Mutual Admiration Society
Encyclopedia
Mutual Admiration Society is a musical collaboration between singer/songwriter Glen Phillips
and progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek
.
were fans of Glen's band Toad the Wet Sprocket
and a chance encounter with a friend of Glen's backstage at a festival led to Nickel Creek
guitarist Sean Watkins
emailing Glen and Glen agreeing to sing the title song on Sean's debut solo album Let It Fall
. Glen invited the band to perform with him at the Los Angeles nightclub Largo
and they quickly became strong admirers of each other's music, leading to the name of the group. They got together in Glen's home studio in December 2000 and recorded the album in 3 days, though it took 3½ years before it was finally released. Glen and Nickel Creek participated in a joint "Mutual Admiration Tour" in the fall of 2001, when they had initially expected the album to be released. When the album was finally released in the summer of 2004, another tour ensued, which included the services of Led Zeppelin
bassist John Paul Jones
and drummer Pete Thomas
from Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Pete Thomas
, Sara Watkins
, Sean Watkins
, and Glen Phillips
along with Luke Bulla and others began recording as Works Progress Administration in September 2007. They are currently touring the US in support of their album WPA.
In the summer of 2007, Glen Phillips was invited to perform as the opening act for the first leg of Nickel Creek's "Farewell (For Now)" tour, which included dates in the midwest. It was common for members of Nickel Creek to perform with Glen Phillips during his set and vice versa. Selections from the Mutual Admiration Society recording were performed during this collaboration.
Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.-Personal life:...
and progressive bluegrass trio Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
.
History
The members of Nickel CreekNickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
were fans of Glen's band Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket
Toad the Wet Sprocket is an American alternative rock band formed in 1986. The band consists of singer/guitarist Glen Phillips, guitarist Todd Nichols, bassist Dean Dinning, and drummer Randy Guss. The band enjoyed chart success in the 1990s with the singles "Walk on the Ocean," "All I Want,"...
and a chance encounter with a friend of Glen's backstage at a festival led to Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek
Nickel Creek was an American progressive acoustic music trio consisting of Chris Thile , Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins . The band was founded in 1989 and released 6 albums between 1993 and 2006...
guitarist Sean Watkins
Sean Watkins
Sean Charles Watkins is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a member of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek, the duo Fiction Family and the supergroup Works Progress Administration.-Nickel Creek:...
emailing Glen and Glen agreeing to sing the title song on Sean's debut solo album Let It Fall
Let It Fall
Let It Fall is the debut solo album by Sean Watkins. It was released on March 13, 2001, with many well-known special guests. All of the songs on Let It Fall were written by Sean Watkins, except for "Over the Waterfall", a traditional song.-Overview:...
. Glen invited the band to perform with him at the Los Angeles nightclub Largo
Largo (nightclub)
Largo is a nightclub and cabaret in Los Angeles, CA, known informally as Café Largo or Club Largo, known for its retinue of musical and comedic performers and for the Friday night "residency" of singer-songwriter Jon Brion, which has made the club a must-visit for fans and professional...
and they quickly became strong admirers of each other's music, leading to the name of the group. They got together in Glen's home studio in December 2000 and recorded the album in 3 days, though it took 3½ years before it was finally released. Glen and Nickel Creek participated in a joint "Mutual Admiration Tour" in the fall of 2001, when they had initially expected the album to be released. When the album was finally released in the summer of 2004, another tour ensued, which included the services of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
bassist John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
and drummer Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
from Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas
Pete Thomas is best known as the longtime drummer for Elvis Costello. Tom Waits has referred to him as "one of the best rock drummers alive".-Career:...
, Sara Watkins
Sara Watkins
Sara Ullrika Watkins is an American singer-songwriter and fiddler. Watkins debuted in 1989 as the fiddler of the progressive bluegrass group Nickel Creek, which consisted of herself, her elder brother Sean, and mandolinist Chris Thile. As a band, they are notable for three wide-released albums:...
, Sean Watkins
Sean Watkins
Sean Charles Watkins is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He is a member of the contemporary folk band Nickel Creek, the duo Fiction Family and the supergroup Works Progress Administration.-Nickel Creek:...
, and Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips is a songwriter, lyricist, singer and guitarist. He is best known as the singer and songwriter of 1990s alternative rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket.-Personal life:...
along with Luke Bulla and others began recording as Works Progress Administration in September 2007. They are currently touring the US in support of their album WPA.
Discography
- Mutual Admiration SocietyMutual Admiration Society (album)Mutual Admiration Society is an album featuring the collaboration between Nickel Creek's Chris Thile, Sara Watkins, and Sean Watkins, and Glen Phillips, the former lead singer of folk-rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket...
(2004) Recorded in 2000
In the summer of 2007, Glen Phillips was invited to perform as the opening act for the first leg of Nickel Creek's "Farewell (For Now)" tour, which included dates in the midwest. It was common for members of Nickel Creek to perform with Glen Phillips during his set and vice versa. Selections from the Mutual Admiration Society recording were performed during this collaboration.