THE BUMP BAND: SCRAPPY JUD NEWCOMB, IAN MCLAGAN, CONRAD CHOUCROUN, JON NOTARTHOMAS
Conrad Choucroun, Drums & Vocals
Conrad Choucroun was born in Houston, TX in August, 1975 into a musical family of five. By the age of six, he was taking guitar lessons, and by age seven he had moved on to the drums. He and his two brothers played Beatles songs together until his debut live gig at his own second grade pool party.
At age fifteen Conrad began his professional career playing at clubs and bars in Houston and Austin, continuing to do so with great success through high school. By the time he entered college, Conrad gained national touring experience with his first band Banana Blender Surprise, He began playing live and recording with major-label artists such as Bruce Robison (Sony) and Kelly Willis (Ryko) in Austin. During college, he was a freelance session drummer and played live with multiple artists including Soulhat, The Gourds, The Damnations, and Chuck Berry.
After completing his History degree at The University of Texas at Austin, Conrad joined Sire recording artists the Damnations full time and devoted his professional life to drumming. Local, national, and international touring ensued, including an appearance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien. In 2001, Conrad re-located to New York City and played with Warren Zanes (Dualtone), Gavin DeGraw (J Records), as well as numerous indie acts. Since returning to Austin in 2004, he has become one of the most in-demand live and session drummers in town playing with Bruce Robison, Charlie Robison, Kelly Willis, Jon Dee Graham, The Resentments, Mike Flannigan, Denny Freeman, Steve Poltz, Bob Schneider, Ian McLagan, NRBQ, and many others.
Currently, Conrad plays with Ian McLagan and the Bump Band, Bob Schneider, and NRBQ. He lives in Austin, touring regionally, nationally, and internationally throughout the year. As time permits, Conrad also works as a freelance session drummer.
Jon Notarthomas, Bass & Vocals
Ian McLagan & the Bump Band salute bass player and longtime pal, Jon Notarthomas. Jon has been with the band for 6 years already and he’s an absolute swine!
We're still waiting for Jon’s bio….
Ian 'Mac' McLagan,
Vocals, piano & Hammond organ
McLagan moved to Austin in 1994, and the Bump Band has included some of the city’s best players. The current band members are: Scrappy Jud Newcomb, one of Austin’s busiest and best guitarists (The Resentments, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Slaid Cleaves and Beaver Nelson), bassist Jon Notarthomas (Aimee Bobruk, Craig Marshall), and drummer Conrad Choucroun (Damnations, NRBQ and Bob Schneider). Those not fortunate to have been able to catch Mac & the Bump Band on tour or, in their 10 year weekly residency at Austin’s Lucky Lounge, can enjoy the magic on their 2013 release Live At The Lucky Lounge. Engineered and mixed by Darwin Smith, and mastered by Bob Olhsson, the 14 tracks feature Mac, piano, organ & vocals; Scrappy, guitar & vocals; Jon, bass & vocals; and Conrad, drums & vocals. Check the LISTEN sectionto listen to what you're missing!Ian McLagan & the Bump Band's newest studio album United States was released in June 2014 on Yep Roc Records. Produced and directed by Mac, it was engineered by Darwin Smith at The Doghouse Studio, mixed by Glyn Johns at British Grove Studios, London, and mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering, Portland ME. Mac, Scrappy, Jon & Conrad are the only musicians and vocalists on the record, except for the Leigh Mahoney's violins on the final track.
Scrappy Jud Newcomb, Guitar & Vocals
Goals: inner strength and constant travel
Solo releases: Turbinado (2003), Byzantine (2005), Ride the High Country (2008)
Current gigs:
Ian McLagan and the Bump Band, The Resentments (w/Bruce Hughes, Miles Zuniga, Jeff Plankenhorn), Matt the Electrician, Johnny Nicholas and Hellbent, Beaver Nelson.
Over the years Scrappy has recorded and toured with numerous musicians and bands including The Loose Diamonds, Jon Dee Graham, Stephen Bruton, Terry Allen, Walter Tragert, Todd Snider, Neal Casal, Natalia Zukerman, Bobby Whitlock and Coco Carmel, Bob Schneider, Dan Stuart (Green on Red) and many others.
Scrappy loves his guitar and is continually mystified by the power of rock and roll.
To visit the Ian McLagan and The Bump Band Facebook page, please click on the link below.