Scott H. Biram, aka Scott Biram, SHB,
Hiram Biram, or The Dirty Old One Man Band (born April 4, 1974) is an
American blues, punk and country music musician, based in Austin, Texas.
Biography
Biram was born in Lockhart, Texas, United States, and raised in Prairie Lea
and San Marcos, Texas. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from
Southwest Texas State Univesity (now Texas State University) in 1997. Prior
to becoming a one-man band, he was a member of a punk band (The Thangs) and
two bluegrass bands (Scott Biram & the Salt Peter Boys and Bluegrass
Drive-By).
Biram released five albums under his own record label, KnuckleSandwich
Records. His first album was This is Kingsbury?, released in 2000. This was
followed by a second release, Preachin' & Hollerin in 2002. In February 2003
he released his third album, Lo-fi Mojo, recorded live on the radio in
Austin, Texas. On March 25, 2003, Biram was involved in a head-on collision,
which saw his vehicle crushed. He survived the wreck and was flown to Brook
Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. He suffered from a broken femur,
knee, foot, and arm, and severe internal injuries. Metal rods and pins were
placed in all of the broken bones, and one and a half feet of his intestine
had to be removed from his body. One month later he was back on stage at
Austin's Continental Club playing a show from a wheelchair. While
recovering, he recorded and released the 'Rehabilitation Blues E.P.' The
recording was made at his parent's home while he was still bedridden from
his crash.
In 2004, he released The Dirty Old One Man Band. Subsequently, it was
re-released (with a few changes) in 2005 when Biram signed with Bloodshot
Records from Chicago, Illinois. After signing with Bloodshot, Biram released
Graveyard Shift (2006), and Something's Wrong / Lost Forever (2009).
Something's Wrong/Lost Forever reached #5 on the Billboard Blues Chart. His
fourth record on the Bloodshot label, Bad Ingredients, was released on
October 11, 2011. The Album reached #39 on the iTunes Rock Chart on the day
of release. A week after the release of Bad Ingredients he appeared on the
cover of the local weekly magazine, The Austin Chronicle.
Since 1999, Biram has toured the United States, Canada, and Europe
(performing approximately 200 dates a year). Between 2005 and 2011, he had
toured Europe and the UK fourteen times.
Biram's musical style covers a wide spectrum. 'I grew up on Doc Watson,
Leadbelly and Lightnin' Hopkins,' he revealed, 'and in college, I discovered
more obscure people like Lil' Son Jackson and Mance Lipscomb.' Biram mixes
roots music, CB radios and a punk rock attitude. 'I kind of pride myself on
being able to release my emotions freely and not hold back at all,' he says.
'So many people these days have timid little weak voices like they're scared
to belt it out.'
The song 'Blood, Sweat & Murder' from The Dirty Old One Man Band album, was
used in the television program, Dog the Bounty Hunter, in the episode titled
'A Helping Hand'. His song 'Hit The Road' was also used on Dog The Bounty
Hunter. 'Lost Case Of Being Found,' 'Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue,'
and 'No Way' were used in season four of FX Cable Channel's Sons Of Anarchy.
His song 'Wreck My Car' was used in the film, The Darwin Awards. Biram has
appeared in documentary films, including a part in J.D. Wilkes 2008 film,
Seven Signs: Music, Myth & the American South. Biram appeared in the 2008
German film The Folk Singer: A Tale of Men, Music & America. He also was in
the French documentary, One Trip Some Noise. Biram's music was featured in
the documentary, Running Heavy.
Nashville Pussy covered his song 'Raisin Hell Again' on their 2005 album,
Get Some! Hank Williams III covered Biram's song, 'Truckdriver'. Biram will
appear on Shooter Jennings' January 2012 release, Family Man.
