Television Hill
Encyclopedia
"Boldly distinguishable from the mass of Americana out there." -Wire Magazine
Television Hill is an American
folk-rock band
from Baltimore
, Maryland
. They are heavily influenced by American folk music
as well as many other traditional music
forms. Their original compositions linger mostly in the realm of creative folklore & mythology
, drawing on narrative themes from folklore
& myths from around the globe. Their songs are unique and inventive - a love for words pushes each song through to its end.
"I believe the proper ratio for a good Television Hill song is 2 parts Blind Blake
to 1 part William Blake
"-Rob Wilson
and guitarist & songwriter for legendary Maryland noise-rock band Tribal Voice
. Rob has a B.A. in Philosophy of Science
& Ancient Studies from UMBC. He served as editor of Baltimore's Gadfly Monthly Music Calendar (1996–1998) & was co-promoter of Ottobar's Baltimore Antifolk Music Night in conjunction with Dave Heumann until late 2002. Rob also regularly co-writes lyrics with Heumann for Arbouretum.
Walker David Teret plays bass, guitar, keys & vocals and handles much of the arranging for the band. Walker has his own old-time country band called Walker & Jay. He also performs with Celebration
& Mink Stole
. Walker has performed in the past with Arbouretum, Anomoanon, Cass McCombs
, Scarlett Johansson
, Jim & Jenny & many others.
David Bergander plays drums, percussion. steel guitar & vocals. David currently also drums for Celebration
. David has performed in the past with Arbouretum, Cicaeda, Graham Lindsey
& Scarlett Johansson
.
Dave Heumann plays guitar, bass, keys & vocals. Heumann is also frontman for Thrill Jockey Records recording artists Arbouretum & has performed with many different bands such as Will Oldham's Bonnie "Prince" Billy Band & Matt Sweeney
, as well as with Anomoanon & Cass McCombs
.
Auxiliary members include: Marc Berrong (Landspeedrecord! & Slow Jets), Nathan Bell (Lungfish
& Human Bell), Tony Drummond (Celebration) & Geoff Graham (Lower Dens).
, MD. It received quite favorable reviews:
In 2006 Television Hill recorded a Live 8 Song EP of their performance at Rodney Henry's Dangerously Delicious Pies in Baltimore, MD. Although it currently remains unreleased, it has been widely circulated among Television Hill's fan base. It features material from Twilight, My Name's Hardin & a forthcoming full length recording tentatively titled Another Naked Hour.
Television Hill is currently putting the finishing touches on My Name's Hardin, a concept EP that takes a poke at the title of Bob Dylan
's 1967 release John Wesley Harding
. It's due out on Friends Records in mid-2011. This six shot mostly biographical work is an exciting excursion through the life and lore of the fastest gun in the west, Wes Hardin and pays equal homage to Dylan's record and Johnny Cash
's double concept album Sings the Ballads of the True West
. Drawing from Hardin's autobiography, Letters from Prison
and an assortment of other biographical and relevant material, Television Hill examines the Hardin of legend & song while serving up savory mesquite seasoned tales of pride, bloodlust and a cycle of violence that would ultimately consume the legendary Texas outlaw. Cowtown caterwauling, gritty guitars and rolling hill country rhythms cleverly coalesce to re-create the cattle trails, jail cells and whiskey soaked saloons of the Reconstruction Era South in this half hour epic.The band's all-star line-up on this recording consists of Rob Wilson, Dave Heumann, David Bergander and Walker Teret with additional performances by Tony Drummond.
In 2010 the band also began recording Pieces of Eight
with old friend Rob Girardi at Lord Baltimore Recording. A raucous eight song romp through the sandy shoals of the Eastern Seaboard and beyond. This lively exploration of tales & legends of Blackbeard
, Captain Kidd, Tommy Tew
and other salty dogs will also include some special guest performances.
Television Hill is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk-rock band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
from Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. They are heavily influenced by American folk music
American folk music
American folk music is a musical term that encompasses numerous genres, many of which are known as traditional music or roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun and Native American...
as well as many other traditional music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
forms. Their original compositions linger mostly in the realm of creative folklore & mythology
Creative mythology
Creative mythology is the title of Volume 4 of Joseph Campbell's Masks of God series....
, drawing on narrative themes from folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
& myths from around the globe. Their songs are unique and inventive - a love for words pushes each song through to its end.
"I believe the proper ratio for a good Television Hill song is 2 parts Blind Blake
Blind Blake
"Blind" Blake was an American blues and ragtime singer and guitarist.-Biography:...
to 1 part William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
"-Rob Wilson
Members
Rob Wilson is the Texas born lead singer & songwriter for Television Hill. Rob was frontman for Ambiguous City upstarts Antenna FarmAntenna farm
Antenna farm or satellite dish farm or just dish farm are terms used to describe an area dedicated to television or radio telecommunications transmitting or receiving antenna equipment, such as C, Ku or Ka band satellite dish antennas, UHF/VHF/AM/FM transmitter towers or mobile cell towers.In...
and guitarist & songwriter for legendary Maryland noise-rock band Tribal Voice
Tribal Voice
-Reception:The album reached a peak of #4 on the ARIA album charts.-Track listing:#"Gapu" #"Treaty" #"Djäpana" #"My Kind of Life" #"Maralitja" -Reception:The album reached a peak of #4 on the ARIA album charts.-Track listing:#"Gapu" (Traditional song, arranged by Galarrwuy Yunupingu)#"Treaty"...
. Rob has a B.A. in Philosophy of Science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
& Ancient Studies from UMBC. He served as editor of Baltimore's Gadfly Monthly Music Calendar (1996–1998) & was co-promoter of Ottobar's Baltimore Antifolk Music Night in conjunction with Dave Heumann until late 2002. Rob also regularly co-writes lyrics with Heumann for Arbouretum.
Walker David Teret plays bass, guitar, keys & vocals and handles much of the arranging for the band. Walker has his own old-time country band called Walker & Jay. He also performs with Celebration
Celebration (band)
Celebration is a psychedelic soul band based out of Baltimore, Maryland.-History:Celebration is composed of singer Katrina Ford, multi-instrumentalist Sean Antanaitis and drummer David Bergander, with a number of additional rotating members: Walker Teret plays bass, sometimes guitar, percussion and...
& Mink Stole
Mink Stole
Nancy Paine Stoll better known by the stage name Mink Stole, is an American actress from Baltimore, Maryland. She began her career working for director John Waters, having appeared in all of his feature films to date...
. Walker has performed in the past with Arbouretum, Anomoanon, Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs is an American songwriter and performer. Called "unobtrusively brilliant" by John Peel, he has received widespread critical acclaim for his five LPs and one EP.- History :Cass McCombs was born in Concord, California...
, Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
, Jim & Jenny & many others.
David Bergander plays drums, percussion. steel guitar & vocals. David currently also drums for Celebration
Celebration (band)
Celebration is a psychedelic soul band based out of Baltimore, Maryland.-History:Celebration is composed of singer Katrina Ford, multi-instrumentalist Sean Antanaitis and drummer David Bergander, with a number of additional rotating members: Walker Teret plays bass, sometimes guitar, percussion and...
. David has performed in the past with Arbouretum, Cicaeda, Graham Lindsey
Graham Lindsey
Graham Lindsey is an American singer, songwriter and musician born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He played in several punk bands, including Old Skull; "the world's youngest punk band", while still in high-school. He released his first solo album in 2003...
& Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
.
Dave Heumann plays guitar, bass, keys & vocals. Heumann is also frontman for Thrill Jockey Records recording artists Arbouretum & has performed with many different bands such as Will Oldham's Bonnie "Prince" Billy Band & Matt Sweeney
Matt Sweeney
Matt Sweeney is a guitarist, vocalist, and producer who has worked with various musicians and groups.-Biography:Sweeney's high school band Skunk released two albums on Twin/Tone records...
, as well as with Anomoanon & Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs
Cass McCombs is an American songwriter and performer. Called "unobtrusively brilliant" by John Peel, he has received widespread critical acclaim for his five LPs and one EP.- History :Cass McCombs was born in Concord, California...
.
Auxiliary members include: Marc Berrong (Landspeedrecord! & Slow Jets), Nathan Bell (Lungfish
Lungfish
Lungfish are freshwater fish belonging to the Subclass Dipnoi. Lungfish are best known for retaining characteristics primitive within the Osteichthyes, including the ability to breathe air, and structures primitive within Sarcopterygii, including the presence of lobed fins with a well-developed...
& Human Bell), Tony Drummond (Celebration) & Geoff Graham (Lower Dens).
Recordings
Television Hill's first record, Twilight, was released by Teneral Records and distributed by Morphius in 2005. Twilight was recorded by Rob Girardi at Social Services Studios in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, MD. It received quite favorable reviews:
- Americana-UK Magazine called it, "Near Perfect" and also says "It is fractured, it is unfocused it is Godamn brilliant."
- Splendid said, "Twilight is a hell of a dawn."
- Altcountry.nl said, "Television Hill: een schitterende band."
- Ear Candy Magazine: "I have to admit, their version of “John The Revelator” is hands down the best version I’ve ever heard in my life. Fourteen folk, country, rock songs that make you feel like your listening to The Band fronted by Mick and Keith and everybody's been sipping from the mason jar."
In 2006 Television Hill recorded a Live 8 Song EP of their performance at Rodney Henry's Dangerously Delicious Pies in Baltimore, MD. Although it currently remains unreleased, it has been widely circulated among Television Hill's fan base. It features material from Twilight, My Name's Hardin & a forthcoming full length recording tentatively titled Another Naked Hour.
Television Hill is currently putting the finishing touches on My Name's Hardin, a concept EP that takes a poke at the title of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's 1967 release John Wesley Harding
John Wesley Harding
John Wesley Harding may refer to:* John Wesley Harding , a 1967 Bob Dylan album* John Wesley Harding , the title track of this album* John Wesley Harding , English singer...
. It's due out on Friends Records in mid-2011. This six shot mostly biographical work is an exciting excursion through the life and lore of the fastest gun in the west, Wes Hardin and pays equal homage to Dylan's record and Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
's double concept album Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West is a conceptual double album and the twenty-first album released by country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1965 . Covering twenty individual songs, the album, as its title suggests, contains various ballads and other songs on topics related to...
. Drawing from Hardin's autobiography, Letters from Prison
John Wesley Hardin
John Wesley Hardin was an American outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk hero of the Old West. He was born in Bonham, Texas. Hardin found himself in trouble with the law at an early age, and spent the majority of his life being pursued by both local lawmen and federal troops of the...
and an assortment of other biographical and relevant material, Television Hill examines the Hardin of legend & song while serving up savory mesquite seasoned tales of pride, bloodlust and a cycle of violence that would ultimately consume the legendary Texas outlaw. Cowtown caterwauling, gritty guitars and rolling hill country rhythms cleverly coalesce to re-create the cattle trails, jail cells and whiskey soaked saloons of the Reconstruction Era South in this half hour epic.The band's all-star line-up on this recording consists of Rob Wilson, Dave Heumann, David Bergander and Walker Teret with additional performances by Tony Drummond.
In 2010 the band also began recording Pieces of Eight
Pieces of Eight
Pieces of Eight is the eighth studio album and second concept album by Styx, released September 1, 1978.The album was the band's follow-up to their Triple Platinum selling The Grand Illusion album....
with old friend Rob Girardi at Lord Baltimore Recording. A raucous eight song romp through the sandy shoals of the Eastern Seaboard and beyond. This lively exploration of tales & legends of Blackbeard
Blackbeard
Edward Teach , better known as Blackbeard, was a notorious English pirate who operated around the West Indies and the eastern coast of the American colonies....
, Captain Kidd, Tommy Tew
Thomas Tew
Thomas Tew , also known as the Rhode Island Pirate, was a 17th century English privateer-turned-pirate. Although he embarked on only two major piratical voyages, and met a bloody death on the latter journey, Tew pioneered the route which became known as the Pirate Round. Many other famous pirates,...
and other salty dogs will also include some special guest performances.