WPA (Works Progress Administration)
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Bio
WPA is Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek) and Luke Bulla (Lyle Lovett, Jerry Douglas Band, Ricky Skaggs), with their friends Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Wilco, Beck), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello, Randy Newman) and Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello, Cracker). An inspired collaboration born out of the musical community surrounding legendary L.A. club Largo, WPA wasted no time or talent in acclaimed producer Jim Scott’s studio (Wilco, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones), recording the entire album plus a number of bonus tracks in 5 days. With a bloodline that represents the finest in American music, WPA unites to create this extraordinary recording
About
WPA (Works Progress Administration) consists of some of the most accomplished and legendary
musicians in today’s American music scene. Founding members Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket),
Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Ricky Skaggs, Lyle Lovett) have teamed
up with Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni
Mitchell, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Beck), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Randy Newman), and
Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Cracker), and long-time acclaimed producer Jim Scott
(Wilco, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Rolling Stones). Once they entered Scott’s studio, the group was
able to collaborate and record 17 songs live in only five days.
In an era where the expectation of a “supergroup” is something conceived by business executives, this band
came out of an authentic and vibrant musical community, and the result is a beautiful reflection of its origins.
WPA was born out of the musical community surrounding the legendary LA club, Largo. The eight members
of the band had known and admired each other for years, and found themselves with a strong batch of
unrecorded songs, a little down time, and a collective feeling that it might be a good idea to put something on
tape.
The instant classic “Always Have My Love”, penned and sung by Glen Phillips, starts the album with a
powerful dose of dual fiddles, pedal steel and piano, revealing the band’s palette from the first bar. The album
continues with five more Phillips songs, plaintive and introspective tunes from Sean Watkins (“Not Sure”,
“Paralyzed” and “You’re Already Gone”), commanding vocals performed by Luke Bulla on “Who’s Gonna Cry
For You” and “Remember Well”, and the haunting voice of Sara Watkins on Benmont Tench’s “The Price”
and the Ray Davies classic “I Go To Sleep”. Despite having four lead singers and a high level of instrumental
prowess the band keeps its focus in service to the song, and creates a sound that is both timeless and
unique.
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