Sons of Bill
Encyclopedia
Sons of Bill is a five-piece rock and Americana band from Charlottesville, Virginia
. Named after the father of three of the founding members, Bill Wilson, the band's sound combines traditional country and folk songwriting with instrumentation and presentation of a rock band. Their sound has been compared to classic rockers like Bruce Springsteen
or Tom Petty
, as well as alt-country bands like the Drive-By Truckers
, the Old 97's
, and Whiskeytown
and more roots oriented 1990's rock bands such as Cracker
and the Gin Blossoms
.
in Nevada 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.
(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.
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 the innovative website Kickstarter
to help offset recording and production costs. The campaign was a tremendous success, hitting it's $20,000 goal in just over 24 hours and eventually doubling that goal in the month it was active. Since then the band has continued working at Sound of Music, in addition to returning to PLYRZ Studios to work with Jim Scott again, and recording at Mission Sound Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The band has performed many of the new songs live and has an early version of the Abe Wilson penned "Santa Ana Winds" via YouTube, as well as acoustic versions of several new songs via MusicFog.com. The release date has not been set but has been rumored to be late 2011 or early 2012.
The band's website also offers several full-length live concert recording for free to recipients of its http://sonsofbill.com/contact/ email list].
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. Named after the father of three of the founding members, Bill Wilson, the band's sound combines traditional country and folk songwriting with instrumentation and presentation of a rock band. Their sound has been compared to classic rockers like Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
or Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
, as well as alt-country bands like the Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers
Drive-By Truckers are an alternative country/Southern rock band based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of six members are originally from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, and the band strongly identifies with Alabama. Their music uses three guitars as well as bass, drums, and now...
, the Old 97's
Old 97's
The Old 97's are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1993, they have since released nine studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is The Grand Theatre, Volume Two...
, and Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown
Whiskeytown was an alternative country band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1994. Fronted by Ryan Adams, other members included Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000, with Adams leaving to pursue his solo career...
and more roots oriented 1990's rock bands such as Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
and the Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms
Gin Blossoms is an American pop rock band formed in 1987, in Tempe, Arizona. They took their name from a photo of W.C. Fields which bore the caption "W.C. Fields with gin blossoms", referring to what appeared to be the actor's gin-ravaged nose, but was actually a skin condition known as rosacea...
.
Formation
The seeds of Sons of Bill formed in 2005 when James Wilson graduated from Deep Springs CollegeDeep Springs College
Deep Springs is a private, all-male , alternative college in Deep Springs, California, in the United States. A two-year college, the institution currently aims for a student body size of 26, though the number is occasionally lower...
in Nevada 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
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
. 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
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
In October 2008 the band traveled to Santa Clarita, CA to record their sophomore album with acclaimed recording engineer and producer Jim ScottJim Scott (producer)
Jim Scott is an American music producer and engineer, best known for his large body of work as an engineer, and his work as a producer with American rock band Wilco. Scott has worked as engineer with a range of other rock music artists, including Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Sting, The Rolling Stones,...
(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.
upcoming third album
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 LoweryDavid Lowery
David Lowery is an American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter; he is the founder of alternative rock band, Camper Van Beethoven, and co-founder of the more traditional rock band, Cracker...
of 90's alt-rock band Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
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
John Morand
John Morand is a US based record producer, engineer and studio owner.He works at Sound of Music Studios in Richmond, Virginia, US and has produced numerous records together with David Lowery.-Bands:* Sparklehorse* Anton Walgrave* Neeka...
in December 2010. In March 2011 the band initiated a fan-funded campaign through the innovative website Kickstarter
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an online threshold pledge system for funding creative projects. Kickstarter has funded a diverse array of endeavors, ranging from indie film and music to journalism, solar energy technology and food-related projects.-Model:...
to help offset recording and production costs. The campaign was a tremendous success, hitting it's $20,000 goal in just over 24 hours and eventually doubling that goal in the month it was active. Since then the band has continued working at Sound of Music, in addition to returning to PLYRZ Studios to work with Jim Scott again, and recording at Mission Sound Studios in Brooklyn, NY. The band has performed many of the new songs live and has an early version of the Abe Wilson penned "Santa Ana Winds" via YouTube, as well as acoustic versions of several new songs via MusicFog.com. The release date has not been set but has been rumored to be late 2011 or early 2012.
Band members
- Sam Wilson: guitar, vocals
- James Wilson: vocals, guitar
- Abe Wilson: keyboards, guitar
- Seth Green: bass
- Todd Wellons: drums
Studio albums and EPs
- A Far Cry from Freedom (2006)
- One Town Away (2009)
- Take a Shower, Call Your Mother, Your Life Is in Shambles - EP (2010)
The band's website also offers several full-length live concert recording for free to recipients of its http://sonsofbill.com/contact/ email list].