Unwed Sailor
Encyclopedia
Unwed Sailor is a mostly instrumental
band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years(see below), with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford (bass
). Unwed Sailor has consistently toured throughout the United States and Europe since its inception in 1998. The band is booked in the U.S. by Nicodemus Agency, and in Europe by Toutpartout. The band's most recent album "Little Wars" was released on Burnt Toast Vinyl
on 18 March 2008.
Johnathon Ford
has also played with Roadside Monument
, Pedro The Lion
, Warlord
, Scientific, Seldom
, Damien Jurado
, Rosie Thomas
, Ester Drang
, Early Day Miners
, Decahedron
, Ryan Lindsey, BRONCHO, and Native Lights.
The band has also been featured on a split 7" with Toboggan, and soundtrack
s for short films Stateless (2002) and For Jonathan (2004).
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years(see below), with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford (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...
). Unwed Sailor has consistently toured throughout the United States and Europe since its inception in 1998. The band is booked in the U.S. by Nicodemus Agency, and in Europe by Toutpartout. The band's most recent album "Little Wars" was released on Burnt Toast Vinyl
Burnt Toast Vinyl
Burnt Toast Vinyl is an independent record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:Burnt Toast Vinyl was founded by a Drexel University student who had initially been involved with concert promotion at the school...
on 18 March 2008.
Johnathon Ford
Johnathon Ford
Jonathan "Jono" Ford , also spelt as Johnathon Ford, is a rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
has also played with Roadside Monument
Roadside Monument
Roadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
, Pedro The Lion
Pedro the Lion
Pedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Singer-songwriter David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. T. W. Walsh is considered to be the sole official band member besides Bazan. In...
, Warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
, Scientific, Seldom
Seldom
Seldom was a Seattle-based pop-rock trio. Their line-up consisted of piano, bass, and drums, but some songs included electric guitar, mellotron, strings, or other keyboard instruments. They toured in support of both Pedro the Lion and Sarah Shannon...
, Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado
Damien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.-Music career:...
, Rosie Thomas
Rosie Thomas
Rosie Thomas is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Michigan. It was through mutual friends that she met Trey Many and began playing shows with Velour 100. They recorded one EP together and played a few short tours, where she met Damien Jurado and Pedro the Lion...
, Ester Drang
Ester Drang
Ester Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
, Early Day Miners
Early Day Miners
Early Day Miners are a band from southern Indiana, United States who released records on the Bloomington, Indiana based label Secretly Canadian. In September 2009 the band had released seven full-length records....
, Decahedron
Decahedron
In geometry, a decahedron is a polyhedron with 10 faces. There are 32300 topologically distinct decahedra and none are regular, so this name is ambiguous.With regular faces:* Octagonal prism * Square antiprism...
, Ryan Lindsey, BRONCHO, and Native Lights.
Collaborators
The following artists have played with Unwed Sailor at some point:- Pedro the LionPedro the LionPedro the Lion was an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Singer-songwriter David Bazan formed the band in 1995 and represented its main creative force, backed by a varying rotation of collaborating musicians. T. W. Walsh is considered to be the sole official band member besides Bazan. In...
's David BazanDavid BazanDavid Bazan is an indie rock singer-songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Bazan was the lead singer and creative force behind the now-defunct band Pedro the Lion and was the lead singer of Headphones, a band he formed out of his interest in synthesizers...
played drums on the Firecracker EP, and played drums for spot shows in 1998 and 1999. - Casey Wescott of The VogueThe VogueThe Vogue were an American rock band that evolved into Soiled Doves after the departure of their keyboardist. As lead vocalist and founding member Johnny Whitney began to focus more on his other group, The Blood Brothers, the rest of the group supported bassist Adam Miller's side project The...
, SeldomSeldomSeldom was a Seattle-based pop-rock trio. Their line-up consisted of piano, bass, and drums, but some songs included electric guitar, mellotron, strings, or other keyboard instruments. They toured in support of both Pedro the Lion and Sarah Shannon...
and Fleet FoxesFleet FoxesFleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
played guitar on Firecracker. - Melissa Palladino, who has performed with Damien JuradoDamien JuradoDamien Jurado is an American indie rock singer/songwriter from Seattle, Washington. Over the years he has released albums on many labels; today, his primary label is Secretly Canadian.-Music career:...
, Jen WoodJen WoodJen Wood is an American indie rock musician based in Seattle, Washington. She was a member of alternative rock band Tattle Tale and is the lead artist of the Jen Wood Trio.-Biography:...
and Danielson FamileDanielson FamileDanielson is an American Rock band from Clarksboro, New Jersey that plays indie pop gospel music. The group consists of frontman Daniel Smith and a number of various artists with whom he collaborates...
played violin on the Firecracker. - Nic TseNic TseNicholas Tse Jo-Yum is an indie rock guitarist/songwriter from Hong Kong. Between 1999 and 2003, Tse was half the creative force behind the instrumental post-rock band Unwed Sailor- EPs :* The Magic Hedge...
of The Lovesong, Mersey Paradise and Mika BombMika BombMika Bomb is a London-based, Japanese pop-punk band.Lead singer Mika Handa arrived in London in 1998, with the goal of playing in a punk band. Recruitment for the band began with the arrival in London of the guitarist Agi , who now sings in the electronic duo, Long Kuan Jiu Duan...
was a core member of the band from early 1999 to mid-2003. He co-wrote/performed on "The Faithful Anchor", " The Magic Hedge", "Stateless", "The Marionette and The Music Box", and "Little Wars". He also recorded the guitar parts for Shadows from "The White Ox". Since 2003 he has been an off and on touring/studio member of the band. His most recent contribution was playing guitar on five of the nine tracks on Little Wars. - Dan BurtonDan BurtonDanny "Dan" Lee Burton is the U.S. Representative for , and previously the , serving since 1983. He is a member of the Republican Party....
of Early Day MinersEarly Day MinersEarly Day Miners are a band from southern Indiana, United States who released records on the Bloomington, Indiana based label Secretly Canadian. In September 2009 the band had released seven full-length records....
and AtivinAtivinAtivin is an experimental post-rock band from Bloomington, Indiana. Chris Carothers and Dan Burton of Early Day Miners make up their core, with a revolving door of drummers.- Biography :...
recorded the 2001 release, The Faithful Anchor, "The Magic Hedge" 7" and the 2006 releases, Circles, and The White Ox. He also plays various instruments on each of these records. - Matt Johnson of BlenderheadBlenderheadBlenderhead was a punk rock band signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They released three full length albums from 1994 to 2001.-Band members:* - Vocals, Bass* Ed Carrigan - Guitar* - Drums* Paul Henry - Bass* Eben Haase - Vocals, Guitar...
and Roadside MonumentRoadside MonumentRoadside Monument was a Christian math rock band from Seattle, Washington who were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. They were active from 1994–1998 and then again from 2002–2003.-History:...
played drums on the 2001 release, The Faithful Anchor. - Matthew Depper and Matthew Putman, both of Eso-CharisEso-CharisEso-Charis was a Christian Mathcore band formed in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Founding members Cory Brandan Putman, Matthew Putman, and Arthur Green eventually went on to join the band Living Sacrifice. Eso-Charis was originally called "Elliot". After about two years of playing shows, the band changed...
, LovedrugLovedrugLovedrug is an indie rock band from Canton, Ohio that formed in 2001. The band’s name is something of a word play; singer Michael Shepard initially left music to attend film school but his first ‘love’ of the music medium ‘dragged’ him back .- History :Lovedrug released their first EP, the...
, Snailhuntr, Living SacrificeLiving SacrificeLiving Sacrifice is a Christian heavy metal band that formed in September 1989 in Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. The band has released seven studio albums, out of which the first three were recorded under R.E.X. Records with their original vocalist Darren Johnson as a more thrash metal and death metal...
, and Bear Colony toured extensively in the early 2000s recorded and played on The Marionette and the Music Box and played various instruments on "Little Wars". Both have played live with the band off and on from early 2000s to present. Matthew Putman has also done remixes of various Unwed Sailor songs. - Nathan Richardson of The Casket LotteryThe Casket LotteryThe Casket Lottery is a three-piece indie rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, United States signed to Second Nature Recordings.-1997:The band started in 1997 after Nathan Ellis spent time on the road with Coalesce. He and Stacy Hilt struck up an instant friendship and love for music beyond the...
, The Appleseed CastThe Appleseed CastThe Appleseed Cast is an American emo/post-rock band based in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, composed of singer/guitarist Christopher Crisci , guitarist Aaron Pillar, bassist Nathan Whitman and drummer John Momberg...
and Coalesce worked with Unwed Sailor as a touring drummer in the early 2000s. - Christian Wargo of Scientific, The Crystal Skulls and Fleet FoxesFleet FoxesFleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
played guitar on various tours in the late 1990s and early 2000s. - Stephen Tucker of Two Spines and Bear Colony played guitar on "Little Wars." He wrote the song "Lonely Bulls" that will appear on this release.
- Andy Haldeman was a touring member of Unwed Sailor, and recorded on "Little Wars".
- Patrick RyanPatrick RyanPatrick Ryan is the name of:*Patrick Ryan , U.S. Olympic athlete and NYC Police officer from Limerick*Patrick Ryan , English author*Patrick Ryan , LGBT American novelist...
of Straight Lines and Bear Colony played drums on the summer and fall tours of 2007 and also played percussion on "Little Wars." - Brooks TiptonBrooks TiptonJames Brooks Tipton Is a musician who has played in several bands. He toured and recorded with Unwed Sailor from 2003-2008. He appeared as keyboardist on their 2009 release Little Wars...
of Bear Colony has been the keyboardist for Unwed Sailor for the past 5 years. As well as touring he has also recorded on the album "Little Wars." - Zach Reeves is a member of Two Spines and played the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005 and the United States "Keyboard Tour."
- Jonny Humble played the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005 and the United States "Keyboard Tour.".
- Kyle SmithKyle SmithKyle Smith is an American critic, novelist and essayist. He is a staff film critic for the New York Post. His film reviewing style has been called "an exercise in hilarious hostility" by Entertainment Weekly....
of Bear Colony played drums on the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005, the August Tour 2005, and the United States "Keyboard Tour." - Phillip Blackwell of Questions in Dialect appears on "The White Ox", and the "Circles" ep, and remixed "Lonely Bulls" for the "Little Wars" double vinyl release.
- Matthew Magee of Wooden Finger and formerly of Questions in Dialect played guitar as a touring member in 2004.
- Chad Copelin, owner of Black Watch Studios engineered Little WarsLittle Wars (album)Little Wars is an album by Unwed Sailor. It was recorded between 27 December 2002 and 7 November 2007. The album was released on 1 April 2008 by Burnt Toast Vinyl.-Track listing:#"Copper Islands"#"Little Wars"#"The Garden"#"Aurora"#"Campanile"...
. He has also engineered Bishop AllenBishop AllenBishop Allen is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band's core members are Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, who are supported both on stage and in the studio by a rotating cast of musical collaborators...
and Ryan Lindsey's "White Paper Beds". - Bryce Chambers of Ester DrangEster DrangEster Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
has played guitar on past tours, appeared on the Unwed Sailor retrospective, History, and is a current recording/touring member of Unwed Sailor. - Aaron Ford of Always The Runner and ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead is an American alternative rock band from Austin, Texas. The chief creative members of the band are Jason Reece and Conrad Keely . The two switch between drumming, guitar and lead vocals, both on recordings and live shows...
played with Unwed Sailor as a touring drummer in 2004 and played on Little WarsLittle Wars (album)Little Wars is an album by Unwed Sailor. It was recorded between 27 December 2002 and 7 November 2007. The album was released on 1 April 2008 by Burnt Toast Vinyl.-Track listing:#"Copper Islands"#"Little Wars"#"The Garden"#"Aurora"#"Campanile"...
. - Richard Kentopp was a touring guitarist in 2008.
- Nathan Price is the current recording/touring drummer in Unwed Sailor.
- Joey Yates of ParlourParlourParlour , from the French word parloir, from parler , denotes an "audience chamber". In parts of the United Kingdom and the United States, parlours are common names for certain types of food service houses, restaurants or special service areas, such as tattoo parlors...
played drums on the 2005 Fall tour. - Benny Clark of ParlourParlourParlour , from the French word parloir, from parler , denotes an "audience chamber". In parts of the United Kingdom and the United States, parlours are common names for certain types of food service houses, restaurants or special service areas, such as tattoo parlors...
played guitar on the 2005 Fall tour. - Jamey See Tai of The Photographic played guitar on the 2005 Fall tour.
- Dan LucasDan LucasDan Lucas is a British musician and record producer, although he personally styled himself as a recording engineer and is popular for his unique recording techniques...
of Jairus played guitar on the fall 2007 U.S. tour, and winter 2008 European tour. - Josh Tillman of Fleet FoxesFleet FoxesFleet Foxes are a folk rock band which formed in Seattle, Washington. They are signed to the Sub Pop and Bella Union record labels. The band came to prominence in 2008 with the release of their second EP, Sun Giant, and their debut full length album Fleet Foxes...
played drums on the June/July 2006 tour. - Aaron Hamby of Callupsie played guitar on the fall 2006 U.S. and European Tour, and the winter 2007 tours. He also plays guitar on the Unwed Sailor restrospective album, "History". Aaron toured with Unwed Sailor on tours throughout 2009.
- Phillip Philips of Dead Sea Choir is the current guitar player in Unwed Sailor as of the beginning of 2010. He will be a contributing member to the writing process for Unwed Sailor's new album release in 2010.
- John Momberg of KoufaxKoufax (band)Koufax are an indie rock band whose members are from mainly Toledo, Ohio. The band's self-titled debut EP was released in 1999 on independent label Doghouse Records, and got them noticed by The Get Up Kids, who signed them to their label, Vagrant Records subsidiary Heroes and Villains...
and The Dactyls played drums on the fall 2006 U.S. and Europen Tour. - Joe Brumley of Early Day MinersEarly Day MinersEarly Day Miners are a band from southern Indiana, United States who released records on the Bloomington, Indiana based label Secretly Canadian. In September 2009 the band had released seven full-length records....
plays guitar on "The Faithful Anchor", "The Magic Hedge", and "Stateless" recordings. - Matt Griffin of Early Day MinersEarly Day MinersEarly Day Miners are a band from southern Indiana, United States who released records on the Bloomington, Indiana based label Secretly Canadian. In September 2009 the band had released seven full-length records....
plays drums on "The White Ox" and the "Circles" EP. - James Mcallister of Ester DrangEster DrangEster Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
and Sufjan StevensSufjan StevensSufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
plays various instruments on 'The Marionette and The Music Box", and "Little Wars". He has also played a second drum kit at spot Unwed Sailor shows. - Jeff Shoop of Ester DrangEster DrangEster Drang is an experimental, post rock musical group from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The band was formed in 1995, with guitarist Bryce Chambers recruiting drummer James McAlister and bass player Kyle Winner....
and Rosie ThomasRosie ThomasRosie Thomas is an American singer-songwriter, originally from Michigan. It was through mutual friends that she met Trey Many and began playing shows with Velour 100. They recorded one EP together and played a few short tours, where she met Damien Jurado and Pedro the Lion...
plays on "Little Wars". - On tour with Owl CityOwl CityOwl City is an American electronica musical project by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Young formed in 2007 in Owatonna, Minnesota. Young created the project while experimenting with music in his parents' basement...
and Mat KearneyMat KearneyMathew William "Mat" Kearney is an American musician born in Eugene, Oregon, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Kearney has received critical acclaim and widespread recognition for his Columbia Records debut, Nothing Left to Lose. So far, he has a total of four top 20 hits on the Adult Top 40...
during the summer of 2011. http://thewarfieldtheatre.com/eventdetail.php?id=31074
Discography
- FirecrackerFirecracker EPThe Firecracker EP is a 1998 release by Unwed Sailor. It served as the band's first release, largely defining their instrumental, bass-anchored songs.-Track listing:# "Firecracker" – 2:36# "Ruby's Wishes" – 3:03# "Snowcaps" – 3:12...
(1999) - The Faithful AnchorThe Faithful Anchor-Track listing:# "Last Goodbyes" – 3:36# "The House of Hopes...Dreams...and Wishes" – 3:36# "The Faithful Anchor" – 3:29# "Our Nights" – 6:17# "Golden Cities" – 4:23# "Ruby's Wishes" – 3:19# "In the Presence of Thrones" – 2:35# "Riddle of Stars" – 3:05...
(2001) - Circle of BirdsCircle of BirdsCircle of Birds is a collaborative effort, involving the instrumental rock group Unwed Sailor, Ester Drang, and country band Lasso. Although, at the time of its recording, the three bands were located in rather distant parts of the United States, some of their members had become friends when they...
ep (2001) - StatelessStateless (Unwed Sailor album)Stateless is a 2002 album on which the bands Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners collaborated to create a soundtrack for filmmaker Chris Bennett's film of the same name. The film is included on the Enhanced CD with the entire album playing seamlessly as its soundtrack...
(2002) - The Magic HedgeThe Magic Hedge"The Magic Hedge" was a single release by Unwed Sailor, recorded as a ten-minute jam between Johnathon Ford, Nic Tse, Matthew Johnson, Dan Burton, and Joseph Brumley.-Track listing:# "The Magic Hedge" – 6:15# "The Magic Hedge " – 5:16...
7" (2002) - The Marionette and the Music BoxThe Marionette and the Music BoxThe Marionette and the Music Box is a 2003 concept album by the instrumental rock group, Unwed Sailor. The album consists of 17 instrumental tracks, each of which coincide with a painting by graphic artist Jamie Hunt in the included booklet. The paintings and song titles tell the story of a...
(2003) - Circles (2006)
- The White OxThe White OxThe White Ox is an EP by Unwed Sailor, released on Burnt Toast Vinyl in 2006....
(2006) - Little WarsLittle Wars (album)Little Wars is an album by Unwed Sailor. It was recorded between 27 December 2002 and 7 November 2007. The album was released on 1 April 2008 by Burnt Toast Vinyl.-Track listing:#"Copper Islands"#"Little Wars"#"The Garden"#"Aurora"#"Campanile"...
(2008) - Tour EP (2011)
The band has also been featured on a split 7" with Toboggan, and soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
s for short films Stateless (2002) and For Jonathan (2004).