Grandaddy

Grandaddy is an American indie rock band from Modesto, California, formed in 1992. The group consists of Jason Lytle, Kevin Garcia, Aaron Burtch, Jim Fairchild and Tim Dryden. Its core line-up begins with Lytle on vocals, guitar and keyboards, Garcia on bass and Burtch on drums, with Fairchild and Dryden joining in 1995.

Sound and early releases

Grandaddy starts with a noisy, lo-fi style on early recordings such as Complex Party Come Along Theories from 1994. After Fairchild and Dryden join, the band’s sound broadens across later releases, including the unreleased Don’t Sock the Tryer and the 1996 EP A Pretty Mess by This One Band. Their music is associated with alternative rock, indie rock, indietronica, lo-fi, progressive pop and space rock revival.

Breakthrough and albums

The band’s first full-length album, Under the Western Freeway, comes out in 1997 on Will Records and becomes a breakthrough release. It is reissued by V2 the following year, when the single “Summer Here Kids” receives Single of the Week recognition in the NME. A singles collection, The Broken Down Comforter Collection, appears before the 1999 EP Signal to Snow Ratio, which moves further towards vintage electronic textures.

In 2000, Grandaddy releases The Sophtware Slump, and in 2002 follows it with another compilation, Concrete Dunes. During 2003 the band releases the Floating Debris EP and the album Sumday, and tours that year, including festival appearances such as Glastonbury. The band then returns in 2005 with Excerpts from the Diary of Todd Zilla and releases its fourth full-length album, Just Like the Fambly Cat, in 2006.

Other work and activity

Under the name Arm of Roger, Grandaddy records the joke album The Ham and its Lily in 2002. The single “A.M. 180” appears prominently in the film 28 Days Later. In 2006, Jason Lytle confirms that the band splits after Just Like the Fambly Cat, but Grandaddy later reunites and announces a headline slot at the End of the Road Festival in Dorset, England. The band remains active.

Jason Lytle

After the split, Jason Lytle continues to tour as a solo artist, performing Grandaddy songs alongside solo material. He also tours in the United States with both older Grandaddy songs and work from his own catalogue.