Dillon Fence
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Chapel Hill, North Carolina , United States |
| Products | Music albums, live performances |
Dillon Fence was a rock group originating from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, primarily active from the mid-1980s until 1995. Their discography includes three studio albums—Rosemary, Outside In, and Living Room Scene—all released through Mammoth Records.
History
The band was established in 1986 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, originally under the name the Magoos. The founding lineup featured Greg Humphreys on guitar, Chris Goode handling bass, Kent Alphin also on guitar, and Brooke Pitts on drums. Humphreys and Goode had previously collaborated during their high school years. Prior to their inaugural live performance, they adopted the name Dillon Fence, inspired by a recognizable fence located in Dillon, South Carolina.
Following an injury to drummer Brooke Pitts, his brother Trent Pitts took over the role temporarily, with Scott Carle assuming drumming duties after their first album. The band signed with Mammoth Records in 1991, which released their "Christmas" single along with their debut album Rosemary in 1992, produced by Ron Saint Germain. An EP titled Daylight was issued before their sophomore album Outside In (1993), produced by Lou Giordano. Although reviews were mixed, this release increased their visibility.
Their third album, Living Room Scene (1994), distributed by Mammoth in the United States and Eastwest/Atlantic Records in Europe, represented their peak commercial achievement. After lineup changes brought Jim Smith and Andy Ware in place of Alphin and Goode, Dillon Fence toured alongside the Black Crowes and Hootie and the Blowfish. Despite these successes, the group disbanded in 1995 when Mammoth declined to release demos for a proposed fourth album.
In 2000, Dillon Fence briefly reunited for a tour and issued the live recording Live at the Cat's Cradle. Subsequent summer reunion tours occurred in 2004 and 2005 to coincide with the release of their greatest hits compilation Best+. They continued to perform sporadically into the mid-2010s.
Lead vocalist and songwriter Greg Humphreys has had his compositions covered by prominent artists such as Hootie and the Blowfish and Letters to Cleo.
Band members' other work
Greg Humphreys went on to create the soul-funk ensemble Hobex, which included Andy Ware, and later led the New York-based Greg Humphreys Electric Trio. Scott Carle joined Collapsis (Cherry/Universal) in 2000 before becoming part of the B-Sides alongside Ken Mosher (Squirrel Nut Zippers) and future members of The Never. He subsequently performed with Marat, a heavy rock outfit under MoRisen records, and as of 2008 was active with Bull City and Lost In The Trees, a thirteen-member orchestra signed to Trekky records. After Dillon Fence's dissolution, Kent Alphin formed Granger with Carle and G. Gilbert. Chris Goode played in Straddlecat during his time in Seattle, Washington.
Albums
- Rosemary (1992), Mammoth
- Outside In (1993), Mammoth
- Living Room Scene (1994), Mammoth/Atlantic/Eastwest
- Live albums
- Live at the Cat's Cradle (2001), Phrex
- Compilations
- Best+ (2004), MoRisen
EPs, singles
- Dillon Fence EP (1989), NOCAR
- "Christmas" (1991), Mammoth
- Daylight EP (1992), Mammoth
- "Black Eyed Susan"/"The World's A Mess" (1993), Mammoth
- Any Other Way EP (1993), Mammoth
- Living Room Scene EP (1995), Mammoth