Album Notes

"The longhaired, mutton-chopped British songwriter—who inhabits a possessed stage presence somewhere between Joe Cocker and Jim Morrison—knocked the crowd over with his gravelly voice, passionate delivery, dry wit and dark sense of humor. And Spottiswoode’s band—regardless of what he calls them—are certainly no enemies, as they provided a lush, soulful and occasionally creepy bed over which he belted his clever lyrics." Paste Magazine

Spottiswoode, recently profiled on NPR's "Weekend Edition" and described as a “downtown ringleader” by The New Yorker, is an Englishman who has been on the New York scene for the last decade. His songs have been covered and recorded by numerous East Village and Williamsburg musicians, and featured in a variety of mainstream and independent films

Still, Spottiswoode’s proudest accomplishment is the more than decade long personality cult known as Spottiswoode & His Enemies. Somehow Spottiswoode has been able to hold together a group of seven of New York’s finest musicians, put out a string of acclaimed records, perform residencies at New York’s best clubs, play Lincoln Center, tour the country, cross the ocean… even though the rest of the band doesn't even like him. Who are these sad people?

Spottiswoode (guitar, vocals)
John Young (bass)
Tim Vaill (drums) *
Candace DeBartolo (sax/clarinet/vocals)
Kevin Cordt (trumpet/violin/vocals)
Riley McMahon (guitar/mandolin/glockenspiel)
Tony Lauria (accordion/piano/organ)

(* on this CD, Konrad Meissner plays drums and percussion while Mr. Vaill goes on his own separate scouting trip.)

"Wild Goosechase Expedition" is the band's homage to the Beatles, a shamelessly eclectic collection of songs about love, war and life on the road. "Being a bandleader is a bit like being a general" says Spott. "When we go on tour I often feel like I'm leading my poor band down the garden path. Musicians are like soldiers: our lives are heroic, tragic and completely absurd."