Garland of Hours

Garland of Hours is a musical group based in Washington DC, and led by cellist/pianist Amy Domingues.

Band History

After playing bass in punk rock bands in university, Domingues moved to Arlington, VA where she became one half of the instrumental duo Telegraph Melts along with guitarist Bob Massey (Gena Rowlands Band). The duo released on album, Ilium, on Absolutely Kosher Records in 1997.

Domingues began playing cello with other Arlington-area artists (Tsunami, Allscars) as well as touring and recording with others (Edith Frost, Ted Leo, Fugazi, Threnody Ensemble, Jets to Brazil) nationally.

Wanting to explore her own music, Domingues began working with her friend Brendan Canty (Fugazi), who encouraged her to write more of her simple wurlitzer keyboard songs, and then to write lyrics. The two were joined live by Jerry Busher (French Toast) and recorded a self-titled album released in 2003. During this time, she also worked with her Threnody Ensemble bandmate Dave Cerf to compose the soundtrack to the 2003 Academy Award-nominated documentary film The Weather Underground.

Garland Of Hours were one of eight bands that participated in the first volume of the DVD series "Burn To Shine", co-produced by Canty and released on a DVD label co-founded by him, Trixie. The DVD, released in early 2005, also features Busher's other band "French Toast" as well as The Evens, the side project led by his Fugazi cohort Ian MacKaye.

Canty and Domingues both contributed to the recording of Bob Mould's 2005 solo album "Body of Song", and as of July 2005 Canty was set to play drums as part of Mould's touring band.

The newest Garland of Hours release The Soundest Serum (2007) reflects the fruit of several years of musical collaborations with gifted friends Mary Timony (Helium) and Brandon Butler (Canyon). Other musicians on the album include Jonah Takagi, bass, and Scott Adamson, drums. While the previous Garland album was mostly cinematic instrumentals, the second record focuses on folk-based cello riffs and lyrical stories. The Soundest Serum was recorded at Canty’s Blindspot Studios and mixed by Chad Clark and Brendan Canty and released on Domingues' own imprint Noble Task Records. Domingues also currently tours as cellist/guitarist in Benjy Ferree's band.

External links

* [http://www.garlandofhours.com/home.html Garland of Hours official site]