Bill Tucker
Philip Shelton
Jonathan Marck
Chris Castellan
John Salt
Chuck King
Chris Marshall
Billie Howard
Fred Lonberg-Holm
Josh Anderson
Kevin Fitchuk
Jeb Bishop
Kenny Rassmussen
Jaime Macleod
Tim Daisy
Alberto Patino
Ethan Adelsman
Ryan Hammer
Jesse Gialombardo
City Harvest Black
Emily Wilken
Thom and Megan Stebbins
Andy from Les Scoots
Jonni Greth
Ryan from Harlot Bride
Kevin Garza
and many more!
Influences
Music
General River
Vivian
The Flaming Lips
Daniel Johnston
Pavement
Tabla Percussionists
Ornette Coleman
Ken Vandermark
Jeb Bishop
Tim Daisy
Danielson
Bob Dylan
Sonic Youth
Fugazi
Bad Religion
NOFX
Starflyer 59
Rachels
Roadside Monuement
Unwed Sailor
Polvo
Seaweed
Sebadoh
Spiritualized
Shuggie Otis
The Beatles
Blind Faith
Buffalo Springfield
The Band
Superchunk
Bedhead
Duster
LAKE
Louis Jordan
Film
The Science of Sleep
Alien
Slacker
Dig
Slow Century: Pavement
Martin Scorcese Bob Dylan documentary
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
Animals are Beautiful People
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Fountain
Books and Zines
Resist Zine
Animal Farm
1984
Perfect Sound Forever, Pavement
Staring at Sound, The Flaming Lips
Chronicles Volume One by Bob Dylan
Social Justice
Homelessness and Poverty
Feminism
Queer and Trans Rights and Safety
Safety in General
Freedom of Sex Slaves/War Slaves
Animal Rights
Would like to see an end to
Homophobia
Hate
Racism and ethnic predjuduce
Violence and War
the inaccessibility of the U.S. govrnment
The drastic amount of marketing we are subjected to
Sweatshops
Factory Farming
the Pornography Industry
Would like to see more
Gardens
Peace
Love
Sharing
Anti-Authoritarian Practices
Restructuring of society so that we become less dependent on those who are in outrageous amounts of power.
Education instead of punishment
All Ages shows
Creativity
Bill Tuckers Debut album, Illusions of Repetition, is a story about a person
who needed to know more about the U.S. What better way than to travel on trains
and meet people face to face? These occurances that changed his life come alive
on Illusions. Bill wanted the album to clearly say what it's like to be alone in a place you've never been with no hope, and doing your best to find it. These songs
represent a time of education, a lesson that would soon lead him away from his
ignorance of the treatment of people in the U.S. Changing his own perceptions and
speech. It's growing up and really feeling the pain of it, not to mention the joy.
Since it's release on Reformer Records. it has garnered quite a bit of attention.
WZRD 88.3 in Chicago's program director Pete Anderson named the album one of
the top 50 albums of 2008. It also gained Thinker Thought Records, Jared Grabb's attention enough to distribute the album digitally.
The music is a cornucopia of sounds. Cassette tapes conversations, orchestras built out of fuzzy field recordings, passionate free jazzy punk rock, and disorganized and pretty note clusters. If you are looking for music that is full of searching honesty
and solid players from the heart of the bike riding streets of Chicago, grab yourself
one of dems.
track listing
if you would like to purchase individual songs you can click on the title and it will
you to Amazon. Each song is 99 cents individually.
BILL TUCKER AND FRIENDS/JONNI GRETH AND THE DRONES SPLIT - LITTLE JESUS
Jonni Greth and Billy T. go way back. In the summer 2007 Jonni and Bill were
watching a mewithoutYou concert and a young man with down syndrome started
to hug Jonni, but it wasn't just a hug, it was a long hug. Probably about 5 minutes
What started out as a bit awkward actually became a life changing experience.
After about 2 or 3 minutes of this hugging Jonni started hugging back. They were
in the middle of a heartfelt embrace it started to be more of a powerful moment for
Jonni. Bill was awestruck by the moment and coined the young man "Little Jesus".
After the show was over they talked about making a recording together. They both
realized that their music was a lot different but that didn't bother them. Their goal
was to create music that was totally individual and see how it paired on the split.
During the mixing process the decision was made to place the songs back to back.
Knowing that their styles were so incredibly different they hope that people would
find interest in both of their music. Little Jesus became a bit of an experiment by
two artists who love each others music. Jonnis fingerpickin' southern love songs
find their home back to back with Bill and Friends tight experimental rhythms and
a.m radio charm. Bill introduced a solid band, Chris Castellan, John Salt, and Chuck
King. Kevin Fitchuk handled the engineering and mixing at Mystery Street Studio in
Chicago and has gotten great response since it inception proving that good songs
will survive anywhere you put them.
track listing
1. Rings - BTF
2. Sister Claire - JGD
3. Copper Eye - BTF
4. I Still Love You Some - JGD
5. Hey Na Na Na - BTF
6. All My Friends Say That Time Heals - JGD
7. Grayscale Rainbow - BTF
8. Chariots of Birmingham - JGD
Chicagoan Bill Tucker does the folk-pop troubadour thing...he sings in a high, plaintive voice and picks and strums a guitar, while his backing band chugs along in various electric and acoustic guises...there are gobs of sappy, mediocre singer-songwriters out there, trying to peddle sensitivity as a substitute for talent—Tucker's not only talented, but his earnest, yearning songs are actually infectious, and laced with humor and experimental twists and turns...BTW, for this album his "Friends" include high-profile Chicago jazz musicians Tim Daisy and Jeb Bishop...(B+) - 88.3 WZRD blog
Grand Manor, Chicago Illinois
September 12th, 1988
Bill Tucker And Friends inversely attack the indie/folk-punk/noise world with a freshness and vitality rarely seen in any genre. - Jared Grabb's Live Journal
Ole Mug, Foley Alabama
April 1988
Bill Tucker and Friends were really great, they started with a parade, and then rocked. - Chad Bishop of Paper Scissor Rocket Pack (PaperScissorsRocketPack Blog)
Penny Road Pub, Barrington, IL
Fall 1987
I will always remember Bill Tucker's defiant outpouring of positivity that filled the empty room with inspirational energy that night. His performance was deeply moving in that context. It takes a lot of courage to be so full of joy at midnight in an empty room where no one gives a crap about you. Thanks, Bill. - Grant Elgersma from Overhang's blog
Oh, Thanks! And about the video, it's just about complete. There's only a few things left to finish. And thanks for taking us to the lp store, I love the Buttons lp and also, you made everything easier for us, so thanks again for making it a smooth shoot.
As for the contact mic, I'm still looking around...
Online Now!
