The Guild League
Encyclopedia
The Guild League are an independent pop band from Melbourne
, Australia
. The Guild League's music can be broadly categorized as independent style pop
, although their recorded output stretches from a rap style (Siamese Couplets), to a cappella
. Led by Tali White, the vocalist from The Lucksmiths, the band was originally formed as a recording project in 2001. They have released albums through the Matinee Records label in the United States
, and the now-defunct
Candle Records
in Australia.
Their first album, Private Transport
, (2002) credited 16 musicians from Australia and the United States. The band reduced in size by 2004 when their second album Inner North
was released, with core members White, Cressida Griffith (cello
/bass
), and Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez (guitar
). As of November 2006, the line-up was Tali White (vocals, guitar, keys
), Gerry Eeman (guitar), Cressida Griffith (cello/bass), Phil Collings (drums
), Gus Rigby (tenor sax, keys), and Roger Clark (trumpet
).
The Guild League celebrated the release of their third album, Speak Up, on Oct. 12, 2008, in Melbourne. The album was available for purchase on Dec. 2, 2008.
Tali White is the main songwriter for the band, writing all lyrics. Music is written by White, or by or in collaboration with Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez in the past, or more recently in collaboration with Gerry Eeman from Basic shape
and Phil Collings.
On February 25 2009 Aaron Zelinsky reported in his Huffington Post Blog that U.S. President Barack Obama
used some lyrics from the Guild League song Shirtless Sky in his inaugural address to Congress.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The Guild League's music can be broadly categorized as independent style pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
, although their recorded output stretches from a rap style (Siamese Couplets), to a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
. Led by Tali White, the vocalist from The Lucksmiths, the band was originally formed as a recording project in 2001. They have released albums through the Matinee Records label in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and the now-defunct
Candle Records
Candle Records
Candle Records was an independent record label that operated from 1994 to 2007. Candle Records was originally based in Melbourne, Australia and founded in September 1994 by Chris Crouch....
in Australia.
Their first album, Private Transport
Private Transport
Private Transport is the first album by The Guild League released in 2002 on Candle Records . Travel and a celebration of the everyday are recurring themes.-Track listing:# "Jet Set...Go!"# "The Neatest Hand "...
, (2002) credited 16 musicians from Australia and the United States. The band reduced in size by 2004 when their second album Inner North
Inner North
Inner North is the second album by The Guild League released in 2004 on Candle Records , described by the band as "twelve songs about turning points, trust and the sky" .-Track listing:# "Animals"# "The Storm"# "Trust"...
was released, with core members White, Cressida Griffith (cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
/bass
Bass (instrument)
Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
), and Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
). As of November 2006, the line-up was Tali White (vocals, guitar, keys
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
), Gerry Eeman (guitar), Cressida Griffith (cello/bass), Phil Collings (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Gus Rigby (tenor sax, keys), and Roger Clark (trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
).
The Guild League celebrated the release of their third album, Speak Up, on Oct. 12, 2008, in Melbourne. The album was available for purchase on Dec. 2, 2008.
Tali White is the main songwriter for the band, writing all lyrics. Music is written by White, or by or in collaboration with Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez in the past, or more recently in collaboration with Gerry Eeman from Basic shape
Basic shape
Basic Shape are an Australian indie/pop/folk band based in Melbourne.Their debut album Boat Without A Sail was released in April 2008 and was Album of The Week on ABC Tasmania. The album was recorded over three years at Audrey Studios and engineered and co-produced by Craig Pilkington from The...
and Phil Collings.
On February 25 2009 Aaron Zelinsky reported in his Huffington Post Blog that U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
used some lyrics from the Guild League song Shirtless Sky in his inaugural address to Congress.