Scott H. Biram aka The Dirty Old One Man Band is an American musician whose music draws from a variety of styles, including

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

and outlaw country. One of the prominent musicians of the

one-man band A one-man band is a musician who plays a number of instruments simultaneously using their hands, feet, limbs, and various mechanical or electronic contraptions. One-man bands also often sing while they perform. The simplest type of "one-man ban ...

musical genre, Biram has appeared on national television shows such as NBC's

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' is an American television talk show broadcast by NBC. The show is the fourth and sixth installment of ''The Tonight Show''. Hosted by Jay Leno, it aired from May 25, 1992, to May 29, 2009, replacing ''The Ton ...

and performed in prestigious and legendary venues such as

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 ...

in New York City,

CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village, Manhattan, East Village in Manhattan, New York City. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for ''Cou ...

in New York City,

Hollywood Palladium The Hollywood Palladium is a theater (building), theater located at 6215 Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, United States. It was built in a Streamline Moderne, Art Deco style and ...

in Los Angeles, California,

The Fillmore The Fillmore is a historic music venue in San Francisco, California. Built in 1912 and originally named the Majestic Hall, it became the Fillmore Auditorium in 1954. It is in Western Addition, on the edge of the Fillmore District and Upper Fil ...

in San Francisco, California, Roxy Theater in West Hollywood, California,

The Roundhouse The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhouse, a circ ...

in London, United Kingdom, and Paradiso in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His music has been featured in many American television shows and films. He has also appeared as himself in several films and documentaries. The Dirty Old One Man Band has continuously toured in the U.S., Canada, and Europe since 1998.

Early life

Biram was raised in Prairie Lea and

San Marcos, Texas San Marcos () is a city and the county seat of Hays County, Texas, United States. The city is a part of the Greater Austin, Greater Austin Metropolitan Area. San Marcos's limits extend into Caldwell County, Texas, Caldwell and Guadalupe County, T ...

. In 1992, Biram graduated from San Marcos High School and in 1997 graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from

Texas State University Texas State University (TXST) is a public university, public research university with its main campus in San Marcos, Texas, United States, and another campus in Round Rock, Texas, Round Rock. Since its establishment in 1899, the university has ...

, at that time known as Southwest Texas State University. Biram resides in

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

Career

Prior to becoming a one-man band, he was a member of a punk band (The Thangs) and two bluegrass bands (Scott Biram & the Salt Peter Boys and Bluegrass Drive-By). Biram first released five albums under his own

record label "Big Three" music labels A record label or record company is a brand or trademark of Sound recording and reproduction, music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a Music publisher, ...

, KnuckleSandwich Records. His first album was ''This is Kingsbury?'', released in 2000. This was followed by a second release, ''Preachin' & Hollerin'' in 2002. In February 2003, he released his third album, ''Lo-fi Mojo'', recorded live on the radio in Austin, Texas. In April 2003, while recovering from a major head-on collision with a big-rig semi truck he recorded and released the "Rehabilitation Blues E.P." The recording was made at his parents' home while he was still bedridden from his crash. In 2004, he released ''The Dirty Old One Man Band''. Subsequently, it was re-released (with a few changes) in 2005 when Biram signed with

Bloodshot Records Bloodshot Records is an independent record label based in Chicago, Illinois, which specializes in alternative country music. History Bloodshot Records was founded in 1994 by Nan Warshaw, Rob Miller, and Eric Babcock, who knew each other from ...

from Chicago, Illinois. After signing with Bloodshot, Biram released ''Graveyard Shift'' (2006), and ''Something's Wrong / Lost Forever'' (2009). ''Something's Wrong/Lost Forever'' reached #5 on the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' Blues Chart. His fourth record on the Bloodshot label, ''Bad Ingredients'', was released on October 11, 2011. The Album reached #35 on the iTunes Rock Chart on the day of release. A week after the release of ''Bad Ingredients'' he appeared on the cover of the Austin, Texas, weekly magazine, ''

The Austin Chronicle ''The Austin Chronicle'' is an alternative weekly newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demogra ...

''. He received the "Best Blues Record" award in the 2012 Independent Music Awards. On November 29, 2013 (Black Friday/Record Store Day) he released a limited-edition gospel 7" vinyl single, "When I Die," (with B-side "John The Revelator" featuring Jesse Vain). The downloadable version was also made available. Another full-length album, "Nothin' But Blood" was released on Bloodshot Records, February 4, 2014 on both limited edition, blood-red vinyl, and compact disc. His albums ''Dirty Old One Man Band'' and ''Graveyard Shift'' were re-released on colored vinyl in 2015. On February 24, 2017 Bloodshot released another full-length album, ''The Bad Testament'' on CD, ltd. edition orange swirl vinyl, and 180-gram black vinyl. "The Bad Testament" debuted at #3 on the Billboard Blues Charts, only 2 spots under

The Rolling Stones The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for over six decades, they are one of the most popular, influential, and enduring bands of the Album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pione ...

' "Blue & Lonesome". It also debuted at #93 on the CIMS independent record store sales charts. The CD version, and digital version of Scott H. Biram's album "The Bad Testament" also includes a bonus EP called "Lost On The River" made up of songs he recorded for the soundtrack of the documentary film produced by Yeti Coolers, Shut Up and Paddle about the

Texas Water Safari The Texas Water Safari is a boat race down waterways from San Marcos, Texas, to Seadrift, Texas. The total distance traveled is 262 miles. Racers must take all equipment needed with them, receiving only medical supplies, food, water, and ice along ...

canoe race. On November 22, 2019, Bloodshot Records released Biram's 11th album, "Sold Out to The Devil: A Collection of Gospel Cuts by The Rev. Scott H. Biram" on "natural" colored vinyl, CD, and digital. Biram's 12th album, "Fever Dreams" was released by Bloodshot, during the worldwide pandemic in the Fall of 2020. The album features two songs with his friend and fellow Ameripolitan Awards, Outlaw Male Winner,

Jesse Dayton Jesse Dayton is an American musician, actor and record producer from Austin, Texas best known for his guitar contributions to albums by country musicians including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. He is also notable for his col ...

, on lead guitar. These are cover songs; "Single Again" by Gary Stewart, and "Monkey David Wine" by

David Allan Coe David Allan Coe (born September 6, 1939) is an American singer and songwriter. Coe took up music after spending much of his early life in reform schools and prisons, and first became notable for busking in Nashville, Tennessee, Nashville. He ini ...

. Dayton and Biram enthusiastically trade off vocal lines in the latter. On March 25, 2003, Biram was involved in a head-on collision with a big-rig semi truck, which resulted in both his vehicle and his body being crushed. He survived the wreck and was flown to Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He suffered from a broken femur, knee, foot, and arm, and severe internal injuries. Metal rods and pins were placed in all of the broken bones, and one and a half feet of his intestine had to be removed from his body. One month later he was back on stage at Austin's Continental Club playing a show from a wheelchair with an I.V. still dangling from his arm. Although primarily known as a one-man band, other musicians have participated and appeared on multiple Biram releases. Austin, Texas, musicians, The Weary Boys appeared on songs featured on Biram's records, ''Preachin' and Hollerin and ''The Dirty Old One Man Band''. Particularly the songs "Truckdriver," "Sweet Thing," and "Ocean of Diamonds". Ethan Shawe of Austin, Texas-based band, Chili Cold Blood contributed steel guitar on the song "18 Wheeler Fever" on Biram's 2006 release ''Graveyard Shift''. John Wesley Myers aka: Reverend James Leg, and Van Campbell of

Black Diamond Heavies Black Diamond Heavies is a United States blues rock band originating from Nashville, Tennessee. The band is composed of John Wesley Myers aka Reverend James Leg, formerly of The Immortal Lee County Killers, on bass keys, Fender Rhodes, organ, ...

appeared on two songs on Biram's release ''Something's Wrong/Lost Forever''. These songs were "I Feel So Good" and "Hard Time". Walter Daniels, more widely known for his harmonica playing, contributed saxophone solos on the song "I Want My Mojo Back" which was featured on Biram's 2011 record ''Bad Ingredients''. Percussionist, Matthew Puryear of the local Austin, Texas, band Chili Cold Blood also contributed various percussion on several of the songs on Biram's ''Bad Ingredients'' album. He is known for playing original trucker songs such as "TruckDriver", "Reefer Load", "18 Wheeler Fever", "Hit The Road", "Open Road", and "Draggin' Down The Line," among others. He is also known for writing and singing songs about "chickens," which he claims refers not just to poultry, but also to lovers, ex-lovers and "loose women" in general. He also raises real chickens at his home in Austin, Texas. Biram's long-time fans will recognize his sense of original, casual, rural fashion. He is known for wearing mesh-back trucker hats, and wearing velcro shoes on stage. Biram's songs have been used in many films and television programs. The song "Blood, Sweat & Murder" from ''The Dirty Old One Man Band'' album, is featured on the soundtrack to 2016's '' Hell or High Water'' film starring

Jeff Bridges Jeffrey Leon Bridges (born December 4, 1949) is an American actor. He is known for his Leading actor, leading man roles in film and television. In a career spanning over seven decades, he has received List of awards and nominations received by ...

Chris Pine Christopher Whitelaw Pine (born August 26, 1980) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the ''Star Trek'' reboot film series (2009–2016) and Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films ''Wonder Woman'' ...

, and Ben Foster, written by

Taylor Sheridan Sheridan Taylor Gibler Jr. (born May 21, 1970), known professionally as Taylor Sheridan, is an American writer, producer, director and actor. He is best known as the co-creator of the television series ''Yellowstone'' and creator of its prequels ...

. The film was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...

best picture, as well as several other nominations. The soundtrack also features

Townes Van Zandt John Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997) was an American singer-songwriter.

Waylon Jennings Waylon Arnold Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Outlaw country, outlaw movement in country music. Jennings started playing ...

Chris Stapleton Christopher Alvin Stapleton (born April 15, 1978) is an American country singer-songwriter and guitarist. Born in Kentucky, Stapleton moved to Nashville in 1996 to study for an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University, but dropped out to pur ...

Ray Wylie Hubbard Ray Wylie Hubbard (born November 13, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter. Early life Hubbard was born on November 13, 1946, in Soper, Oklahoma. His family moved to Oak Cliff in southwest Dallas, Texas, in 1954. He attended W. ...

, and other country artists. The film's score was written and performed by

Nick Cave Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...

, and

Warren Ellis Warren Girard Ellis (born 16 February 1968) is an English comic book writer, novelist, and screenwriter. He is best known as the co-creator of several original comics series, including ''Transmetropolitan'' (1997–2002), ''Global Frequency'' ...

. "Blood, Sweat & Murder" was also used in the television program, ''

Dog the Bounty Hunter ''Dog the Bounty Hunter'' is an American reality television series which aired on A&E and chronicled Duane "Dog" Chapman's experiences as a bounty hunter. With a few exceptions, the series took place in Hawaii or Dog's home state of Colorado ...

'', in the episode titled "A Helping Hand", and an episode of NBC's ''

My Name Is Earl ''My Name Is Earl'' is an American television sitcom created by Greg Garcia (producer), Greg Garcia for NBC. It aired for four seasons from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, with a total of List of My Name Is Earl episodes, 96 episodes. It wa ...

'', on FX Channel's ''

Mayans M.C. ''Mayans M.C.'' (also known simply as ''Mayans'') is an American crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter and Elgin James, that premiered on September 4, 2018, on FX. The show takes place in the same fictional universe as ''Sons o ...

'', as well as an episode of Apple TV's ''

Bad Sisters ''Bad Sisters'' is an Irish black comedy television series developed by Sharon Horgan, Dave Finkel, and Brett Baer. Set in Dublin and filmed on location in Ireland, it is based on the Belgian series ''Clan'', which was created by Malin-Sarah Go ...

''. It also appears in the 2018 video game, ''

Far Cry 5 ''Far Cry 5'' is a 2018 first-person shooter, developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto and published by Ubisoft. It is the successor to 2014's '' Far Cry 4'', and the fifth main installment in the '' Far Cry'' series. Set in Hope Coun ...

'' by

Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft Divertissements Inc., doing business as Ubisoft Montreal, is a Canadian video game developer and a studio of Ubisoft based in Montreal. The studio was founded in April 1997 as part of Ubisoft's growth into worldwide markets, with subs ...

. Biram's song "Hit The Road" was also used on ''Dog The Bounty Hunter''. "Lost Case of Being Found," "Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue," and "No Way" were used in season four of FX Cable Channel's ''

Sons of Anarchy ''Sons of Anarchy'' is an American Action film, action crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter for FX (TV channel), FX. Originally aired from September 3, 2008, to December 9, 2014, ''Sons of Anarchy'' follows the lives of a close-k ...

''. His song "Wreck My Car" was used in the film, '' The Darwin Awards'', starring

Winona Ryder Winona Laura Horowitz (born ), known professionally as Winona Ryder, is an American actress. Having come to attention playing quirky characters in the late 1980s, she achieved success with her more dramatic performances in the 1990s. Ryder's L ...

and

Joseph Fiennes Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (; born 27 May 1970), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Fiennes is particularly known for his versatility and period pieces. Journalist Zoe Williams observed t ...

. Biram original, Plow You Under" appears in season 3 of Amazon Prime's '' Reacher''. The Biram song, "BBQ Commercial" is used in a television commercial for Rudy's Country Store and Bar-B-Q, a popular Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Colorado restaurant chain. The CD version, and digital version of Scott H. Biram's album ''The Bad Testament'' also includes a bonus EP called ''Lost On The River'' made up of songs he recorded for the soundtrack of the documentary film "Shut Up and Paddle" produced by Yeti Coolers about the Texas Water Safari canoe race. Biram has appeared in many documentary films, including a part in

J.D. Wilkes Joshua "J. D." Wilkes (born April 18, 1972) is an American visual artist, musician, amateur filmmaker and author. He is best known as the singer for the rock band Legendary Shack Shakers, and is also an accomplished harmonica player, having recor ...

2008 film, ''Seven Signs: Music, Myth & the American South''. Biram costarred in the 2008 German film ''The Folk Singer: A Tale of Men, Music & America''. produced and directed by filmmaker, MA Littler. He was also featured in the French documentary, ''One Trip Some Noise.'' Biram's music was featured in the documentary, ''Running Heavy'', and another short documentary entitled ''The Tuesday Nighter''. He also appears in the film ''My Blue Star'', a biography about the late Hasil Adkins, a prominent musician in the one-man band genre. In 2013, Biram was the featured artist on an episode of the PBS television show ''The Sun Studio Sessions''.

Songwriting

Biram's musical style covers a wide spectrum. "I grew up on

Doc Watson Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923 – May 29, 2012) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. He won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His ...

Lead Belly Huddie William Ledbetter ( ; January 1888 or 1889 – December 6, 1949), better known by the stage name Lead Belly, was an American folk music, folk and blues singer notable for his strong vocals, virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the ...

and

Lightnin' Hopkins Samuel John "Lightnin'" Hopkins (March 15, 1912 – January 30, 1982) was an American country blues singer, songwriter, guitarist and occasional pianist from Centerville, Texas. In 2010, ''Rolling Stone'' magazine ranked him No. 71 on its li ...

," he revealed, "and in college, I discovered more obscure people like

Lil' Son Jackson Melvin "Lil' Son" Jackson (August 16, 1915, Tyler, TexasMay 30, 1976, Dallas) was an American blues guitarist and singer. He was a contemporary of Lightnin' Hopkins. Biography Jackson's mother played gospel guitar, and he played early on in a ...

and

Mance Lipscomb Beau De Glen "Mance" Lipscomb (April 9, 1895 – January 30, 1976) was an American blues singer, guitarist and songster. Biography Lipscomb was born April 9, 1895, near Navasota, Texas. His father had been born into slavery in Alabama; his ...

." Biram mixes roots music,

CB radio Citizens band radio (CB radio) is a land mobile radio system, a system allowing short-distance one-to-many bidirectional voice communication among individuals, using two-way radios operating near 27 MHz (or the 11-m wavelength) in the high freq ...

s and a punk rock attitude. "I kind of pride myself on being able to release my emotions freely and not hold back at all," he says. "So many people these days have timid little weak voices like they're scared to belt it out."

Collaborations

Hard rock band,

Nashville Pussy Nashville Pussy is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. The band's lyrical themes mostly revolve around sex, drugs, drinking, fighting, and rock 'n' roll. Initially called Hell's Half-Acre, the band's name comes from Ted Nugent's int ...

covered his song "Raisin Hell Again" on their 2005 album, ''Get Some!'' Hank Williams III covered Biram's song, "Truckdriver". Biram also appears as a guest vocalist on "The White Trash Song" featured on southern rocker, Shooter Jennings's 2013 release ''The Other Life''. Biram appeared with Jennings as musical guest on NBC's ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' in March 2013. In 2018, Biram recorded and produced two songs with his good buddy Jesse Dayton. Monkey David Wine, written by David Allan Coe, and Single Again, written by Gary Stewart. They were released in May 2019 on 7" vinyl by Bloodshot Records. They will be included in his 2020 release ''Fever Dreams''. Whitey Morgan covered Biram's original, "Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue" on his album ''Sonic Ranch''.

Discography

;Full-length * 2000: ''This is Kingsbury?'' (KnuckleSandwich Records) * 2002: ''Preachin' & Hollerin'' (KnuckleSandwich Records) * 2003: ''Lo:Fi Mojo'' (KnuckleSandwich Records) * 2004: ''The Dirty Old One Man Band'' (KnuckleSandwich Records) * 2005: ''The Dirty Old One Man Band'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2006: ''Graveyard Shift'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2009: ''Something's Wrong / Lost Forever'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2011: ''Bad Ingredients'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2014: ''Nothin' But Blood'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2017: ''The Bad Testament'' (Bloodshot Records) * 2019: ''Sold Out to The Devil: A Collection of Gospel Cuts by The Rev. Scott H. Biram '' (Bloodshot Records) * 2020: ''Fever Dreams '' (Bloodshot Records) * 2024: ''The One & Only Scott H. Biram '' (Bloodshot Records) ;EP * 2003: ''Rehabilitation Blues E.P.'' (KnuckleSandwich Records) * 2017: ''Hit The River E.P.'' (Bloodshot Records) (included as bonus tracks on ''The Bad Testament'' CD) ;Singles * 2011: "Hang Your Head & Cry" (Bloodshot Records) * 2013: "When I Die" (Bloodshot Records) * 2019: "Monkey David Wine/Single Again" Scott H. Biram w/

(Bloodshot Records)

Awards

* 2012: Independent Music Awards – Best Blues Album: ''Bad Ingredients'' * 2015: The Ameripolitan Awards – (nominee) Best Outlaw Male * 2016: The Ameripolitan Awards – (nominee) Best Outlaw Male * 2017: The Ameripolitan Awards - (nominee) Best Outlaw Male * 2023: The Ameripolitan Awards - (winner) Best Outlaw Male

References

External links

Official website

Scott H. Biram
at Atomic Music Group (booking agent)
Scott H. Biram
at

{{DEFAULTSORT:Biram, Scott H. 1974 births Living people American street performers American country singer-songwriters American male singer-songwriters American male guitarists Blues revival musicians Musicians from Austin, Texas Singer-songwriters from Texas Writers from Austin, Texas Outlaw country singers People from Lockhart, Texas Texas State University alumni Bloodshot Records artists Guitarists from Texas Country musicians from Texas 21st-century American guitarists 21st-century American male singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters