Jim Fairchild
Encyclopedia
Jim Fairchild is an American
guitarist
and singer-songwriter
. He records under the name All Smiles.
, Chicago
, and Portland, Oregon
where he began to work under the name "All Smiles". As of 2009 he lives in San Francisco.
Fairchild joined Grandaddy
as guitarist in 1995, and remained with the band until they broke up in 2006. He is featured on the Giant Sand
release, Cover Magazine
. In 2001, he was the touring guitarist with Giant Sand, who were the opening act for PJ Harvey
. In 2006 Fairchild toured as guitarist with Modest Mouse
before Johnny Marr
joined the band. He released his first solo album, Ten Readings of a Warning
, which he arranged to be carbon neutral
, in 2007, as well as a single
, "Moth in a Cloud of Smoke". Musicians on the album include Solon Bixler
, Joe Plummer
, Danny Seim
, and Janet Weiss
. The album art was created by Natasha Wheat
. Fairchild rejoined Modest Mouse in February 2009, and has continued to tour with them both nationally and internationally. Fairchild released his second album, Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go
, on June 30, 2009. Band members on the album were Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell, Nik Freitas
, and Joe Plummer. After recording in Austin
, Chicago, Los Angeles, Modesto, and Portland, All Smiles released the EP Fall Never Fell on November 17, 2009. The EP was recorded with musicians Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell, Nik Freitas, Chico Jones, Dave Osborne, Joe Plummer, Danny Seim, Rachel Stolte, and Alance Ward.
In 2010 Fairchild was selected to lead a project at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
, and was credited on Admiral Radley
's first album, I Heart California.
On March 1, 2011, Fairchild released All Smiles third full-length album, Staylow and Mighty, on his own Small Aisles label. This album includes contributions from Joe Plummer
, Danny Seim, and Gary Jarman
.
With Grandaddy
:
Other releases:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He records under the name All Smiles.
Biography
Jim Fairchild moved to Modesto at the age of two, and began to play guitar at the age of 14. He has lived in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
where he began to work under the name "All Smiles". As of 2009 he lives in San Francisco.
Fairchild joined Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
as guitarist in 1995, and remained with the band until they broke up in 2006. He is featured on the Giant Sand
Giant Sand
Giant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
release, Cover Magazine
Cover Magazine
Cover Magazine is an album released by the American band Giant Sand on Thrill Jockey Records in 2001. The title references that 11 of the songs are cover versions.-Track listing:#"El Paso / Out on the Weekend"...
. In 2001, he was the touring guitarist with Giant Sand, who were the opening act for PJ Harvey
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey is an English musician, singer-songwriter, composer and occasional artist. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments including piano, organ, bass, saxophone, and most recently, the autoharp.Harvey began her career in...
. In 2006 Fairchild toured as guitarist with Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
before Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
joined the band. He released his first solo album, Ten Readings of a Warning
Ten Readings of a Warning
Ten Readings of a Warning is the first album by All Smiles. It was released on Dangerbird Records on April 24, 2007.-Track listing:All songs written by Jim Fairchild.# "Early Man" – 0:37# "Summer Stay" – 3:39# "Killing Sheep" – 3:33...
, which he arranged to be carbon neutral
Carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality, or having a net zero carbon footprint, refers to achieving net zero carbon emissions by balancing a measured amount of carbon released with an equivalent amount sequestered or offset, or buying enough carbon credits to make up the difference...
, in 2007, as well as a single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Moth in a Cloud of Smoke". Musicians on the album include Solon Bixler
Solon Bixler
Solon Bixler is a rock–indie musician from Fresno, California. He is a former guitarist for the bands 30 Seconds to Mars and Earlimart...
, Joe Plummer
Joe Plummer
Joe Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. Since 2004, Plummer has been a member of the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank...
, Danny Seim
Lackthereof
Lackthereof is the solo project of Danny Seim, a founding member of the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena.-History:The first six Lackthereof albums were recorded at home and given out to Seim's friends on cassettes and CD-R's...
, and Janet Weiss
Janet Weiss
Janet Lee Weiss was the drummer of now defunct Sleater-Kinney and is currently a member of Quasi and Wild Flag. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, leaving after the album Mirror Traffic.-Early life:...
. The album art was created by Natasha Wheat
Natasha Wheat
Natasha Wheat is an internationally exhibiting interdisciplinary, socially engaged artist who lives and works in the United States.Her works have been described as situational constructions , often using "food to transform her audience into co-participants in the work".She recently performed a...
. Fairchild rejoined Modest Mouse in February 2009, and has continued to tour with them both nationally and internationally. Fairchild released his second album, Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go
Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go
Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go is the self-released second album by All Smiles. It was released on June 30, 2009.-Track listing:All songs written by Jim Fairchild.# "Maps to the Homes of Former Foes" – 3:48# "I Was Never the One" – 3:57...
, on June 30, 2009. Band members on the album were Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell, Nik Freitas
Nik Freitas
Nik Freitas is a singer-songwriter from Visalia, California and currently residing in Los Angeles. Freitas began his career as a staff photographer for Thrasher Magazine where he traveled the world taking skate photos until turning his attention to music full-time in 2001...
, and Joe Plummer. After recording in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Chicago, Los Angeles, Modesto, and Portland, All Smiles released the EP Fall Never Fell on November 17, 2009. The EP was recorded with musicians Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell, Nik Freitas, Chico Jones, Dave Osborne, Joe Plummer, Danny Seim, Rachel Stolte, and Alance Ward.
In 2010 Fairchild was selected to lead a project at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is a modern art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art and was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th century art...
, and was credited on Admiral Radley
Admiral Radley
Admiral Radley is a California-based indie rock band formed in late 2009.The band is formed from members of the indie rock bands Grandaddy and Earlimart . Originally the band name was going to be Grandimart or Earlidaddy, a combination of both band's names...
's first album, I Heart California.
On March 1, 2011, Fairchild released All Smiles third full-length album, Staylow and Mighty, on his own Small Aisles label. This album includes contributions from Joe Plummer
Joe Plummer
Joe Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. Since 2004, Plummer has been a member of the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank...
, Danny Seim, and Gary Jarman
Gary Jarman
Gary John Jarman is a British multi-instrumentalist, best known for being bassist and singer in the Wakefield music group The Cribs....
.
Discography
Albums released as All Smiles:- Ten Readings of a WarningTen Readings of a WarningTen Readings of a Warning is the first album by All Smiles. It was released on Dangerbird Records on April 24, 2007.-Track listing:All songs written by Jim Fairchild.# "Early Man" – 0:37# "Summer Stay" – 3:39# "Killing Sheep" – 3:33...
(Dangerbird Records, 2007) - Oh for the Getting and Not Letting GoOh for the Getting and Not Letting GoOh for the Getting and Not Letting Go is the self-released second album by All Smiles. It was released on June 30, 2009.-Track listing:All songs written by Jim Fairchild.# "Maps to the Homes of Former Foes" – 3:48# "I Was Never the One" – 3:57...
(Small Aisles, 2009) - Fall Never Fell EP (Small Aisles, 2009)
- "Staylow and Mighty" (Small Aisles, 2011)
With Grandaddy
Grandaddy
Grandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
:
- Under the Western FreewayUnder the Western FreewayUnder the Western Freeway is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy, released in October 1997 on Will Records. The album was released in the UK in April 1998 by Big Cat Records, and later reissued in the US by Big Cat's parent company V2 Records.The track titled "A.M. 180" was...
(V2 RecordsV2 RecordsV2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
, 1997) - The Broken Down Comforter CollectionThe Broken Down Comforter CollectionThe Broken Down Comforter Collection is an album by the band Grandaddy, released in June 1999 by Big Cat Records. It is a combination of the tracks from the mini-album A Pretty Mess By This One Band and the EP Machines Are Not She.-Reception:...
(V2 Records, 1999) - The Sophtware SlumpThe Sophtware SlumpThe Sophtware Slump is the second studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy, released in 2000. The album received strong reviews from most critics. It is seen by some as a concept album about problems concerning modern technology in society. The title is a reference to the sophomore slump,...
(V2 Records, 2000) - SumdaySumdaySumday is the third studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy, released in May 2003 by V2 Records. An expanded version with a second disc of live tracks was released later that year...
(V2 Records, 2003) - The Ham and Its Lily (2003)
- The Ham and Its Lily was a humorous release by GrandaddyGrandaddyGrandaddy was an American indie rock band, formed in 1992 in Modesto, California by singer, guitarist, and keyboardist Jason Lytle, bassist Kevin Garcia, and drummer Aaron Burtch. Guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboardist Tim Dryden later joined the band in 1995...
under the band name "Arm of Roger"
- The Ham and Its Lily was a humorous release by Grandaddy
Other releases:
- Howe GelbHowe GelbHowe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
, "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" (1998) - Giant SandGiant SandGiant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album...
, Cover MagazineCover MagazineCover Magazine is an album released by the American band Giant Sand on Thrill Jockey Records in 2001. The title references that 11 of the songs are cover versions.-Track listing:#"El Paso / Out on the Weekend"...
(on selected tracks, 2002) - The Band of Blacky RanchetteHowe GelbHowe Gelb is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.-Projects:Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of side projects...
, "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" (2003) - Goldcard, "The Rabbit Song" (2003)
- EarlimartEarlimart (band)Earlimart is an Indie rock band based in Los Angeles, California. They are named for the town of Earlimart, California. Their sound bears resemblance to Elliott Smith and Grandaddy, as well as to contemporaries like Pedro the Lion, with whom they performed in a 2004 tour. The band's sixth...
, Treble and TrembleTreble and TrembleTreble and Tremble is the fourth album by Earlimart. The first single was "Heaven Adores You," and a music video was produced to accompany the song.Despite the album's obvious Elliott Smith influences, it is not a tribute album...
(Palm Pictures, 2004) - Peter Walker, Young Gravity (Dangerbird Records, 2006)
- Dappled Cities, GranddanceGranddanceGranddance is the second album by Dappled Cities Fly, released in 2006. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound, Sanora Recorders and New Monkey Studios - Los Angeles in July 2006 and produced by Jim Fairchild and Peter Walker...
(Dangerbird Records, 2007) - Admiral RadleyAdmiral RadleyAdmiral Radley is a California-based indie rock band formed in late 2009.The band is formed from members of the indie rock bands Grandaddy and Earlimart . Originally the band name was going to be Grandimart or Earlidaddy, a combination of both band's names...
, "I Heart California" (The Ship, 2010)
External links
- www.myspace.com/allsmilesmusic
- www.allsmilesmusic.com
- live video November, 7th 2009 Rouen, France
- http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/42505-ten-readings-of-a-warning Pitchfork Review of Ten Reading of a Warning
- http://www.eforests.co.uk/INTERNET/efnews2.nsf/NewsWebDisplay?OpenForm&ParentUNID=B43784BD508034C0802572D3006D0C3E E-forests Al Smiles goes Carbon Neutral
- http://www.modestofamous.com/node/1333 Modesto Famous
- http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003716/Grandaddy.html Musician Guide
- Friends In High Places Friends in High Places
Interviews and press
- http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/39462-jim-fairchild-talks-grandaddy-breakup-solo-album Pitchfork interview
- http://www.chicagoreader.com/features/stories/sharpdarts/070518/ Chicago Reader interview
- http://stereogum.com/tag/Grandaddy interview on Stereogum