Grant Lee Buffalo
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
| Products | Albums, singles, live performances |
Grant Lee Buffalo was a rock ensemble from Los Angeles, California, comprising Grant-Lee Phillips on vocals and guitar, Paul Kimble handling bass duties, and Joey Peters on drums.
Prior to forming Grant Lee Buffalo, all three musicians played in Shiva Burlesque.[1] In the late 1980s, Jeffrey Clark, Grant-Lee Phillips, James Brenner, and Joey Peters came together to create Shiva Burlesque. The group produced two records: Shiva Burlesque (1987, Nate Starkman & Son Records) and Mercury Blues (1990, Fundamental Records). Q Magazine’s Matt Snow highlighted the band’s influences from the Doors and Echo & the Bunnymen, describing Mercury Blues as "excellent late-night uneasy listening."[2] After Paul Kimble replaced Brenner on bass, the trio reemerged as Grant Lee Buffalo in 1991.[3]
Transitioning away from Shiva Burlesque’s psychedelic roots, Phillips, Kimble, and Peters cultivated a distinct musical identity. As the primary creative force, Phillips combined a resonant and evocative vocal style with sincere narrative songwriting that became central to Grant Lee Buffalo’s sound.
Their compositions incorporated elements of 1970s rock, folk, and country music, influenced by Phillips’ fascination with American heritage and landscapes. The band also integrated unconventional instrumentation and innovative studio methods to craft a singular auditory experience.
Career
Throughout the 1990s, Grant Lee Buffalo released four albums under Slash Records.
Fuzzy – 1993
The band’s inaugural album, Fuzzy (1993), benefited from their prior work with Shiva Burlesque, as many of its eleven tracks were developed during that earlier era. This foundation contributed to the album’s assured and polished character. Frontman Grant Lee Phillips’ expressive vocals and songwriting were complemented by collaborators attuned to his melodic sensibilities. Bassist and producer Paul Kimble was instrumental in shaping the album’s expansive and cinematic sound. Songs such as "Soft Wolf Tread," "Dixie Drug Store," and the eponymous track blend alt-country imagery with a distinctive California gothic atmosphere. The innovative production established Grant Lee Buffalo as critical darlings.
Mighty Joe Moon – 1994
With their sophomore release Mighty Joe Moon (1994), the band broadened their fusion of ethereal folk textures and powerful noise elements. Phillips, Kimble (who also produced), and Peters enriched their sonic palette by incorporating diverse instruments including pump organs and metallic objects to deepen their Americana storytelling. The lead single "Mockingbirds" highlights Phillips’ versatile vocal delivery over a hypnotic groove featuring distorted guitars alongside mandolins, banjos, harmonicas, and a nuanced rhythm section. The album’s lyrics explore themes of politics, love, and human resilience, concluding with a haunting interpretation of "Rock of Ages."
Copperopolis – 1996
Copperopolis offers a conceptually driven reflection on a declining copper-mining community that aligns with Phillips’ emotive lyricism. Tracks like "Arousing Thunder," "The Bridge," and "Armchair" evoke vivid small-town American imagery with cinematic precision. These romanticized scenes contrast with pointed social commentary in songs such as "Homespun," which critiques the militia movement: "Hear the drummers pound/Listen to the homespun violent sound." The band expanded their instrumentation further by adding vibraphone, violin, and vintage synthesizers sourced from thrift stores, resulting in an eclectic yet rewarding record.
Jubilee – 1998
Following bassist Paul Kimble’s departure after Copperopolis, Phillips and drummer Joey Peters enlisted keyboardist Jon Brion and former Tonic bassist Dan Rothschild for Jubilee. Produced by Paul Fox, this album features a polished production style with guest appearances from Michael Stipe, Robyn Hitchcock, and Rami Jaffee. Songs like "Testimony" continue Phillips’ signature intertwining of American folklore, biblical references, and literary allusions.
The single "Truly, Truly" achieved significant radio airplay across the United States, helping the album surpass prior commercial performance. Nevertheless, evolving industry dynamics and label expectations influenced the band’s path:
- "The celebratory tone of Jubilee injected fresh optimism. While critically well received, label demands escalated—perhaps excessively so. Despite 'Truly, Truly' gaining radio traction, shifts within the music business were underway. The label’s emphasis on 'Call-out Response'—a survey method evaluating brief song clips via telephone—was perplexing to us. Grant Lee Buffalo’s music often requires time for listeners to connect deeply, contrasting with this rapid assessment approach. Meanwhile, labels pivoted toward courting a new generation of consumers, leaving behind Gen-X audiences like myself."[4]
In 2001, Storm Hymnal was released as a compilation gathering singles, album cuts, and rare tracks.
Sound and vision
Grant Lee Buffalo’s musical style has been likened to Neil Young fused with an electrified form of Americana reminiscent of John Stewart.[1] Phillips characterized their debut as embodying the band’s essence: "an acoustic feedback howl from overdriven 12-string guitars paired with melodic distorted bass lines; tribal drum intensity; alongside vintage pump organs and parlor pianos."[5]
Their lyrics often engage with American historical narratives as well as contemporary issues. For instance, “Lone Star Song” from Mighty Joe Moon references the Waco siege, while “Crackdown” on Copperopolis addresses tragedies such as the killing of Yoshihiro Hattori and the Oklahoma City bombing.
Live
Grant Lee Buffalo toured alongside prominent acts including R.E.M., Pearl Jam, the Smashing Pumpkins, and The Cranberries. In May 2011, they reunited for a limited series of concerts featuring dates in Los Angeles, Dublin, London, Brussels, Copenhagen, and Oslo. On August 8th of that year they appeared at Belgium's Dranouter festival, followed by a performance in Copenhagen on August 9th. Additionally, they played at Germany's Haldern Pop Festival in August 2012.
Publication
In October 2017, Chrysalis Records acquired ownership of Grant Lee Buffalo’s back catalog from Slash Records. Notably, Chrysalis/Blue Raincoat CEO Jeremy Lascelles had previously signed the group to his publishing division during the 1990s.
Solo careers
Following the band's dissolution, lead vocalist Phillips embarked on a solo career motivated by shifting group dynamics and a desire for artistic growth. He signed with Boston-based indie label Rounder Records and initially released Ladies' Love Oracle online in 2000 before his first full-length solo album Mobilize debuted in 2001. Between 2000 and 2022 he has released eleven solo albums.
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart rankings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | BEL | NOR | NZ | SWE | US Heat. | ||
| Fuzzy |
|
74 | 164 | 157 | — | — | — | — |
| Mighty Joe Moon |
|
24 | 48 | — | 8 | 23 | 38 | 16 |
| Copperopolis |
|
34 | 59 | 43 | 9 | 28 | 27 | 16 |
| Jubilee |
|
— | 147 | — | — | — | — | 18 |
Compilations and live albums
| Title | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Storm Hymnal: Gems from the Vault of Grant Lee Buffalo |
|
Compilation featuring singles along with B-sides and rarities |
| Live at the Royal Festival Hall |
|
Live performance recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 18th, 2011 |
EPs
- Buffalondon Live (1993) reached UK chart position no.77
- Blue Plate Special (1993)
Singles
— || Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | AUS | NLD | US Mod. | |||
| "Fuzzy" | 1993 | 83 | 182 | 42 | — | Fuzzy |
| "America Snoring" | 82 | — | — | — | ||
| "Jupiter and Teardrop" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Lone Star Song" | 1994 | — | 101 | — | — | Mighty Joe Moon |
| "Mockingbirds" | 86 | 115 | — | 14 | ||
| "Honey Don't Think" | (1995) | |||||
| (1996) | (94) | (127) | (—) | (—) | 'Copperopolis' | |
| (1998) | (—) | (—) | (—) | (11) | 'Jubilee' | |
Music videos
1993 || "Fuzzy" || Fuzzy || Carlos Grasso 1993 || "America Snoring" || Fuzzy || Angus Cameron 1994 || "Lone Star Song" || Mighty Joe Moon || Carlos Grasso 1994 || "Mockingbirds" || Mighty Joe Moon || Anton Corbijn 1994 || "Honey Don't Think" || Mighty Joe Moon || Carlos Grasso 1994 || "El Dorado Motorhome" (Promo) || Mighty Joe Moon || Carlos Grasso 1996 || "Homespun" || Copperopolis || Carlos Grasso 1998 || "Testimony" || Jubilee || Jason Smith 1999 || "Circuit DVD Music Magazine #1" (Promo) || 'Jubilee' || Jodi Wille| Year | Song / Video | Album | Director |
|---|
Soundtracks
22 March 1994 || "Fuzzy" || Grant-Lee Phillips || With Honors OST 13 June 1995 || "Mockingbirds" || Grant-Lee Phillips || Mad Love OST 26 September 1995 || "In My Room" || Brian Wilson, Gary Usher (The Beach Boys) || Friends OST 3 November 1998 || "The Whole Shebang" "Bitter's End"(performed by Paul Kimble & Andy Mackay) “Living Proof”* “Lo' and Behold”* “Make Your Own Little Heaven”* 2 February 1999 || "Testimony" || Grant-Lee Phillips || I Still Know What You Did Last Summer OST 9 April 2001 || "Jupiter and Teardrop" || Grant-Lee Phillips || Trigger Happy TV, Series 2 OST 19 April 2005 || "Happiness" || Grant-Lee Phillips || House, episode “Babies & Bathwater”| OST release date /
Episode air date !! Song !! Composer !! Film / TV series |
|---|
| Grant-Lee Phillips,
Bryan Ferry (Roxy Music) Grant-Lee Phillips x3 || Velvet Goldmine OST |
- (*) - Demos included only on soundtrack releases; not part of official OST.
See also
External links
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- Articles with short description
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- California alternative rock bands
- Artists signed to Chrysalis Records
- Bands formed in 1991
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- Los Angeles musical acts
- Artists associated with Slash Records
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