| Glen Phillips |
Glen Phillips at The Granada Theater in Santa Barbara, 2009.
|
| Background information |
| Born |
December 29, 1970 (1970-12-29) (age 38)
Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Genres |
Alternative rock, rock, folk rock |
| Instruments |
Vocals, guitar |
| Years active |
1986–present |
| Labels |
Umami |
| Associated acts |
Toad the Wet Sprocket, Mutual Admiration Society, Works Progress Administration, Plover |
| Website |
GlenPhillips.com |
Glen Phillips (born December 29, 1970) is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.
Personal life
Phillips was born in Santa Barbara, California, and began making music at age 14. Glen grew up in a household where Reform Judaism was practiced and Eastern Religion was studied, and his spiritual curiosity has been one of the major themes of his writing.
Phillips and his wife, Laurel, have three girls (Sophia, Freya, and Zola).
Phillips injured his arm on Oct. 8, 2008 at a friend's house when a glass coffee table he was sitting on collapsed.[1] Phillips had surgery to repair a damaged ulnar nerve and muscle in his left arm.[1] His ability to play guitar has been hampered during his recovery, but he has been actively touring in spite of his disability. Sean Watkins and Jonathan Kingham have recently joined Phillips on the road to provide accompaniment.[1]
Music
Phillips began Toad the Wet Sprocket in 1986, at the age of 16.[2] By 1988, they had signed with Columbia Records and recorded five albums and many major tours until 1998.
During his time in Toad the Wet Sprocket, Phillips was involved in a pop rock project called Flapping, Flapping.
Three years later, Phillips released his first solo album, Abulum, which was a change from the sound that Toad the Wet Sprocket was known. This was followed up by a self-released live album and solo touring, along with a reunion tour with his former Toad bandmates
In 2004, Phillips, with Nickel Creek, released a long-awaited collaboration as Mutual Admiration Society. The self-titled album had been recorded in 2000 and featured songs written by both Phillips alone and as collaborative efforts, and was released on Sugar Hill Records.
In 2005, Phillips returned to a major label via Universal Records' imprint Lost Highway Records and released the critically acclaimed Winter Pays For Summer. The album included the radio single "Duck and Cover," but Phillips and the label would part ways due to some creative differences.
Phillips released his third proper solo album, Mr. Lemons in the spring of 2006. The music video for the album's first single, "Everything But You," made its debut as a Yahoo! Exclusive Premiere on May 11, 2006.
In 2007 Phillips reunited with Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek as well as Grant-Lee Phillips and Luke Bulla to perform as part of The Various & Sundry Tour.
In January 2008, Phillips released an EP with Talk Talk and Peter Gabriel influences titled Secrets of the New Explorers.
In January 2008, it was reported by Billboard that a new supergroup octet had formed. The genesis of the project came via a "Glen Phillips and Friends" evening hosted By the Sings Like Hell concert series at Santa Barbara's Lobero Theatre in February of 2007. The ensemble reunited in Jim Scott's recording studio a year latter and by September 2008 the collective settled upon the name, Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). In its octet configuration, WPA features Phillips, Sean Watkins (guitar), his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Greg Leisz (various), Pete Thomas (drums), and Davey Faragher (bass). The group also performs as a quintet featuring Phillips, Watkins, Bulla, and bassist Sebastian Steinberg. The results of the 2008 recording sessions will be released as a self-titled album in the second half of 2009. This album was released September 15, 2009.
Phillips has also completed an album with Neilson Hubbard and Garrison Starr under the band name, Plover, released October 23, 2008.
In 2009, Phillips has been involved in the soundtrack of the film Imagine That. He covers The Beatles's song I'll Follow the Sun .
Discography
Studio albums
Note: Abulum was released independently in 2000, then under Brick Red in 2001.
Other major releases
- Live at Largo (CD) - independent release - 2003
- Unlucky 7 (EP) - independent release - 2006
- Secrets of the New Explorers (EP) - independent release - 2008
Collaborations
References
- ^ a b c Heinz, Frank (November 20, 2008). "Toad's Glen Phillips Plays 'Intimate Evening' in Dallas". KXAS-TV (NBC Universal, Inc.). http://www.nbcdfw.com/around_town/nightlife/Toads-Glen-Phillips-Plays-Intimate-Evening-in-Dallas.html. ""I can kind of play guitar. I feel like I am about 10 years back in my ability, but I can play somewhat," Phillips said. "It will be very interesting to see how it goes.""
- ^ Fleming Artists: Toad the Wet Sprocket biography.
External links
