Dishwalla
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1990 in Santa Barbara, California, United States |
| Founder | J.R. Richards, Rodney Browning, Greg Kolanek |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Dishwalla is a rock group from Santa Barbara, California, known for its alternative rock style. The band was originally formed by vocalist J.R. Richards, guitarist Rodney Browning, and keyboardist Greg Kolanek under the name Life Talking. After recruiting bassist Scot Alexander and drummer George Pendergast, they briefly performed as Dish before adopting their current name.
In 1993, after receiving a cease-and-desist notice, the group selected the name Dishwalla, a term inspired by a Wired article describing people who provided satellite television service to local communities (combining "dish" from parabolic antenna and "walla," a Hindi word meaning someone involved in an activity). Dishwalla gained widespread recognition with their 1996 chart-topping single "Counting Blue Cars".
Origins and early name changes (1990–1993)
The band began in 1990 as Life Talking, founded by J.R. Richards (vocals/rhythm guitar), Rodney Browning (guitar), and Greg Kolanek (keyboards). They released a synthpop demo titled By the Color in 1991.
In 1992, with the addition of Scot Alexander on bass and George Pendergast on drums, their sound evolved into alternative rock, and they adopted the name Dish. A self-produced demo appeared in 1993 featuring songs that would later be re-recorded for their debut studio album. That same year, after receiving legal pressure to change their name, they chose Dishwalla, inspired by Kolanek’s reading of a Wired magazine piece.
Signing with a major label and breakthrough with Pet Your Friends (1994–1997)
Dishwalla contributed a cover of "It's Going to Take Some Time" to the 1994 tribute album If I Were a Carpenter, which featured reinterpretations of The Carpenters’ music. The band made their television debut performing this track along with "Moisture" on The Jon Stewart Show. Around this period, Kolanek departed but continued to receive songwriting credits on future works. The remaining members secured a deal with A&M Records and released their debut album Pet Your Friends in August 1995, produced by Phil Nicolo. Keyboardist Jim Wood joined the lineup.
The 1996 single "Counting Blue Cars" became a major hit, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Additional singles such as "Give" and "Charlie Brown's Parents" also charted in both the United States and Canada. Dishwalla embarked on a national tour in 1996, initially opening for Goo Goo Dolls before co-headlining with The Refreshments. The success of "Counting Blue Cars" earned them a Billboard Award for Best Rock Song in 1996 along with two consecutive ASCAP Awards for Rock Track of the Year in 1996 and 1997. Their debut album was certified gold by the RIAA.
Subsequent releases and industry changes (1998–2000)
Their sophomore effort, And You Think You Know What Life's About, came out in 1998 and featured singles like "Once in a While," which charted on both Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks, reaching number 38 on Canada's RPM 100. During touring with Sheryl Crow, drummer George Pendergast sustained an injury that led to Pete Maloney stepping in initially as a temporary replacement before becoming the permanent drummer.
Although the album achieved moderate success, none of its singles matched the impact of "Counting Blue Cars," resulting in Dishwalla being perceived largely as a one-hit wonder from the 1990s. In 1999, they appeared as themselves performing at a fictional club in an episode of Charmed. Their song "Find Your Way Back Home" was included on the soundtrack for American Pie. After completing their touring obligations, Dishwalla parted ways with A&M Records.
Opaline, Dishwalla, and Richards' exit (2001–2005)
In 2002, Dishwalla unveiled their third studio effort, Opaline, under the Immergent Records label. The album's lead track, "Somewhere in the Middle," climbed to No. 25 on the Adult Pop Songs chart and reached No. 72 on the ARIA Chart, marking their sole appearance on the Australian charts. The band embarked on an extensive touring schedule both preceding and following the album's launch, performing a total of 258 shows across 470 days.
Their self-titled album, Dishwalla, was issued by Orphanage Records on March 15, 2005, succeeded by a short summer tour. This release and tour were the last to feature original frontman Richards.
Reunion and Juniper Road era (2008–2017)
Following a break beginning in 2005, Dishwalla regrouped in 2008 with members Alexander on bass, Browning on guitar, Wood handling keyboards, Pendergast on drums, and guest vocalist Justin Fox from Santa Barbara’s Tripdavon. In March 2009, they played a benefit concert supporting those affected by the 2008 Tea Fire. By September 2012, Fox officially took over lead vocal duties from Richards, who shifted his attention toward solo work and production. That same year, their track "Counting Blue Cars" was featured in an episode of How I Met Your Mother.
Between 2013 and 2014, Dishwalla toured extensively throughout the United States and abroad, sharing stages with artists such as Eric Burdon, Collective Soul, Vertical Horizon, Tonic, Stroke 9, and Nine Days. Although there was initial skepticism regarding Fox's role as frontman, his continued presence gradually won over fans.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of their breakthrough album Pet Your Friends in 2015, the band re-recorded "Counting Blue Cars" featuring Fox. On July 14, 2017, Dishwalla released their fifth full-length album, Juniper Road, marking their first complete studio release in twelve years. That summer, they participated in the "Rockin' Road Trip '17" tour alongside Fuel, Marcy Playground, and Gin Blossoms. Their itinerary included a September 18 performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl with Tears for Fears.
Alive and ongoing activities (2018–present)
In 2022, Dishwalla issued a three-song EP titled Alive. The title track reached No. 31 on the Mainstream Rock chart, representing their first appearance on a Billboard chart in two decades.
Current
- Rodney Browning Cravens – lead guitar, backing vocals (1990–2005, 2008–present)
- Scot Alexander – bass guitar, backing vocals (1993–2005, 2008–present)
- George Pendergast – drums (1993–1998, 2008–present)
- Jim Wood – keyboards (1996–2005, 2008–present)
- Justin Fox – lead vocals (2008–present)
Former
- J. R. Richards – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards (1990–2005)
- Greg Kolanek – keyboards (1990–1994)
- Pete Maloney – drums (1998–2005)
Timeline
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Studio albums
Demo albums
- By the Color (1991, under the name Life Talking)
- Dish (1993, released as Dish)
EPs and live recordings
- Gems (2001)
- Santa Claus Lane (2003)
- Live... Greetings from the Flow State (2003)
- Santa Claus Lane II (2004)
- Southeast Asia (2004)
- Alive (2022)
Singles
| Year | Album Title | Record Label | Highest Chart Positions | Certifications | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | US Independent Albums | US Heatseekers | ||||
| 1995 | Pet Your Friends | A&M Records | 89 | — | 1 |
|
| 1998 | And You Think You Know What Life's About | 164 | — | — | ||
| 2002 | Opaline | Immergent Records | 192 | 12 | — | |
| 2005 | Dishwalla | Orphanage Records | — | — | — | |
| 2017 | Juniper Road | Pavement Music | — | — | — | |
| Year | Single Title | Peak Chart Rankings | Certifications (Sales Milestones) |
Album Source | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | US Mainstream Rock | US Pop Songs | US Alternative Songs | US Adult Pop Songs | Australia (ARIA) | Canada (RPM 100) | Canada Rock (RPM) | ||||
| 1994 | "It's Going to Take Some Time" | ||||||||||
| 1995 | "Haze" | ||||||||||
| "Counting Blue Cars" | 15 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | — | 16 | 5 |
|
Pet Your Friends | |
| "Charlie Brown's Parents" | 24 | ||||||||||
| "Give" | 26 | 36 | |||||||||
| "Once in a While" | 17 | 20 | 38 | And You Think You Know What Life's About | |||||||
| "Stay Awake" | 80 | ||||||||||
| "Somewhere in the Middle" | 25 | 72 | Opaline | ||||||||
| "Angels or Devils" | |||||||||||
| "Collide" |
Dishwalla | ||||||||||
| "Give Me a Sign" |
Juniper Road | ||||||||||
| "Waiting on You, Love" | |||||||||||
| "Alive" | 31 |
Alive | |||||||||
Non-album tracks
- "It's Going to Take Some Time", featured on the 1994 tribute compilation to the Carpenters, If I Were a Carpenter
- "The Thrill Is Gone", included in the 1995 film soundtrack for Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
- "The Other Side of the World", appearing on the 1997 collection MOM II: Music for Our Mother Ocean
- "Policy of Truth", contributed to the 1998 Depeche Mode tribute album titled For the Masses
- "Find Your Way Back Home", part of the 1999 soundtrack for the movie American Pie