Puller
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma8 reviews across 3 releases
Puller was an Oklahoma City rock band formed in the mid-1990s by Mike Lewis after his work with For Love Not Lisa, whose song appeared on The Crow soundtrack. The early group used metal weight and intricate time changes, with dense guitar layers through which melodies kept surfacing. The 1997 split with Roadside Monument also showed a quieter side: Lewis's "Nothing to Prove" used only guitar and vocals, with a clear, restrained performance. On Closer Than You Think, the writing became more structured and melodic without abandoning jagged rhythms or muscular grooves; reviewers heard modern rock with post-punk edges, alongside occasional acoustic softness. By What's Mine At Twilight, Puller had moved toward subdued post-grunge, often with muddy guitar layers and less certain melodies. The shift was audible, though the album's reception was sharply mixed.
In 1996, Lewis recruited former For Love Not Lisa roadie Geoff Riley, and Puller entered Tooth & Nail with songs but no fixed lineup. The personnel kept changing; by 2001, Puller had been reduced to Lewis and Riley. After What's Mine At Twilight, the band ceased operating, and Lewis later described a period of financial collapse and musical burnout before returning with Tenkiller, his Nashville project with Clint McBay. Riley remained associated with the Oklahoma music scene until his death in August 2024. Lewis has since said he does not want to reunite Puller or For Love Not Lisa, and continues making music with Tenkiller.
3 releases reviewed
Puller/Roadside Monument
Closer Than You Think
What's Mine At Twilight