Andy Hull

Andy Hull is an American singer, guitarist and song writer for the indie rock band Manchester Orchestra. He also has a side project Right Away, Great Captain.

Manchester Orchestra frontman Andy Hull taught himself how to play the guitar after his parents bought him one when he was 13. A year later, he was writing songs and performing with a friend who happened to play bass. Their band quickly fizzled, so Hull started another one with Manchester Orchestra's keyboardist, Chris Freeman, on drums.

At first, Hull wanted Manchester Orchestra to be a solo project, with guest appearances by his friends. "I was listening to a lot of Morrissey and the Smiths," he says. "So the city of Manchester really fascinated me, as did the idea of being the leader of an orchestra and having all my friends come in to play."

Feeling increasingly alienated at his "small-town-Georgia, Christian high school" in suburban Atlanta, Hull became so frustrated that he spent his senior year studying at home. He also wrote and recorded his first full length album in 2004 while studying his last high school year.

Around the same time, Hull ran into an editor of the Americana-leaning Paste magazine, who took a liking to the young singer-songwriter and got the mag to pony up some cash so Hull could record in a proper studio. The results ended up as 2005's five-song EP You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, but Brilliance Needs a Good Editor.

Last year, Manchester Orchestra played the high-profile South by Southwest, Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, and Bonnaroo music festivals. It also recorded its full-length debut, I'm Like a Virgin Losing a Child. This past summer, Canvasback Records rereleased the album, and the band recently performed on both David Letterman's and Conan O'Brien's late-night shows.

Hull is also the writing force behind the folk centered Right Away, Great Captain!, and is Co-President of Manchester Orchestra's own label Favorite Gentlemen.

In high school, Andy was the lead singer in bands called "East on Autry" and "The Tiger Society" with Manchester Orchestra bandmate Jonathan.