Biography

Best known as the former frontman of Flat Duo Jets, Dexter Romweber's affinity for rockabilly, surf, punk, blues, and lounge has inspired his career for the better part of two decades. While still playing in Flat Duo Jets, Romweber began his solo career with 1996's deceptively named Folk Songs, a collection of originals and a few handpicked covers. He also appeared on the 2000 Tom Waits tribute New Coat of Paint, and delivered the eight-song EP Big Beat the same year. Chased by Martians was released on Manifesto in 2001. The Chapel Hill, North Carolina independent label Yep Roc had been wanting to release something by Romweber for years, and in winter 2003 Romweber granted their wish; he struck a deal with Yep Roc to issue Blues That Defy My Soul, the first album from the Dexter Romweber Duo, featuring Romweber and drummer Crash LaResh. Produced by Southern Culture on the Skids' Rick Miller, the album appeared in spring 2004. Piano, released by Orange Sound in 2006, moved in a very different direction, with moody, piano-based instrumentals. For 2009's Ruins of Berlin, Romweber moved to Bloodshot Records and teamed up with duet partners Chan Marshall, Neko Case, and Exene Cervenka. He followed this with a long tour, and reworked the Dex Romweber Duo, with his sister Sara Romweber (ex-Let's Active) replacing LaResh on drums and and bringing aboard Matt Brandau on upright bass. The new group issued its first single "The Wind Did Move" b/w "Last Kind Word Blues," as a limited edition on Jack White's Third Man Records imprint, followed by the full-length Third Man Live: 02/04/2010 (issued in early 2011). In the summer of 2011, the Dex Romweber Duo released the studio album Is That You in the Blue as their sophomore recording on Bloodshot. Romweber moved further into unexpected territory with 2013's Night Tide, the debut from Dexter Romweber & the New Romans, which found him tackling old standards and some classical themes with the help of a seven-piece band. In 2014, Romweber returned to more familiar musical surroundings with the album Images 13, another Romweber Duo set, this time without bassist Brandau. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi