "eps2.4_m4ster-s1ave.aes" Review|last=Fowler|first=Matt|date=2016-08-10|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-11}}

In Fall of 2018, The Suffers replaced Julian Marley on a two month tour with Thievery Corporation.{{Citation|last=San Antonio Current|title=The Suffers Replace Julian Marley as Support for Thievery Corporation this Saturday at the Aztec Theatre|date=2016-03-11|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/sa-sound/archives/2018/10/31/the-suffers-replace-julian-marley-as-support-for-thievery-corporation-this-saturday-at-the-aztec-theatre|accessdate=2020-07-04}}

In 2020, Brene Brown selected The Suffers' song, "Take Me To The Good Times", for her "Dare To Lead" Podcast on Spotify.{{Citation|last=Houston Chronicle|title=The Suffers sing theme song for Brené Brown's new podcaste|date=2020-10-21|url=https://preview.houstonchronicle.com/music/the-suffers-sing-theme-song-for-brene-brown-s-15660848}}

• Slow it Down b/w Step Aside (2013)
• Make Some Room (2014)

• The Suffers (2016) Rhyme & Reason Records
• Everything Here (2018) Shanachie Records
• It Starts With Love (2022)

• Take Me To The Good Times (2020) Midcitizen Records
• How Do We Heal featuring Son Little and Bryce The Third (2022) Missing Piece Group Records

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Category:Musical groups from Houston

Category:American soul musical groups

Category:Musical groups established in 2011

Category:2011 establishments in Texas