Everybody has that one band that they love dearly. They are that one band that nobody knows about yet every time you listen to them you find yourself going, “Why was this band not huge?” They are your go to band that gets you through all the various moods and colors of life but there’s something different about them. You know the band I’m talking about. For me, that band is a little four piece psychedelic metal band from Charlotte, NC called Animal Bag.
I first heard Animal Bag back in 1993 or so. As usual, I was staying up late on a Saturday night to catch Headbanger’s Ball on MTV. Headbangers Ball usually ran for two hours (I think 11pm – 1am) every Saturday night and to me, the coolest shit got played in the last 30 or 45 mintues of the show. It seemed like the videos that got played that late were bands that weren’t cool or popular at that moment but ended being the coolest (and some became popular) to me. Bands like Prong, Pantera, kingsofthesun, and Ugly Kid Joe were all bands that I first heard of because of hanging in there for that last 45 minutes (or taping it on the VCR). One night I had gotten home from work late and was settling in to watch the ball when this band called Animal Bag came on with their video for the song “Everybody.”
After buying their self titled debut album, I took it home, put it on, and proceeded to have my mind completely blown away. You want talk about an eclectic album? This is by far one of the most versatile albums I’ve heard to this day. On this album alone there was a song for every mood that was in. If I wanted to just rock the fuck out I could throw on “Personal Demons” or “Hate St.” If I wanted something a bit less metal yet still heavy, I could go to songs like “Missing Out” and “Darker Days.” Then there was the side of me that just needed some peace and something to just mellow me out and I could do that by putting on songs like “Mirrored Shades” and “Cheerful Mary in the Rain.” Just when I thought this debut could get no better, I would find myself in tears over the song “Oddball” which hit a huge nerve. Suddenly I felt like I had found a song that described just where I was and who I was right then and there.
Animal Bag made their way to Atlanta a few times and I managed to catch them live both times. I made it a point to introduce myself to these guys who were so inspiring to me and found them to be the nicest guys. They joked with me and my then band, took photos with us, and gave us advice. Not long after our last meeting Animal Bag released an acoustic EP called “Offering” that would yet again blow me away and start me heading into a new direction of life. Once again, Animal Bag showed their versatility and released a collection of acoustic songs that pulled at my heartstrings. Their cover of “Wooden Ships” reminded me of the Crosby Stills and Nash album my dad and I used to listen to when I was younger while the song “Tom” made me think of some of the friends that I started losing to a darker path of life that I chose not to travel on. Once again, I felt as if Animal Bag was speaking just to me and the messages were coming through loud and clear. The band recorded a follow album called Image Damage that never saw the light of day and suddenly, POOF! They were gone and I never knew what happened.
Back in 2002, I literally ran into bassist Otis Hughes at an open mic in Charlotte, NC. He actually remembered me as their “big fan from Atlanta” and we bonded that night and promised to keep in touch. Since then, I have maintained contact with both him and singer Luke Edwards. My hopes for a future Animal Bag reunion were crushed with the sad losses of both guitarist Rich Paris and drummer Boo Duckworth. Otis plays in a great band called M4Messenger and Luke fronts the Tater Family Traveling Circus. Shortly after Rich’s death, both Otis and Luke reunited after 14 or so years to perform “Mirrored Shades” together which was a true testament to the power and passion behind the songs of Animal Bag.
Animal Bag was just this band that I found this deep, rooted connection with. The songs were so uplifting and they made me feel as if they were written just for me. A good song makes happy. A great song makes you feel all other emotions in between. Animal Bag’s songs are so moving and I just knew that other people had to hear these songs. I felt (and still feel) that these guys should’ve reached the masses with their songs. It just seemed like they got lost in the shuffle and became this little secret of mine. They were “my” band but I just I made it my goal to try and put Animal Bag into the ears of everyone I know. I can only hope that you people reading this will give Animal Bag a listen. Maybe you will hear them and say, “Eh, it’s not for me.” Maybe you will listen to them and discover a band that you wish you had known about all along. After nearly 20 years, Animal Bag is still a band that is there for me whenever I need them. I put on the headphones, I toss my blues up to the sky, and throw on my mirrored shades. Thank you for the songs that will last me a lifetime.
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