Waken The Dead

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Poor Old Lu quick facts

FromVashon Island, Washington, United States
Years active1990–2002, 2011, 2013, 2014
StatusInactive
SoundAlternativeAlternative RockPop PunkRock
LabelsAlarma Records
Past members (3)
Unresolved members (1)

Poor Old Lu was a pioneering Christian alternative rock band based in the American Northwest. The band experimented with a variety of sounds and genres, particularly grunge, funk and psychedelic rock. The band consisted of Scott Hunter (vocals), Jesse Sprinkle (drums), Aaron Sprinkle (guitar), and Nick Barber (bass). Hunter was the lyricist who wrote on philosophical, metaphorical, and spiritually oriented topics. Common themes in the lyrics include introspective struggles with identity and spirituality, struggles with a superficial, secular, and modern society, and hope for life abundant. The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music calls the band "One of the most accomplished and creative Christian bands of the '90s".

The name refers to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in which Lucy ('Lu'), returns from Narnia and tells her brother, Peter. Peter doesn't believe her story, however, and responds patronizingly, "Poor old Lu, hiding and nobody noticed."

History

The band began as "BellBangVilla", recording an album, 'In Love with the Greenery,' in 1990. The band changed its name to Poor Old Lu and recorded a three-song demo tape in 1991. In 1992, they recorded their first full-length album, Star-Studded-Super-Step, reworking some of the songs from 'In Love with the Greenery' for the album. Originally released on cassette, the album was re-released on CD by Alarma Records in 1995.

In 1993, they released Mindsize, produced by Terry Taylor and Derri Daugherty. It turned out to be their breakthrough. The following summer, the band recruited engineer/producer John Goodmanson, and Sin was recorded and released in 1994. In 1995, they released Straight Six, an EP which featured Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate on one track. In 1996 they released A Picture of the Eighth Wonder.

In late 1996, the band broke up, playing their farewell concert in Seattle, Washington in November 1996. The concert was recorded and released in 1998 as In Their Final Performance.

In 2002, the band reunited and recorded The Waiting Room for Tooth and Nail Records. In support of this release, the band reunited for a number of shows in 2002, playing at select venues in Seattle as well as a few select Christian music festivals that included Cornerstone, TomFest and Purple Door.

After Poor Old Lu

After the group's initial break-up, band members moved on to independent projects. In 1997, Nick Barber joined with Aaron Sprinkle in the group Rose Blossom Punch. Nick Barber played in the bands Meekin Pop and Blue Collar Love. By the time Rose Blossom Punch split up, Aaron Sprinkle had started a solo career,. He has released seven albums since 1999. In 2005, Aaron Sprinkle formed the band Fair with Joey Sanchez, Nick Barber and Erik Newbill.

Jesse Sprinkle moved to New York. He ran the recording studio the Illuminata in Dansville, New York until early 2006, when the studio closed. He opened a new studio, Bluebrick Recordings, in 2007. He has played drums in a number of bands, including Morella's Forest, Demon Hunter and Dead Poetic. He has also recorded a number of solo albums.

In 2006, Hunter started a new band, This Diminishing West, which broke up after releasing an EP online.

In 2018, Aaron and Jesse released an EP of six songs under the moniker Blank Books.

Post-2002 reunions

Poor Old Lu reunited in 2011 for an acoustic house show.

In 2013, the group gathered to record one song, "The Great Unwound". It was written and released in support of "Paradise Uganda", a ministry of Jesse Sprinkle. No statements about future releases were made.

In 2014, the group recorded a Christmas song with Vekora; it is entitled "The Brightest Star".

In 2025, Poor Old Lu played shows in Seattle and Nashville to celebrate the vinyl release of their 1995 EP Straight Six. The Seattle show was supported by Rose Blossom Punch and The Prayer Chain, and the Nashville show saw Poor Old Lu open for The Prayer Chain, who were celebrating the 30th anniversary of their album Mercury. The Seattle show was recorded and released in 2026 as At the Showbox, their second live album.

Members

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Discography

Albums

1990

In Love with the Greenery

1992

Star-Studded-Super-Step

1993

Mindsize

1993

Split 7-inch with Mortal

1994

Sin

1994

Sin LP

1995

Straight Six

1995

Star-Studded-Super-Step

1995

Sit and Stare VHS

1996

A Picture of the Eighth Wonder

1998

In Their Final Performance

1998

Chrono [1993-1998]

1998

Star-Studded-Super-Step CD re-release

2000

Mindsize/Sin

2002

Poor Old Lu & Serene

2002

The Waiting Room

2026

At the Showbox

Singles

2013

The Great Unwound

Other releases

1991

Three Song Demo

Also Appears On

1995

Browbeat: Unplugged Alternative

1995

CHR Sampler 95 - Spring Tunes

1996

Persuading You Near

1996

Noises from the Top of the Alarma Hotel

1997

Sparkler Vol. 1

2001

Happy Christmas Vol. 3

2003

Here & Now

Scene Atlas

Band Bloodlines

Follow the musicians who connect Poor Old Lu to other bands and projects. Confirmed release appearances are included when reliable source evidence is available.

Open Bloodlines Atlas

Connected through members

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External links
References
  1. ^ Torreano, Bradley. "Poor Old Lu". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Powell, Mark Allan (2002). "Poor Old Lu". Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music (First printing ed.). Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 721–722. ISBN 1-56563-679-1.
  3. ^ a b Myatt, Wayne. "Poor Old Lu Mindsize". Jesus Freak Hideout.
  4. ^ a b c "Poor Old Lu - Cannon-Fire Orange songtekst". Songteksten.nl.
  5. ^ a b c d e Poor Old Lu discography at Discogs
  6. ^ a b Cummings, Tony (December 1995). "Poor Old Lu - Sin". Cross Rhythms. No. 30.
  7. ^ a b Roberts, Tim (June 1997). "Poor Old Lu - A Picture Of The Eighth Wonder". Cross Rhythms. No. 40.
  8. ^ MacIntosh, Chris (January 11, 2003). "The Waiting Room". Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  9. ^ Parish, Alan (March 19, 2008). "This Diminishing West". Turn Off the Radio.
  10. ^ "poor old lu reunion acoustic setting 2011". July 10, 2011. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2014 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "New Poor Old Lu Recording?". Indie Vision Music. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  12. ^ "The Brightest Star". Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  13. ^ "Poor Old Lu Setlist at Showbox, Seattle". setlist.fm. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
  14. ^ "Poor Old Lu Setlist at Cannery Hall, Nashville". setlist.fm. Retrieved September 27, 2026.
  15. ^ "Poor Old Lu, "Sin" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  16. ^ Bate, Peter (June 1996). "Poor Old Lu - Straight Six". Cross Rhythms. No. 33.
  17. ^ "Poor Old Lu review by The Phantom Tollbooth". tollbooth.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 1998. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "Poor Old Lu, "A Picture Of The Eighth Wonder" Review". jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  19. ^ McGovern, Brian Vincent (November–December 1998). "POOR OLD LU In Their Final Performance". HM Magazine. No. 74. ISSN 1066-6923. Archived from the original on February 22, 2001.
  20. ^ "A Review by The Phantom Tollbooth". tollbooth.org. Archived from the original on May 12, 2001. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  21. ^ McGovern, Brian Vincent (March–April 1999). "Album Reviews: POOR OLD LU chrono (1993–1998)". HM Magazine. No. 76. ISSN 1066-6923. Archived from the original on July 14, 2001.
  22. ^ Jesusfreakhideout.com, Alex Caldwell of. "Jesusfreakhideout.com: Poor Old Lu, "At The Showbox" Review". www.jesusfreakhideout.com. Retrieved September 27, 2026.

Source: Wikipedia