Giant Sand

Giant Sand

Giant Sand is an American alt-country and alternative rock group from Tucson, Arizona, formed in 1985 and still active. The band was originally known as The Giant Sandworms. It is overseen by singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist Howe Gelb, and its line-up changes frequently, sometimes from album to album.

Line-up and membership

For a long period, the rhythm section is handled by drummer John Convertino and bassist Joey Burns, both of whom later form Calexico. Other musicians associated with the group include guitarist Rainer Ptacek, keyboardist Chris Cacavas of Green on Red, bassist Paula Jean Brown, drummer Tom Larkins, Thøger T. Lund, Anders Pedersen and Peter Domdomowsky. The band’s membership also includes Lonna Kelley, Mark Walton and Winston Watson.

Musical style and collaborators

Giant Sand’s sound is linked with alternative country, alternative rock, country and desert rock. The group works with a wide circle of guest musicians, including Victoria Williams, Neko Case, Juliana Hatfield, PJ Harvey, Vic Chesnutt, Steve Wynn, Vicki Peterson, Scott Garber and much of Poi Dog Pondering. Gelb and Paula Jean Brown’s daughter, Indiosa Patsy Jean, also appears regularly.

Related projects

Giant Sand connects closely to several side projects rather than standing apart from them. These include the country-focused The Band of Blacky Ranchette, OP8, a collaboration with Lisa Germano, and Gelb’s solo recordings. Guests on Blacky Ranchette albums include Lucinda Williams, Kurt Wagner of Lambchop and Chan Marshall. Gelb also leads Arizona Amp And Alternator, abbreviated to AAAA, a project that is presented as having no members.

Base and activity

Although based in Tucson, Giant Sand spends many years with Los Angeles as its home base. The group continues to operate as a long-running, collaborative project centred on Gelb’s songwriting and performance.