The Anderson Council

Formed in July 1999 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the Anderson Council began when lead vocalist and guitarist Peter Horvath together with drummer and vocalist Brian King sought to assemble a fresh project rooted in late-’60s British psych-pop and power pop. Both musicians had previously played in Seething Grey; once that band dissolved, Horvath already possessed a cache of solo demos credited to the fictitious outfit Archie Mantel & the Fireplace. Within a few months the pair recruited lead guitarist and vocalist Jimmy Charles along with bassist John Grubb, each of whom was likewise searching for collaborators, and Horvath proposed merging their separate ambitions.

The resulting quartet took the name the Anderson Council—an appellation drawn from the surnames of blues musician Pink Anderson and jazz musician Floyd Council, echoing the method Syd Barrett had employed when naming his 1967 band the Pink Floyd from the same musicians’ first names—and commenced rehearsals. Using borrowed eight-track equipment, the group cut a four-song EP that appeared on its own Sinclair Recording Company imprint in January 2000. Shortly after the record’s release Grubb departed, and Rotator Cuff alumnus Rob Farrell, also known as Bobby Farrell, stepped in; Farrell had been following the band since its debut performance in November 1999.

Following a southeastern U.S. tour, the lineup entered House of Vibes studio in Highland Park, New Jersey, to work with co-producer and engineers Rick Reil and Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds. The resulting full-length debut, Coloursound, surfaced on the Sinclair label in April 2001. Late that year, after the Anderson Council completed its first Midwestern tour, co-founder and drummer King exited the group.