Bludgers

by Tom DemalonBased in Champaign, IL, the quartet the Bludgers consisted of lead singer John Pheloung, guitarist Andy Leach, bass player Craig Walls, and drummer Sean Fogerty. They took their name from a New Zealand term for someone that mooches. With a sound that embraced power pop, folk, and blues, the group fell somewhere between the Gin Blossoms and the Jayhawks and, although not necessarily groundbreaking, afforded them some regional success and the opportunity to support several bigger name acts. Along the way, the Bludgers also recorded several records for Hammerhead, including Better Off at Home (1996) and the wryly titled Set Your Sights Low (1997).