Delta Spirit

Delta Spirit
Delta Spirit performing live in Paris, France in April 2009.
Background information
Origin	San Diego, California United States
Genres	Indie rock Americana Soul
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Rounder Records Decca Records (outside North America) Dew Process (Australia)
Website	DeltaSpirit.net
Members
Jon Jameson, Brandon Young, Matthew Vasquez, Kelly Winrich, William McLaren

Delta Spirit is a band from San Diego, California. The group combines unconventional instruments such as trash cans lids and orchestral bass drums, multi-instrumentalism and spiritually themed lyrics into a hybrid of rock and northern soul. The group consists of Jon Jameson (bass), Brandon Young (percussion), Matthew Vasquez (vocals/guitars), Kelly Winrich (multi-instrumentals) and Will McLaren (guitar).

History

In 2005, Jonathan Jameson and Brandon Young, who had played with each other in many bands, decided to form a band with their new friend Sean Walker. Young first spotted Vasquez busking on a bench at two in the morning, and the two exchanged information^[1] . Delta Spirit hired Kelly Winrich as a producer, but he joined the band within the first year. The band got its name from Jonathan's great uncle, "Uncle Red", who was a flight control operator near Birmingham, AL. He also ran a company, "Delta Spirit Taxidermy Station of North Central Alabama". The band released their debut EP, I Think I've Found It, on Monarchy Music in 2006, after which they toured alongside Cold War Kids, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Dr. Dog.

The band produced and recorded their debut full-length album, Ode to Sunshine, in a cabin in the San Diego mountains. It was re-released with new artwork (featuring Kelly's uncle Dr. Thomas Payne on the cover) and a new version of the song "Streetwalker" on August 26, 2008, by Rounder Records. The band has made television appearances, both on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in late 2008 and Last Call with Carson Daly on the March 12, 2009, episode. Their second album, History From Below, was released on June 8, 2010.

Sean walker has since left the band and been replaced by guitarist William McLaren. William formally played in The Willowz and Cults.

They are currently recording their third full-length, studio album with producer Chris Coady.

They now live in Long Beach, California and played in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California in April 2011.

The Delta Spirit song Devil Knows You're Dead was used in the final scene of the 5th and final season of Friday Night Lights.

The song, People, Turn Around, was also used in the final scene of the, Season 2, Sons of Anarchy episode "Potlatch".

The song 911 was used in the final scene of the Season 2 My Life As Liz episode 5

Discography

• I Think I've Found It EP (2006)
• Ode to Sunshine (2008)
• History From Below (2010) U.S. #174^[2]
• Waits Room EP (2010)

References

1. ^ "NPR Interview with Delta Spirit". NPR Music. NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97602384. 
2. ^ http://www.billboard.com/#/album/delta-spirit/history-from-below/1336063

External links

• MySpace.com - Delta Spirit
• UK label site
• Interview with bassist Jon Jameson about sophomore album History From Below
• Interview with Delta Spirit from Chicago
• Crawdaddy! review of Ode to Sunshine, August 27, 2008
• Interview with Jon Jameson on TheWaster.com