Representative Albums: "Everything's Fine", "Let It Roll", "Regard the End
Representative Songs: "Evening Mass", "The Visitor", "Hesitation
Biography
Loose-knit folk-noir confederation the Willard Grant Conspiracy was formed in Boston in 1995 by singer Robert Fisher and guitarist Paul Austin, longtime collaborators who previously teamed in the noise-rock outfit the Flower Tamers. Asked to test-drive a friend's new home recording studio, the duo recruited guitarist Sean O'Brien and within days completed work on the debut Willard Grant Conspiracy record, 3 AM Sunday at Fortune Otto's, issued on Fisher's own Dahlia Records imprint in 1996. From there the group evolved into an ever-changing collective of some 20 local musicians, gathering in various numbers each week for informal jam sessions; guitarist James Apt, violist David Michael Curry, mandolinist Erich Groat and bassist Matt Griffin joined the core trio of Fisher, Austin and O'Brien to record the WGC's 1998 Rykodisc/Slow River debut, Flying Low. The live Weevils in the Captain's Biscuit and the demo collection Radio Free WGC preceded the 1999 release of the superb Mojave. Everything's Fine surfaced two years later. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Originally formed in 1995 in Boston, Massachusetts by Robert Fisher and Paul Austin, 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 are currently signed to the independent Glitterhouse Records, 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.
Their 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.
The band's most recent album entitled Pilgrim Road was released on June 24, 2008.
