Unwed Sailor

Unwed Sailor is a mostly instrumental band formed in 1998 by Johnathon Ford. Unwed Sailor's recordings range from instrumental rock to ambient drones. The band's touring and recording line-ups have largely been in rotation over the years(see below), with the core member being the band's founder, Johnathon Ford (bass). Matthew Depper(Guitar/Keys), Brooks Tipton(Piano/Keyboards), Nic Tse(Guitar), and Matthew Putman(Drums) have joined the band as permanent recording members. Unwed Sailor has consistently toured throughout the United States and Europe since its inception in 1998. The band is booked in the U.S by Noise Problem Booking, and in Europe by Toutpartout. The bands next album "Little Wars" will be released on Burnt Toast Vinyl on 18th March, 2008.
Johnathon Ford has also played with Roadside Monument, Pedro The Lion, Warlord, Scientific, Seldom, Damien Jurado, Rosie Thomas, Ester Drang, Early Day Miners, and Decahedron,

Notable Collaborators

The following artists have played with Unwed Sailor at some point:

• Pedro the Lion's David Bazan played drums on the Firecracker ep, and played drums for spot shows in 1998 and 1999.
• Casey Wescott of The Vogue and Seldom, and The Fleet Foxes played guitar on Firecracker.
• Melissa Palladino, who has performed with Damien Jurado, Jen Wood, and Danielson Famile played violin on the Firecracker.
• Dan Burton of Early Day Miners and Ativin recorded the 2001 release, The Faithful Anchor, "The Magic Hedge" 7" and the 2006 releases, Circles, and The White Ox. He also plays various instruments on each of these records.
• Matt Johnson of Blenderhead and Roadside Monument played drums on the 2001 release, The Faithful Anchor.
• Matthew Depper and Matthew Putman, both of Eso-Charis, Lovedrug, Snailhuntr, and Bear Colony, toured extensively in the early 2000's recorded and played on The Marionette and the Music Box and played various instruments on "Little Wars". Both have played live with the band off and on from early 2000's to present.
• Nathan Richardson of The Casket Lottery, The Appleseed Cast, Coalesce, worked with Unwed Sailor as a touring drummer in the early 2000's.
• Christian Wargo of Scientific, The Crystal Skulls, and The Fleet Foxes played guitar on various tours in the late 1990's and early 2000's.
• Stephen Tucker of Two Spines and Bear Colony played guitar on "Little Wars." He wrote the song "Lonely Bulls" that will appear on this release.
• Patrick Ryan of Straight Lines and Bear Colony played drums on the summer and fall tours of 2007 and also played percussion on "Little Wars."
• Brooks Tipton of Bear Colony has been the keyboardist for Unwed Sailor for the past 5 years. As well as touring he has also recorded on the album "Little Wars."
• Zach Reeves is a member of Two Spines and played the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005 and the United States "Keyboard Tour."
• Johnny Humble played the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005 and the United States "Keyboard Tour.".
• Kyle Smith of Bear Colony played drums on the Fredericia, Denmark Forma Nova Festival performance in 2005, the August Tour 2005, and the United States "Keyboard Tour."
• Phillip Blackwell of Questions in Dialect appears on "The White Ox", and the "Circles" ep, and remixed "Lonely Bulls" for the "Little Wars" double vinyl release.
• Dan Lucas of Jairus is a touring member of Unwed Sailor.
• Matthew Magee of Wooden Finger and formerly of Questions in Dialect played guitar as a touring member in 2004.
• Andy Haldeman of Bear Colony played guitar as a touring member from July 2007 to December 2007 and recorded on "Little Wars".
• Chad Copelin, owner of Black Watch Studios engineered Little Wars. He has also engineered Bishop Allen and Ryan Lindsey's "White Paper Beds".
• Bryce Chambers of Ester Drang has played guitar on past tours, appeared on the Unwed Sailor retrospective, History, and will be a touring member in 2008.
• Aaron Ford of Always The Runner and And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead played with Unwed Sailor as a touring drummer in 2004 and played on Little Wars.
• Joey Yates of Parlour played drums on the 2005 Fall tour.
• Benny Clark of Parlour played guitar on the 2005 Fall tour.
• Jamey See Tai of The Photographic played guitar on the 2005 Fall tour.
• Josh Tillman played drums on the June/July 2006 tour.
• Aaron Hamby of Callupsie played guitar on the fall 2006 U.S. and European Tour, and the winter 2007 tours. He also plays guitar on the Unwed Sailor restrospective album, "History".
• John Momberg of Koufax and The Legendary Terrordactyls played drums on the fall 2006 U.S. and Europen Tour.
• Joe Brumley of Early Day Miners plays guitar on "The Faithful Anchor", "The Magic Hedge", and "Stateless" recordings.
• Matt Griffin of Early Day Miners plays drums on "The White Ox" and the "Circles" EP.
• James Mcallister of Ester Drang and Sufjan Stevens plays various instruments on 'The Marionette and The Music Box", and "Little Wars". He has also played a second drum kit at spot Unwed Sailor shows.
• Jeff Shoop of Ester Drang and Rosie Thomas plays on "Little Wars".
• Nic Tse appears on "The Faithful Anchor", " The Magic Hedge", "Stateless", "The Marionette and The Music Box", and "Little Wars". He has been an off and on touring/studio member througout the history of the band.

Discography

• Firecracker (1999)
• The Faithful Anchor (2001)
• Circle of Birds ep (2001)
• Stateless (2002)
• The Magic Hedge 7" (2002)
• The Marionette and the Music Box (2003)
• Circles (2006)
• The White Ox (2006)
• Little Wars (2008)
• "History" (2009)

The band has also been featured on a split 7" with Toboggan, and soundtracks for short films Stateless (2002) and For Jonathan (2004).

External links

• Unwed Sailor Myspace Page
• Official Site
• Onion AV Club review of "The Marionette And The Music Box"
• Soundcrank Podcast Hosted by Unwed Sailor