March 20, 2007
Gone On: Kirk Rundstrom
Posted by Brendan McKennedy at March 20, 2007 2:09 PMKirk Rundstrom, singer guitarpicker fireball of Splitlip Rayfield, died a few weeks ago, on February 22. I just read that over at Jack Sparks's place. Kirk fought cancer for a year. He was 38. Like Townes says: All born to grow, and grown to die.
I have one Splitlip Rayfield CD. I bought it in 2005 after reading about them in No Depression or some place, and I'll be embarrassingly honest with you: I bought that album because of the tune (satirically) titled "Just Like a Gillian Welch Song." I listened to the CD once through. I liked it if I didn't love it, but I never got back around to it. Maybe I'll try it again tonight.
The post-millenial punk-paced Old-Time and Bluegrass sub-genre seems to be gathering steam like the FFV, fired by Old Crow, the Avetts, the Duhks, the Mammals, and so forth. After my cursory click-about this morning, it looks to me as though a debt is owed to Splitlip Rayfield for swinging the machete at the head of the line during their time. There's a particular grease-fire intensity unique to them, thanks not only to their upright bass built famously of a Ford truck gas tank and weed-eater wire.
But I don't know enough to talk. If there are some Hickory Wind readers who can give us some stories or thoughts or real perspective about the band, the man, the music, I'd like to hear it.
Some news you just don't get until it's too late. I'm no expert, but I happened to catch one of Split Lip's last shows, in Cleveland, a mere two weeks before Kirk died. He looked in rough shape, but still kept up the intensity during the show. More than anything, I was impressed by his attitude and will to carry on despite a grim prognosis. It was enough to make me buy their latest CD, the only one I own. I'll give it another round in his honor. Rest easy, brother.
Posted by: Brad at March 20, 2007 5:08 PMyep, I posted on the day of his death after Bloodshot sent out the news. Damn shame. Sorry I never saw them live.
Posted by: Baron Lane at March 21, 2007 12:56 PMHaving been fortunate enough to grow up and attend college in the great state of KS, I was lucky to have seen Kirk play since pre-SLR days in Scroatbelly and at Winfield in various incarnations and watched Split Lip grow from a three piece bar band to the nation wide fan base they now have. Kirk played with an intensity and energy I have seen from no other performer to this day. The more bands I see, the more I realize Kirk and SLR put their heart and soul into every show,. I saw them play lots of shows, sometimes playing until they were out of songs(and strings). To this day, I would rather see a Split Lip show than anyone else, and I've seen a lot of live music.He faced his illness with the same attitude as he played;with
determination and conviction. He always took the time to personally thank and talk to fans. There aren't many, if any, like him, and he will live on in the music he shared with us.
