Bill Mallonee has released 25 albums over his 17 year career to much critical acclaim. Musically, his songs tend towards a very broadly defined Americana, embracing Folk-rock, Brit-pop, psychedelia and troubadour folk.
View Bill's catalog of work, and make download purchases at VOLSounds.com.
Bill writes 40-50 songs a year. He releases them through the EP series called the Works Progress Administration. Visit
VOLsounds to purchase the WPA volumes.
Find lyrics, or peruse Bill's musical history at parting-shot.com
Paste Music Magazine, in a poll conducted by both writers and artists, listed Bill Mallonee as 65 in their "100 Greatest Living Songwriters Poll." "At the end of the day, it's about the story living under your own skin. In my work, I've just tried to chase that story down and put something of a frame around it for a spell."
Mallonee, (pronounced MAL-O-KNEE) the lyrical and musical source behind the late Vigilantes of Love, started playing music in Athens in the late 80's. Mallonee learned guitar quickly and the post-punk-pop of the La's, XTC, Joy Division, the Clash and Echo and the Bunnymen. Great college scene bands that passed through Athens, Georgia during that time were Athen's own R.E.M., the dbs (with the great Chris Stamey and Peter Hosapple), Mitch Easter's 'Let's Active. These were also big influences. Each of those bands proudly wove indebtedness to the first "British Invasion" into their musical flags.
Still, Bill's deeper love for music and lyricism of artists like Dylan and Neil Young left an indelible mark on his writing and vocal delivery. "Being a son of the South, it's hard not to be surrounded by the beauty of things fractured and incongruous...that's the stuff of real songs...and that's what I learned on the road doing 180 shows a year from 1995 till about 2002...What came out was my own version of what I deeply loved in the work of those two." [Dylan and Neil Young.] Mallonee's love for all things folk-rock and raw-boned acoustic won out over these early influences. The "4-guys-in-a-van-with-no-safety-net- beneath-us" dynamic of life on the road left a profound imprint on Mallonee's way of looking at his life...and is deeply woven in the sound and feel of his music. "The work of folks like Flannery O'Conner, Thomas Merton, Kerouac, and a fella named Frederick Buechner helped me make sense out the road. We made 24 records over 16 years. It all played out, very unglamorously, on the asphalt and in the clubs. I gravitated to the old soul of folk and country artists because it seemed like what we (VOL) were doing and how we were doing it lent a measure of authenticity to the art." He says,"I tend to be a heart on the sleeve fella. I figure it'll resonate with someone somewhere...we're all made outta similar stuff, I think."
Whether writing Americana or trippier stuff, Mallonee seems equally at home with both. He says, "I think there were always huge connections between the Brits and their affinities for '60's west Coast psychedelia...the Byrds being an obvious example.
With Vigilantes of Love newly reformed Bill is playing both with the band and as a solo artist. He's 8 albums into his solo career, and looking forward to recording a new cd with VOL. He's also touring and performing with his wife, keyboardist and vocalist, Muriah Rose.
"Resplendent" was VOL's only official video, and was filmed by Bill's friend, Marc Pilvinsky. It was off the album "Audible Sigh," produced by Buddy Miller and Bill Mallonee, and featuring the haunting background vocals of Emmylou Harris. (This song is available for download at
VOLsounds)
I saw VOL for the first time many years ago at Cornerstone. Not long after, I went into my local BestBuy and picked up Struggleville. Bill, thanks for your artistry and intensity.
I'm converting all my 'VOL' and 'Bill Mallonee' CD's to digital...puttin' them on my iTunes...let me tell you - it's a heck of a job with all the albums you've put out! Keep 'em coming!
heya bill !! i love the new Christmas tune man. great great stuff per usual. stop by and check out my new Christmas song on my page as well when you get a free sec.
let's record some tunes together in 09 okay? peace and blessings this Advent and Christmas season.
hi bill, just want to say a short hello and tell you, that i miss billtunes. in these not so sweet days i listen to your 2007era tunes over and over and they touch me soo deep. can..t wait for new ones and i..m really looking forward for a 2009 vol-cd! thanks, peace and joy jochen
Great show at the 40 Watt the other night. Really great to see the whole band up there. Sorry I didn't get to stick around and say hey. Had a paper to finish...
Hey guys, hope all is well with you. Our little one Jesse Dylan made his arrival on 11-11-08. We are ecstatic and doing well. Add another one to the fan club. Blessings to you.