Biography
In the autumn of 2000, singer and keyboardist Michael Guarrine established the avant-funk ensemble Watchers in Chicago. His initial musical venture, Assembly Line People Program, originated in 1994 amid the city's expanding "now wave" movement, which featured groups such as Trenchmouth, the Scissor Girls, and Lake of Dracula. A fortuitous encounter with Blur guitarist Graham Coxon after the Britpop band's 1995 Detroit performance sparked an ongoing long-distance exchange. Once Guarrine forwarded an Assembly Line People Program tape, Coxon invited the little-known act to support Blur on a segment of its 1997 U.S. tour. Coxon also produced ALPP's debut LP, Subdivision of Being, for his Transcopic label, yet the absence of U.S. distribution led a frustrated Guarrine to declare the group's dissolution.
He next formed the Hex, which signed to Troubleman Unlimited and issued its sole EP, 2000's No Car, before disbanding. Intent on fusing ALPP's abrasive dissonance with a sharper, funk-oriented direction, Guarrine enlisted Hex bassist Chris Kralik and reconvened with ALPP drummer Ted Danyluk to launch Watchers. Guitarist Ethan d'Ercole, a recent transplant from Chapel Hill, NC, and veteran of that city's ska scene, completed the initial roster. After their live debut in July 2001, Watchers recruited backing vocalists Ty Jiles and Nicole Irby and began tracking their first demo at Chicago's Clava Studios. Percussionist Jamie Levinson joined in mid-2002, prompting a deal with indie label Gern Blandsten and the spring 2003 release of debut LP To the Rooftops.
Danyluk exited once the album was finished, prompting Levinson to switch to drums while percussionist Damien Thompson joined to solidify the new lineup. Subsequent dates with James Chance, both as openers and his backing band, plus Ted Leo, Gogogo Airheart, and Radio 4, followed, and Watchers issued the EP Dunes Phase in 2005. Two years later the quintet, now featuring drummer Jess Birch in place of Levinson, returned with the more experimental full-length Vampire Driver, an effort aimed at harnessing the band's spontaneous live energy.
He next formed the Hex, which signed to Troubleman Unlimited and issued its sole EP, 2000's No Car, before disbanding. Intent on fusing ALPP's abrasive dissonance with a sharper, funk-oriented direction, Guarrine enlisted Hex bassist Chris Kralik and reconvened with ALPP drummer Ted Danyluk to launch Watchers. Guitarist Ethan d'Ercole, a recent transplant from Chapel Hill, NC, and veteran of that city's ska scene, completed the initial roster. After their live debut in July 2001, Watchers recruited backing vocalists Ty Jiles and Nicole Irby and began tracking their first demo at Chicago's Clava Studios. Percussionist Jamie Levinson joined in mid-2002, prompting a deal with indie label Gern Blandsten and the spring 2003 release of debut LP To the Rooftops.
Danyluk exited once the album was finished, prompting Levinson to switch to drums while percussionist Damien Thompson joined to solidify the new lineup. Subsequent dates with James Chance, both as openers and his backing band, plus Ted Leo, Gogogo Airheart, and Radio 4, followed, and Watchers issued the EP Dunes Phase in 2005. Two years later the quintet, now featuring drummer Jess Birch in place of Levinson, returned with the more experimental full-length Vampire Driver, an effort aimed at harnessing the band's spontaneous live energy.
Albums