The Electric Amish
The Electric Amish is an Indiana-based parody rock band that takes well-known rock standards and recasts them from a heavily tongue-in-cheek Amish perspective. The band consists of three fictional characters: Graeber Goodman (born in Las Vegas, Nevada, moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and settled in Nappanee, Indiana) on electric guitar and vocals; Carl Goodman (born in Berne, Indiana) on electric bass and vocals; and Barry Goodman (born in Goshen, Indiana) on drums and vocals. The true identities behind these personas are, respectively, Dean Metcalf (producer of The Bob & Tom Show), and brothers Barclay Grayson and Kyle Grayson—all of central Indiana.
Humor
Much of the humor in their lyrics presupposes at least a passing understanding of Amish and Mennonite cultures (for example, outsiders are called "the English"). The band rose to stardom after performing on The Bob & Tom Show, where they can occasionally still be heard.
Albums
The Electric Amish released their first album, Barn to Be Wild, in 1995, followed by Milkin' It in 1996 and A Hard Day's Work in 1999. They also have a song, "Farmageddon," on the 1998 release Back in '98, which features items from The Bob & Tom Show. While the band has not released anything since 1999, they continue to perform occasionally, mostly in the Upper Midwest US. They record on the DonkeyMonkey label.
Band members
- Graeber Goodman (Dean Metcalf) – Electric guitar and vocals
- Carl Goodman (Barclay Grayson) – Electric bass and vocals
- Barry Goodman (Kyle Grayson) – Drums and vocals
Recordings
Barn to Be Wild, 1995
- "We Are an Amish Band"
- "Black Bonnet Girls"
- "Come Together (and Build a Barn)"
- "Mennonite Blues"
- "Amish Lady"
- "My Congregation"
- "Barn to Be Wild"
- "Amish Country Blues"
- "Mennonite Girl"
- "A Girl on Theology"
- "Give Me Three Pigs"
- "Very Amish Christmas"
Milkin' It, 1996
- "I Want to Dress in Black & White (and Work Real Hard All Day)"
- "Graeber Be Good"
- "I Want to Hoe Your Land"
- "For Your Mule"
- "No More Mennonite Guy"
- "Proud Gretta (Rollin' in My Buggy)"
- "Big Ol' Horse & Buggy"
- "The Parson's Back"
- "He's from Goshen"
- "Heathen"
- "Mush"
- "Christmas Time in Amish Land"
Back in '98, 1998
- "Farmageddon"
A Hard Day's Work, 1999
- "Hay Ride"
- "Welcome to My Home in Pennsylvania"
- "Sweet Home Indiana"
- "Parson"
- "Graeber Be Good" (with Jonny Lang)
- "Y2K Crash"
- "Wear Black"
- "All Right Cow"
- "Amish Man"
- "Donkey Walk"
- "What If Tom Was One of Us"
- "Parson Klaus Is Coming to Town"