Willard Grant Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
Willard Grant Conspiracy (WGC) is an alt-country band currently based near Palmdale, California
, USA.
Originally formed by Robert Fisher and Paul Austin in 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts, the band operates as a collective, with vocalist Fisher the only permanent member. Up to thirty other musicians occasionally contribute to the band, both in the studio and during live performances. WGC is currently signed to the independent Glitterhouse Records
label, having previously released on Rykodisc
and Kimchee Records.
The band toured extensively in 2005 and 2006 visiting twenty-three countries, including a showcase at the South by Southwest music festival
.
Fisher's voice and Americana
style have been compared to both John Cale
and Johnny Cash
, with most songs being acoustic
.
The band's 2003 release Regard The End, featuring Kristin Hersh
as well as Chris Eckman of The Walkabouts
, received critical acclaim with Uncut
magazine naming it album of the month.
Paul Austin now plays in The Transmissionary Six with Terri Moeller of The Walkabouts
.
Live albums
Compilation albums
EPs
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
, USA.
Originally formed by Robert Fisher and Paul Austin in 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts, the band operates as a collective, with vocalist Fisher the only permanent member. Up to thirty other musicians occasionally contribute to the band, both in the studio and during live performances. WGC is currently signed to the independent Glitterhouse Records
Glitterhouse Records
Glitterhouse Records is an independent record label based in Beverungen, Germany. The label specialises in the alternative country genre, and has released material by artists such as 16 Horsepower, The Walkabouts, Willard Grant Conspiracy, Hazeldine, Helldorado, The Shivers and Tom Liwa, but has...
label, having previously released on Rykodisc
Rykodisc
Rykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
and Kimchee Records.
The band toured extensively in 2005 and 2006 visiting twenty-three countries, including a showcase at the South by Southwest music festival
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
.
Fisher's voice and Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
style have been compared to both John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
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...
, with most songs being acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
.
The band's 2003 release Regard The End, featuring Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh is an American singer/songwriter who performs solo acoustic concerts; she also continues to perform as lead singer and guitarist for alternative rock group Throwing Muses and the hardcore punk-influenced power trio 50 Foot Wave...
as well as Chris Eckman of The Walkabouts
The Walkabouts
The Walkabouts is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1984. The core members are vocalist Carla Torgerson and vocalist and songwriter Chris Eckman...
, received critical acclaim with Uncut
UNCUT (magazine)
Uncut magazine, trademarked as UNCUT, is a monthly publication based in London. It is available across the English-speaking world, and focuses on music, but also includes film and books sections...
magazine naming it album of the month.
Paul Austin now plays in The Transmissionary Six with Terri Moeller of The Walkabouts
The Walkabouts
The Walkabouts is an American rock band formed in Seattle in 1984. The core members are vocalist Carla Torgerson and vocalist and songwriter Chris Eckman...
.
Discography
Studio albums- 3am Sunday @ Fortune Otto's (1996)
- Flying Low (1998)
- Mojave (1999)
- The Green, Green Grass Of Slovenia (2000)
- Everything's Fine (2000)
- Regard The EndRegard the EndRegard the End is the 6th full album by alt-country band Willard Grant Conspiracy.The song "Soft Hand" is used in the 2003 film Stuck On You .-Track listing:All music written by Robert Fisher.# "River in the Pines" – 4:45...
(2003) - Let It Roll (2006)
- Pilgrim Road (2008)
- Paper Covers Stone (2009)
Live albums
- Weevils In The Captain's Biscuit (1998)
- Live 2001 - Amsterdam and Aberdeen (2001)
- Live At Rockpalast-Crossroads(Il Mucchio) (2004)
- From A Distant Shore: Live In The Netherlands (2004)
Compilation albums
- There But for The Grace Of God (2004)
EPs
- Color Of The Sun (1999)
- Radio Free WGC (1999)
External links
- Official site
- Concerted Efforts Management Agency
- puremusic.com interview with Robert Fisher
- Concert photos by Laurent Orseau
- Willard Grant Conspiracy at Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...