Mt. Desolation

Mt. Desolation is a British alt-country group formed by Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin of Keane as a side project. The project begins during Keane’s Perfect Symmetry World Tour in 2009, after a conversation in Dublin, Ireland, where the two musicians decide to make a country album. What starts as an idea developed in conversation turns into a recording project after the pair exchange early demos, including “Mt. Desolation - Departure” and “Mt. Desolation - Annie Ford”.

Recording and releases

The group’s self-titled debut album is recorded and released in 2010. The recording takes place at Eastcote Studios in London, with production by Emery Dobyns. The sessions aim to capture performances largely live, in a country style, and include additional sounds and instrumental effects such as dustbin lids, anvils, bullhorns and heavily distorted theremins. The album also involves musicians associated with Noah & the Whale, The Killers, The Long Winters, The Staves and Mumford & Sons.

A second album, When the Night Calls, is released in 2018.

Live line-up and collaborators

For live performances, the line-up varies and includes Tim Rice-Oxley on vocals and piano; Jesse Quin on vocals and guitar; Andrew Lowe on bass; Fimbo on drums; John Roderick on backing vocals and guitar; Pete Roe on keys and backing vocals; Tom Hobden on fiddle; Jessica Staveley-Taylor on backing vocals and guitar; John-William Scott on bass and guitar; and Phil Renna on fiddle and keys.

Other contributors include Ronnie Vannucci Jr. on percussion and additional parts, Winston Marshall on banjo, Charity Quin and Jayne Rice-Oxley on backing vocals, and Francois Deville on pedal steel. The Staves also support the band on UK tour dates.

Performances and activity

The band gives its debut show at The Lexington in London in July 2010. It then tours the UK in September 2010 and tours the USA and Canada in October 2010 while supporting Mumford & Sons. It later follows the 2018 album with a short UK tour in June 2018.

Personnel

Mt. Desolation is a group from the United Kingdom. The broader line-up associated with the project includes Fimbo, Tom Hobden, Andrew Lowe, Jesse Quin, Phil Renna, Tim Rice-Oxley, John Roderick, Pete Roe, John-William Scott and Jessica Staveley-Taylor.