Field Report | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Genres | Folk |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Labels | Verve Forecast, Partisan Records, Dine Alone Records (Canada) |
| Members | Chris Porterfield |
| Website | www |
Field Report is an American folk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin [1] led by singer/songwriter Christopher Porterfield. The band's name is an anagram of the surname Porterfield.
Chris Porterfield, the leader of Field Report, originally played with Justin Vernon (now the creative force behind Bon Iver) in the Vernon-led band DeYarmond Edison. After the breakup of DeYarmond Edison, Porterfield worked on his own project, Conrad Plymouth, then eventually changed focus to work on the band Field Report. [2] In 2017, The band was signed to Verve Records (Universal) imprint Verve Forecast, whose catalogue includes artists Richie Havens, Laura Nyro, Captain Beefheart, and Tim Hardin. In 2018, the band released their first album in four years entitled Summertime Songs, recorded in their hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The band has received much praise. According to Billboard Magazine, "Counting Crows, Emmylou Harris, and Aimee Mann each invited Field Report to open shows for them. The band's music is playing at Starbucks and garnering media accolades." [3] The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that "The buzz leading up to Field Report's self-titled debut album, out on Partisan Records Sept. 11 [2012], has been louder than the music of this six-piece Milwaukee folk band, with Rolling Stone, NPR, Pitchfork and Time already writing raves." [1] Prior to the release of the band's second album, following a Daytrotter solo session with Porterfield, Sean Moeller wrote, "Marigolden is a triumph of a record, a true beauty that makes you believe in the regenerative spirit of all human beings." [4]
On October 22, 2014, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett declared the day Field Report Day in Milwaukee, prior to a performance by the band that evening at the Pabst Theater. [5]
Following a show in Denver, Annie Zdrojewski wrote "Porterfield’s lyrics turn what may initially sound like singer-songwriter-y indie folk of the replicable variety into something more: a confession of sorts, with visible cracks in the armor that you can feel because Porterfield writes them so achingly well." [6]
Paste Magazine's Eric Swedlund described the lyrics from Field Reports self-titled album as "imaginative, detailed and highly literate, creating character-driven songs, sketches that reinforce their narratives with imagery that coalesces into a remarkable sense of place." [7]
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel put the song "Home (Leave the Lights On)" as the top song from Milwaukee in 2014. [8]
Porterfield has said, “For me, songwriting all starts with the words. I’m very lyrically driven.” He often uses metaphors and historical references to paint a picture or inspire a certain feeling with his lyrics. He has said he was influenced by other artists known primarily for their descriptive and poetic lyrics, including Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell. For Field Report's second album, he created the word "Marigolden" to serve as the name of the seventh track and album. The word is a combination of marigold, indicating the effort needed to maintain the status quo, and golden, suggesting a desired status. [9]
Field Report's sound centers around the narrative songs that bring to mind the writing on albums like Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska.
Violent Femmes are an American folk punk band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The band consists of founding members Gordon Gano and Brian Ritchie, joined by multi-instrumentalist Blaise Garza, and drummer John Sparrow. Former members of the band include drummers Victor DeLorenzo, Guy Hoffman (1993–2002), and Brian Viglione (2013–2016). Violent Femmes are considered to be an integral part of the then-underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes of the 1980s, and remain influential or inspirational to the subsequent movements, particularly on folk rock, indie rock, grunge, pop punk, emo, and the late 1980s and 1990s alternative rock scene.
BoDeans is an American rock band formed in Waukesha, Wisconsin who came to prominence in the 1980s. The band's sound encompasses multiple rock genres, including roots rock, heartland rock, and alternative rock. The band's biggest hit to date is "Closer to Free", which was used as the theme song to the hit TV series Party of Five. The band has been described as "one of the most successful, and best known, bands to come out of the Milwaukee area". BoDeans is included in a permanent installation at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
Samuel J. Llanas is an American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter in several rock and roots rock bands active from the 1980s to the 2000s, including BoDeans and Absinthe.
Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon is an American singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. He is best-known as the primary songwriter and frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver. He is also a member of the bands Volcano Choir, Big Red Machine, the Shouting Matches, and Gayngs, and was previously a member of the now-defunct band DeYarmond Edison. Known for his distinct falsetto voice, Vernon has received widespread acclaim for his work, predominantly with Bon Iver.
DeYarmond Edison is the former band of the members of Bon Iver, Megafaun, and Field Report. Guitarist and vocalist Justin Vernon went on to create Bon Iver; three members formed the freak folk group Megafaun, and Christopher Porterfield began composing, eventually establishing Field Report.
"Got the Time" is a song written and performed by the British new wave musician Joe Jackson, appearing as the closing track on his 1979 debut album, Look Sharp!. The song has since been performed frequently in live concerts by Jackson.
Phox was an American six-piece alternative folk / indie pop band from Baraboo, Wisconsin. Active from 2011 until 2017, they released their self-titled debut LP on June 24, 2014.
Lion is the fifth album by American musician, comedian, and actor Stephen Lynch, released in 2012. The first half of the album was recorded at Studio G! and the second half of the album was recorded live from Symphony Space.
The Wigs are an American power pop band.
VII is the seventh studio album by American alternative country band Blitzen Trapper. Described on the band's official site as "somewhat experimental ... a futuristic hip-hop/country-rock hybrid", and by lead singer and songwriter Eric Earley as "hillbilly gangster", VII was the first record Blitzen Trapper released with their new labels, Vagrant (US) and Lojinx (UK). The song "Thirsty Man" was released as the album's only single, hitting #29 on the Adult Alternative Songs Billboard chart.
Thrive is the sixth studio album by American contemporary Christian music band Casting Crowns. Released on January 28, 2014 through Beach Street and Reunion Records, the album was produced by Mark A. Miller. Musically, the album, whose concept was inspired by Psalms 1 from the Bible, has a rock and contemporary Christian sound with influences from folk and bluegrass. The album received mostly positive reviews from music critics for its lyrics and musical diversity, but some critics felt that some songs were too similar to the work of other artists or to their own previous work.
Rivers in the Wasteland is the fifth studio album by American Christian rock band Needtobreathe, released on April 15, 2014, through Atlantic Records, Curb Records and Word Records. The album was produced by the band along with Kevin Augunas, Ed Cash, Joe Chiccarelli and Jerrod Bettis at various studios.
Pop Psychology is the third studio album by American rock band Neon Trees. The lead single, "Sleeping with a Friend", was released on January 11, 2014, and the album was released on April 22, 2014. The record is based on and is the cathartic product of lead singer, Tyler Glenn’s therapy sessions. Glenn started seeing a therapist after canceling some tour dates in 2012 while the band promoted their second record, Picture Show, due to trying to find himself mentally and figure out who he was. "At moments there's a cry for help and sadness...But I think it's a real fun pop record at the heart of it and something with a message too", he said of his band's third album. Also addressed in the album's lyricism from Glenn's therapy sessions are his sexuality and sex, in general.
Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes is an album produced by T Bone Burnett featuring a collective of musicians recording under the moniker The New Basement Tapes—Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, Taylor Goldsmith, Jim James and Marcus Mumford.
Direct Hit! is a Milwaukee-based punk rock band formed in 2007 by singer/guitarist Nick Woods. Its current lineup consists of Nick Woods, Devon Kay, Maura Weaver, Joram Zbichorski, and Logan Stang.
Natty Nation is an American rock and reggae band from Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1995, as of April 20, 2017, the lineup included Demetrius "Jah Boogie" Wainwright, Aaron Konkol AKA Eyes of Moses, Anthony Paul Willis (drums), & Nick Czarnecki (guitar). The group has released several studio albums since their 1996 debut The Journey Has Just Begun..., in 2010 Isthmus (newspaper) named their 1998 release Earth Citizen one of the "top 25 Madison pop albums of all time," writing that "Natty Nation's mix of roots reggae and hard rock proved unique and gained a following that remains today," and their 2016 release, Divine Spark debuted at #3 on the Billboard (magazine) Reggae Chart.
Unleashed is the ninth studio album by American Christian rock band Skillet, released on August 5, 2016. The album was announced on May 20, 2016, and a lyric video was released for the track "Feel Invincible" at the same time on the band's YouTube channel. Six days later, the band released a lyric video for the track "Stars" on their YouTube channel. The album was certified gold on December 4, 2018, selling 500,000 copies.
Seasaw is an American indie rock band duo from Madison, Wisconsin which consists of Eve Wilczewski and Meg Golz. They have released four full-length albums: Seasaw (2011), The Look In Your Eyes Tells Me This Is A Bad Idea (2014), Too Much of a Good Thing (2016), and Big Dogs (2018). In 2020, while quarantined for the COVID-19 pandemic, the band released a video for their new song "Inventor" which will be featured on their next album.
Greg Koch is an American guitarist from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. In April 2012 Fender Musical Instruments Corporation named Koch one of the top 10 unsung guitarists. In April 2023 The Wisconsin Area Music Industry announced that Koch would be inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame
John Calarco is an American musician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Calarco was drummer for many Milwaukee area bands. He also co-wrote and performed in several songs on the very successful Willy Porter album Dog Eared Dream and toured with Porter as his drummer. He has made an impact as a touring performer, band member, recording artist, session musician and song writer/producer.
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
