Sons of Bill

Last updated
Sons of Bill
SoB Press Photo.jpg
In Richmond, Virginia.
Background information
Origin Charlottesville, Virginia
Genres Indie, Americana, Alt-country
Years active2006 - Present
Labels Loose, Tone Tree Music
MembersSam Wilson
James Wilson
Abe Wilson
Seth Green
Todd Wellons
Website www.sonsofbill.com

Sons of Bill is a band from Charlottesville, Virginia [1] founded by brothers Sam, Abe, and James Wilson, along with bassist Seth Green and drummer Todd Wellons. The band took their name from the Wilson brothers' father, Bill Wilson, a musician and professor of philosophical theology and Southern literature at the University of Virginia where the band initially formed. [2] The band's album Love And Logic is their most successful to date; it was called "a classic roots-rock record for the modern age" by Rolling Stone , [3] and "one of those delightful surprises that music so rarely springs in the age of digital access and constant, instant discovery" by British newspaper The Guardian . [4]

Contents

History

Formation

The seeds of Sons of Bill formed in 2005 when James Wilson graduated from Deep Springs College in California and moved back to Virginia. On his way home he visited his older brother Sam Wilson who was living in Brooklyn, NY playing guitar in a rock band and free-lancing as a jazz guitarist. The two brothers spent an evening in Sam's apartment playing old country songs that their dad had taught them, as well as some new songs that James had recently written.

Upon returning home that summer, James began playing those same songs with his other older brother Abe Wilson at parties and open mic nights around Charlottesville and the idea of forming a band was hatched. Abe was currently home for the summer from architecture school at the University of Maryland. Childhood friend Seth Green was recruited to play bass and Todd Wellons, who had independently played in bands with both Seth and Abe, was brought in to play drums.

The band played their first formal show on December 23, 2005 and within several months both brothers had moved home to Virginia to pursue the band full-time.

A Far Cry From Freedom (2006)

In February 2006 the band placed 1st in a Battle of Bands and won recording time at Crystalphonic Studios in Charlottesville. Armed with nine original songs written by James, in addition to two of Sam's compositions, they entered the studio after only three months and several shows together as a band. The album was independently released in April 2006.

One Town Away (2009)

In October 2008 the band traveled to Santa Clarita, California to record their sophomore album with acclaimed recording engineer and producer Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Sting, Wilco). The sessions produced the album One Town Away, which was released in June 2009 on Gray Fox Records. The album features songs written by James and Sam Wilson, as well as keyboardist Abe Wilson and bassist Seth Green. It also features Brian Caputo on drums. [5]

Sirens (2012)

Sons of Bill began pre-production work on their third album in the Spring of 2010. Several months later they received a phone call from David Lowery of 90's alt rock band Cracker who was interested in producing their next release. The band first met with Lowery in the fall of 2010 to discuss plans for the album and subsequently entered Sound of Music Studios with Lowery and engineer John Morand in December 2010. In March 2011 the band initiated a fan-funded campaign through Kickstarter [6] to help offset recording and production costs. The campaign was a success, hitting its $20,000 goal in just over 24 hours and eventually doubling that goal in the month it was active. [7]

The band has continued working at Sound of Music, returning to PLYRZ Studios to work with Jim Scott, and recording at Mission Sound Studios in Brooklyn, NY. Sirens was released on March 27, 2012.

Track Listing

Personnel

Sons of Bill

Additional performers

Love & Logic

In the Fall of 2013 the band entered Creative Workshop studios in Nashville, TN [8] with Ken Coomer (formerly of Uncle Tupelo and Wilco) to record ten songs for a new album. Coomer originally heard the band from the "Bad Dancer"/"Higher Than Mine" single (mentioned below) that a friend had passed to him in the Spring of 2013. The Creative Workshop sessions were mixed by Grammy-winners Jim Scott and Tchad Blake to complete the album.

Love & Logic, their 4th studio album, was released on September the 30th 2014 in the United States and on January 27, 2015 in the UK and Europe.

Track Listing

Additional Material

The band released two new songs, "Bad Dancer" and "Higher Than Mine", as a Vinyl 45 through WarHen Records for Record Store Day (April 20, 2013).

In conjunction with a tour of Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK in February and March 2014, the band released The Gears EP in Europe only on Blue Rose Records. The EP features three songs from the album Love & Logic ("Brand New Paradigm", "Road to Canaan" and a new recording of "Bad Dancer"), live recordings of "Turn It Up" (from Sirens) and the Neil Young song "Unknown Legend", and acoustic versions of "Santa Ana Winds" and "Radio Can't Rewind" (also from Sirens).

Oh God, Ma'am

Oh God, Ma'am, the band's fifth studio album, was released in April 2018. The album was completed after James Wilson suffered a debilitating injury to his hand that impacted his ability to play guitar. [9] Brightest Young Things called the lead single from the album, "Believer/Pretender," "an absolute stunner, a sweeping piece of ‘80s-tinged guitar rock that recalls the sounds of New Order, The War on Drugs, and R.E.M., while still being unmistakably Sons of Bill." [10]

Personnel

Discography

Studio albums and EPs

The band's website and SoundCloud page also offer several full-length live concert recording free to recipients of its e-mail list. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cracker (band)</span> American rock band

Cracker is an American rock band, formed in 1990 by lead singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. The band's first album Cracker was released in 1992 on Virgin Records; it included the single "Teen Angst ", which went to #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. The band's follow-up, the 1993 album Kerosene Hat included the hit songs "Low", "Get Off This", and "Euro-Trash Girl".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Pretenders</span> English-American rock band

Pretenders are an English-American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde, James Honeyman-Scott, Pete Farndon and Martin Chambers. Following the deaths of Honeyman-Scott in 1982 and Farndon in 1983, the band experienced numerous personnel changes; Hynde has been the band's only consistent member.

The Bureau were an English new wave soul group formed in November 1980 in Birmingham, England, when the original line-up of Dexys Midnight Runners split up. The Bureau retained their Dexys roots and played powerful brass-driven soul sounds.

<i>Pretenders</i> (album) 1979 studio album by the Pretenders

Pretenders is the debut studio album by British-American band The Pretenders, released in 1979. A combination of rock and roll, punk and new wave music, this album made the band famous. The album features the singles "Stop Your Sobbing", "Kid" and "Brass in Pocket".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Tape for a Blue Girl</span> American dark wave band

Black Tape for a Blue Girl is an American dark wave band formed in 1986 by keyboardist/songwriter Sam Rosenthal, the founder of Projekt Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sevendust</span> American metal band

Sevendust is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and rhythm guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and lead guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group. Following a few name changes, the members settled on the name Sevendust and released their self-titled debut album on April 15, 1997, which sold only 310 copies in its first week but ultimately achieved gold certification through touring and support from their label, TVT Records.

<i>Pretenders II</i> 1981 studio album by The Pretenders

Pretenders II is the second studio album by British rock band The Pretenders, issued on Sire Records in August 1981. It incorporates two songs that had been released as singles in the UK and placed on an EP in the US. It peaked at #7 on the UK Albums Chart and #10 on the Billboard 200, and has been certified a gold record for sales by the RIAA. It is the final album by the original line-up, as the following year bassist Pete Farndon was dismissed and guitarist James Honeyman-Scott died in the same week. Farndon died in 1983, and a new line-up would make the band's next album, Learning to Crawl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Classics IV</span> American band

The Classics IV is an American band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965. The band, founded by Dennis Yost, is known mainly for the hits "Spooky," "Stormy," and "Traces," released 1967 to 1969, which have become cover standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John 5 (guitarist)</span> American guitarist

John William Lowery, best known by the stage name John 5, is an American guitarist. His stage name was bestowed on him in 1998 when he left David Lee Roth's solo band and joined the rock band Marilyn Manson as their guitarist, taking over for Zim Zum. Still going by the name John 5, Lowery became the guitarist for Rob Zombie in addition to his continued collaborations with musical artists across many genres. In 2022, John 5 left Rob Zombie and became the touring lead guitarist for Mötley Crüe.

<i>Packed!</i> 1990 studio album by Pretenders

Packed! is the fifth album by rock group Pretenders, released in 1990.

Echoes of Eternity is an American progressive metal band based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Their debut album The Forgotten Goddess, was released in February 2007 on Nuclear Blast records. The band's follow up album, As Shadows Burn, was released on September 25, 2009 via Massacre Records in Europe and on September 22, 2009 via Nuclear Blast in the U.S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back on the Chain Gang</span> 1982 single by The Pretenders

"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song written by Chrissie Hynde and originally recorded by her band the Pretenders, and released as a single by Sire Records in September 1982. The song also was released on The King of Comedy soundtrack album in March 1983 and later was included on the Pretenders' next album, Learning to Crawl, in January 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children 18:3</span> Christian punk-rock band from Minnesota

Children 18:3 is an American Christian punk band from Morris, Minnesota. Formed in 1999, the band consists of homeschooled siblings David (vocals/guitar), Lee Marie (vocals/bass), and Seth Hostetter (drums). Since signing to Tooth & Nail Records in 2007, the band has released four albums, Children 18:3 (2008), Rain's a Comin' (2010), On the Run (2012), and Come In (2015).

<i>Outskirts of Town</i> 1993 studio album by Sawyer Brown

Outskirts of Town is the tenth studio album released by the American country music band Sawyer Brown, released in 1993 on Curb Records. The third and final album of their career to receive RIAA gold certification, it produced four hit singles on the Billboard country charts: "Thank God for You", "The Boys and Me" (#4), the title track (#40), and "Hard to Say" (#5). A dance mix of "The Boys and Me" is also included as a bonus track.

Philmont was an American pop punk influenced Christian rock band based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. They were signed to Forefront Records / EMI CMG until Spring 2010. Their debut album, Attention, was released on August 25, 2009. They released two independent EPs before breaking up in August 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleeping with Sirens</span> American rock band

Sleeping with Sirens is an American rock band from Orlando, Florida, currently residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The band currently consists of Kellin Quinn, touring lead guitarist Tony Pizzuti, Nick Martin, Justin Hills and Matty Best. The band was formed in 2009 by members of For All We Know and Paddock Park. The group is currently signed to Sumerian Records and have released six full-length albums and an acoustic EP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold River Lady</span>

Cold River Lady ("CRL") was a rock band that was formed in 1970 in Hereford in the Welsh Marches of England. Their music however drew on far wider influences. With its eclectic mix of acoustic guitar, lazy rural rhythms and a sharp electric edge and strong melodies and lyrics, it combined rock, folk and blues influences, with sophisticated flavours from the likes of Arthur Lee, Tim Buckley and Caravan. The music of the band developed with the various changes of personnel and evolving musical times, whilst keeping its unique "Hereford" feel, until it finally wound up in 1976 when the punk era took a grip. The final twist in the life of this band was that forty years after it was formed its first album Better Late Than Never was released in 2010.

<i>Rooster Rag</i> 2012 studio album by Little Feat

Rooster Rag is the fifteenth album by American rock band Little Feat released in June 2012, on the Hot Tomato label. It was their only studio album to feature drummer Gabe Ford and the last to feature guitarist Paul Barrere who died in 2019.

<i>In Full Swing</i> (Seth MacFarlane album) 2017 studio album by Seth MacFarlane

In Full Swing is the fourth studio album by American actor and singer Seth MacFarlane. It was released on September 15, 2017, through Republic Records and Verve Records. The record was primarily produced by Joel McNeely and MacFarlane himself, who also serves as the executive producer. Featured artists included on the album are American singer-songwriter Norah Jones and American actress and singer Elizabeth Gillies.

"Against the Wall" is a song by South African rock band Seether. It was their third single from their seventh album, Poison the Parish. As of August 2018, it had peaked number 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart.

References

  1. ↑ "Sons of Bill MySpace Page". 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  2. ↑ "Sons of Bill Official Page". Archived from the original on 2010-08-25. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  3. ↑ "Sons of Bill Lose Themselves in the 'Cosmos' — Video Premiere". Rolling Stone . 30 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  4. ↑ "Sons of Bill: Love and Logic review – purring Americana-tinged rock". TheGuardian.com . 22 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  5. ↑ "Features - Exploring the outlaw heart of Sons of Bill's new album, One Town Away". C-Ville. 2009-06-16. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  6. ↑ Adler, Carlye (2011-03-18). "How Kickstarter Became a Lab for Daring Prototypes and Ingenious Products". Wired.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  7. ↑ "Sons of Bill: the third album by Sons of Bill — Kickstarter". Kickstarter.com. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
  8. ↑ "Creative Workshop Recording, Nashville TN" . Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  9. ↑ "Premiere: Sons of Bill Triumphantly Return with "Believer / Pretender" ⋆ BYT // Brightest Young Things". 19 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Premiere: Sons of Bill Triumphantly Return with "Believer / Pretender" ⋆ BYT // Brightest Young Things". 19 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Ryan DeRose. "Sirens | Sons of Bill New Album". Sonsofbill.com. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.