The band was formed in 1994. Richmond Fontaine first started out touring the pacific northwest live circuit on the back of their first three albums released on cavity search records They have worked with a variety of musicians and a few labels over their career.
Their first exposures abroad were a song on a Loose Records compilation in the UK and the band’s self-released fourth album, Winnemucca, which garnered attention outside of the U.S. The band signed with Decor Records in europe during 2003. Their next two releases proved pivotal and received “Albums of the Month” in uncut which named both their fifth studio albumPost to Wire (2004) and sixth The Fitzgerald (2005) “masterpieces”. U.S. critics have been generally complimentary but have also cited the band’s musical similarity to uncle tupelo Like many bands in their genre past and present such as willard grant conspiracy , the gun club and green on red Richmond Fontaine are more popular abroad than in their own country.
Richmond Fontaine songs consistently evoke lyrical imagery of reno, nevada Portland, the western untied states and mexico while telling stories in a style that critics have compared to raymond carver Musically the group has cited influences such as gram pearsons Green on Red and dave alvin
Lead Singer and songwriter Willy Vlautin is also a published writer. His first novel, The Motel Life was published in 2006, which was followed up by a second novel, Northline, in 2008. Northline included a soundtrack CD by Williy Vlautin and Paul Brainard. The novel was well-reviewed byGeorge Pelecanos. Vlautin has also had stories published in literary journals such as Zembla, Cold Drill, Southeast Review, and Chiron Review.
The band’s most recent album, Thirteen Cities, is receiving positive reviews across Europe.
discography
- Safety (1996)
- Miles From (1997)
- Lost Son (1999)
- Winnemucca (2002)
- Post to Wire (2004)
- The Fitzgerald (2005)
- Obliteration by Time (2006)
- Thirteen Cities (2007)
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