Drummer Aly, guitarist Withrow, and percussionist Bush went to the same high school as singer Brickell in Dallas, Texas but didn't really know her then. According to Houser, Edie was there for art. (Spin magazine, March 1989 (Vol 4, Number 12). Houser attended Hillcrest High School (Dallas) and lived in the same neighborhood as the others. He played in various neighborhood bands like The Knobs which included Kenny, and was also a Munch Puppy.
The New Bohemians started as a three-piece ska-style band in the early eighties, cutting their teeth in the new Deep Ellum neighborhood in downtown Dallas. The original line-up featured Brad Houser on bass, Eric Presswood on guitar, and Brandon Aly on drums.
The future core members joined in 1985. Edie became the singer after being encouraged to join the band onstage during a show (the famous Jack Daniels story). It was soon after that first show that local agent Deanna Mercer, who was at the time booking bands at Rick's Casablanca, was brought to hear the band. The band actually signed a 6 month management contract with Mercer which brought with it better paying gigs at Rick's. When the 6 months ended, the band wanted something more and hired Lon Bixby as the manager. They started regular gigging in Deep Ellum at this time (D Magazine Jan, 1989). Presswood left and Kenny Withrow took up the guitar duties, playing his first show in July, 1985 at the Starck Club in Dallas. John Bush joined on percussion in September of that year. His first show with the band was September 12, 1985 at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, when the band was backing Bo Diddley.
The New Bos were always a local favorite, packing in the fans at now infamous Deep Ellum venues such as Theater Gallery, 500 Cafe, and Club Dada. The Bohemians were also regular performers at the annual Fry Street Fair on the University of North Texas campus in Denton, Texas. During this period of the band's history, Edie's name was not used in the band's name. This was a strategy used by Geffen Records in the event the band didn't remain the same. They would always have Edie.
The New Bohemians have released compilations and a live album, and have recorded some new material in recent years, notably as a short-lived band named The Slip that included Brickell, but most former members have moved on to other projects. Drummer Matt Chamberlain has been an in-demand tour drummer with bands ranging from Pearl Jam and Garbage to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, as well as a stint on the Saturday Night Live house band.
In 1991, Edie is married to Paul Simon, and the couple has three children.
Carter Albrecht was killed in Dallas, on September 3, 2007.
The band played live at the North Oak Cliff Music Festival in October 2014 with the current lineup as well as keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Matt Hubbard.
The band reunited again in April 2017 with three concerts at the Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff.
On February 19, 2021, the band released its second album since reuniting, entitled Hunter and the Dog Star.
Nothing
Edie Brickell and New Bohemians Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you wanna talk about it?
Did I say somethin' rude?
You don't have to cry about it.
Aren't you feelin' okay?
Would you like a little company?
Or did you have a bad day?
Are you mad at me? Let it show
There's nothing I hate more than nothing
Nothing keeps me up at night
I toss and turn over nothing
Nothing could cause a great big fight
Hey what's the matter?
Don't tell me nothing.
The lyrics of Edie Brickell and New Bohemians' song "Nothing" express a desire for communication and resolution in a relationship that appears to be in trouble. The singer acknowledges that something seems to be wrong and tries to reach out to her partner, asking if they are okay and offering to listen or provide company. Despite these attempts, her partner appears hesitant to open up and may even be avoiding talking about the issue altogether.
As the chorus emphasizes, the singer is frustrated by this lack of communication and the sense that there is "nothing" happening. She admits that she hates "nothing" and that it keeps her up at night, causing her to worry and become anxious. Even if her partner is upset with her or has something to say that may be uncomfortable, the singer would prefer that they express it rather than keeping it bottled up and causing more harm to the relationship in the long run.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you in bad mood?
Is there anything bothering you that's making you feel down?
Don't you wanna talk about it?
Is there something that's on your mind that you would like to discuss with me?
Did I say somethin' rude?
Did I say anything that could have hurt you or been taken the wrong way?
You don't have to cry about it.
You don't need to show your emotions in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable.
Aren't you feelin' okay?
Are you feeling well and content?
Would you like a little company?
Would you prefer someone to be with you?
Or did you have a bad day?
Did something unpleasant happen during the day?
Are you mad at me? Let it show
Do you feel upset towards me or something I did? If so, please express it.
Don't tell me nothing I don't wanna know
Please don't keep anything from me that you feel is important for me to know.
There's nothing I hate more than nothing
The lack of something meaningful in life bothers me more than anything else.
Nothing keeps me up at night
There isn't anything that weighs heavy on my mind to keep me awake at night.
I toss and turn over nothing
I find myself restless without a specific cause or reason.
Nothing could cause a great big fight
There isn't anything that could cause a significant argument or issue worth discussing.
Hey what's the matter?
Is something bothering you that you would like to discuss?
Don't tell me nothing.
Please don't keep anything from me that you feel is essential for me to know.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES E MAYER, PETER H MAYER, ROGER E. GUTH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind