Judah Bauer (guitar, vocals)

Judah Bauer is the youngest aboard the Blues Explosion. When he left his home state of Wisconsin for New York (because "it was so fucking quiet.") he met up with Russell Simins and they became great friends. Judah comes from a jazz background and originally played the saxophone. After some interesting experiments with that saxophone, feedback eventually led Judah to conclude that "bad saxophone is worse than bad guitar" and to discover that electricity might make up for what he lacked in reedsmanship. This pivotal moment led first to a couple of hardcore noise projects with names drenched in adolescent absurdity: Exceptional Children Fight For Freedom. Later, when it led Judah to New York City, he landed in the premier band in the land, the Blues Explosion. Now he is the master of his own six-string style. Judah has a deep reverence for the Delta blues. He has a side band with his brother dedicated to it.

 

History:

  1. is in Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.

  2. is, together with his brother Donovan, 20 Miles.

  3. appears, together with the other two of the Blues Explosion, with R.L. Burnside.

  4. appears, together with the other two of the Blues Explosion and Dub Narcotic Sound System on Sideways Soul.

  5. appears, together with the other two of the Blues Explosion, on Andre Williams' Is The Black Godfather LP/CD,

  6. appears, together with the other two of the Blues Explosion, on Andre Williams' Lap Dance 12"

  7. .appears with the Honeymoon Killers on Reflections On A Plane Trip Home, Milt's The Man, Jonestown Boogie, Joe's House and their Munster 7"

  8. appears on the Uptight! album by Speedball Baby.

  9. appears on the Thrown Ups 3x7" box (Amphetamine Reptile USA, scale 26)

  10. Has produced Not The Same Old Blues Crap part I and II for fat possum records

 

 

Twenty miles

Judah Bauer is a man best known for his day job as the six-string sidekick to the lightening-bolt showman Jon Spencer in the Blues Explosion. It's a job he quite likes, but there's more music in him beyond the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and so Twenty Miles was born.
Joined by brother Donovan on drums, Twenty Miles is the intensely raw pairing of only guitar and percussion that finds Judah often delving into a more melodic and emotional side of himself than some might expect. Imagine, if you will, Twenty Miles as the quiet before the Blues Explosion's storm. Judah is a well-rounded scholar of rock n' roll's history, digging into the heart of American music. That passion for a rich history of music and love of a diverse range of musical styles - country, bluegrass, folk, blues, rockabilly, rhythm & blues, soul - clearly shows its way through in Twenty Miles.
The band, which it should be noted is much more than a mere part-time hobby next to the Blues Explosion, has released two full-length albums, both on the Fat Possum label, which are widely available, while other records such as the Ragged Backyard Classics triple seven-inch on In The Red and a split double seven-inch with Doo Rag on Australia's Au-Go-Go label are also out there. Twenty Miles' second full-length, I'm A Lucky Guy, was released last year and serves as the duo's highmark to date, a fantastic display of Judah's vibrant guitar playing and skillful song craftsmanship.

More:

pics/video

discography

Links:

fat possum label

twenty miles website