Mike Doughty Embraces Hip-Hop with New Ghost of Vroom Project

Soul Coughing’s Mike Doughty hasn’t let the pandemic keep him from exploring new musical horizons. He formed Ghost of Vroom with his longtime collaborator, bassist Andrew “Scrap” Livingston. The group releases its full-length debut, Ghost of Vroom 1, via Mod y Vi Records on March 19.

The album’s first single, “I Hear the Ax Swinging,” is available now at all DSPs and streaming services. An official companion video — directed by renowned humorist/cartoonist David Rees — is currently in post-production and will premiere later this month.

Produced by Doughty and Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys, Jack Johnson, Seu Jorge), the album features “tense breakbeats, eclectic instrumentation, and Doughty’s celebrated lyrical dexterity to create a wildly inspired sound.”

Recorded in Memphis, TN and completed at Caldato’s Eagle Rock studio space in Los Angeles a mere three days before California entered its first lockdown, the album follows last summer’s debut EP, Ghost of Vroom 2, available via Mod y Vi Records on 12-inch black 180 gram vinyl with audio on Side A — including a vinyl-only exclusive instrumental track — and an etching of the cover artwork on Side B.

Hailed by Stereogum for its “offbeat, not-quite-this and not-quite-that arrangements – and, of course, Doughty’s famous tongue-in-cheek rhymes,” Ghost of Vroom 2 includes “Chief of Police” and “1918,” both accompanied by animated music videos streaming now at YouTube.

Doughty has created a wide range of new music via his official Patreon page, with all patrons receiving exclusive access to at least one completely new song each week along with an autographed cassette tape-recorded live-in-studio at Memphis Magnetic Recording Co. Additional extras include the Live at Royal CD and a Ghost of Vroom T-shirt exclusive to Patreon members.

Patreon members recently received free access to an all-new, all-improv set from Ghost of Vroom. Recorded at Memphis Magnetic Recording Co, the one-of-a-kind performance featured Doughty on vocals, sampler and guitar, Livingston on cello and keys, Madden “Lil Pepper” Klass on drums, and Logan Hanna on guitar. Additional livestream events will be announced soon.

Last year also saw the publication of Doughty’s acclaimed second memoir, I Die Each Time I Hear the Sound, available now from Hachette Books.

Photo Credit: Jamie Harmon