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February 16-22, 2006

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The Lilys Family Tree

Who's been in the band (and where you know that name from).

The Lilys Family Tree

1991 Tone Bender 7" (Summershine)/February Fourteenth 7" (Slumberland) These were the first two Lilys releases, compiled for 1993's four-song Tone Bender EP (Summershine). The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums: Mike Hammel (The Ropers, Vexers); guitar: Archie Moore (Velocity Girl, Heartworms, Saturday People, Black Tambourine); drums: Harold "Bear" Evans (Poole); samples: Ken Heitmuller (Suddenly, Tammy!); drums: Mike Glasgow (The Ropers); guitar, vocals: Dana Cerick (solo artist, The Alcohol Stuntband); bass: Alex Hacker (The Ropers).

1992 In The Presence of Nothing (Slumberland/SpinART) The first Lilys full-length (10 songs) was recorded at Cat Box in Lancaster, Pa. Features favorites "Claire Hates Me" and "There's No Such Thing As Black Orchids." The players were mostly imported from Washington, D.C.: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; guitar: Archie Moore; drums: Harold "Bear" Evans, Mike Hammel; backup vocals: Ken Heitmueller, Beth Sorrentino and Jay Sorrentino (all three of Suddenly, Tammy!). Engineered/produced by Jay Sorrentino and Ken Heitmueller.

1994 A Brief History of Amazing Letdowns (SpinART) This breakthrough six-song EP features favorites "Ginger," "Any Place I've Lived" and "Jenny, Andrew & Me." Produced by Adam "Red" Lasus (Space Needle, Versus, Helium, Madder Rose, Clem Snide, Yo La Tengo) at Studio Red in Philadelphia. The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums: Harold "Bear" Evans; bass: Paul "Pablo" Naomi (of various Lancaster bands).

1994 The CP music staff has been obsessed with this band photo for years. This is some kinda Philly music supergroup: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; guitar: Art Difuria (Photon Band); bass: Bryan Dilworth (Gelcaps, also a booker and artist manager); guitar: Mike Lenert (Caterpillar, Lettuce Prey, Panama, Photon Band); drums: Dave Frank (Wishniaks)

1995 Eccsame the Photon Band (SpinART) Features favorites "High Writer at Home" and "The Hermit Crab." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums, percussion, bass, vibraphone: Harold "Bear" Evans; organ, vibraphone, bass, tone cluster: Michael Deming (producer/arranger: Beachwood Sparks, Aspera, Apples in Stereo, Silver Jews, Flowchart); loops, synthesizer: Rich Costey (producer/mixer/engineer: Fiona Apple, Jon Brion, Franz Ferdinand, Mars Volta); french horn, flugle horn, cello, slide guitar: Robert Andreano (Sunny Murray, Bob Dickie); drums: Dave Frank.

1996 Better Can't Make Your Life Better (Primary/Che) Features favorites "A Nanny in Manhattan," "Returns Every Morning" and "Shovel Into Spade Kit." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; bass, vocals: Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers, Monsterland, producer of The Bigger Lovers); drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske (Miracle Workers). Featuring David Shuman (Rolla) playing bass on the reissue. Recorded by Michael Deming.

1997 Services for the Soon to Be Departed (Primary/Che) Six-song EP recorded at Studio 45 in Hartford, Conn. Features favorites "Hark An Open Channel" and "The First Half-Second." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; bass, vocals: Thom Monahan; drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske.

1999 Zero Population Growth (Darla) This krautrock-ish electronica CD was Volume 15 of Darla's Bliss Out series of ambient/electronica albums. The players: Kurt Heasley plus the intermittent Lily Archie Moore and Trevor Kampman (hollAnd, Sea Saw).

1999 The 3-Way (Sire) Features favorites "Dimes Make Dollars," "Leo Ryan (Our Pharaoh's Slave)" and "And One (On One)." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske; guitar: Torben Pastore (Ill Ease); banjo, guitar: James "Fuzzy" Sangiovani (Deep Banana Blackout, Rolla); strings: Anhared Stowe, Diane Frederickson, Katrina Smith, Kathleen Schiano; additional percussion: Marc Balling (Rolla); saxophone: Marianne Nielsen, Lisa LaDone (New England Jazz Ensemble).

2000 Lilys/Aspera Ad Astra (Tiger Style) A split EP with the former Philly band that later simplified itself to Aspera, recorded with 1994-era Lilys. The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Paul "Pablo" Naomi. Recorded by Art DiFuria.

2000 The 3-Way (Sire) Features favorites "Dimes Make Dollars," "Leo Ryan (Our Pharaoh's Slave)" and "And One (On One)." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass: Michael Deming; drums, percussion: Aaron Sperske; guitar: Torben Pastore (Ill Ease); banjo, guitar: James "Fuzzy" Sangiovani (Deep Banana Blackout, Rolla); strings: Anhared Stowe, Diane Frederickson, Katrina Smith, Kathleen Schiano; additional percussion: Marc Balling (Rolla); saxophone: Marianne Nielsen, Lisa LaDone (New England Jazz Ensemble).

2003 Precollection (Manifesto) Features favorites "Catherine (Let A Positive Stream…)," "Will My Lord Be Gardening" and "Mystery School Assembly." Producer, mixer, engineer and arranger: Mike Musmanno. The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; drums, percussion: Steven Keller (HiSoft); bass, vocals: Mickey Walker; guitar, percussion: Gerhardt Koerner (The Numbers, HiSoft); guitar: Don Devore; keyboards: Mike Musmanno.

2006 Everything Wrong Is Imaginary (Manifesto) Features favorites "A Diana's Diana" and "Black Carpet Magic." The players: guitar, vocals: Kurt Heasley; bass, keyboards, Oberheim programming, electric guitar: Michael Musmanno; drums, percussion, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel, vocals: Don Piper (A Don Piper Situation); guitars, vocals: Michael Johnson (Holopaw, solo artist); drums: Matt Horn (A Don Piper Situation); drums: Tommy Joyner (Marah, Polar Creep); drums: Steven Keller; bass: Chris McAllen (Miracle of '86); piano: Mario "Pel" Lopez (Human Television).

Are you a Lily? Oops! You're a Lily, but you're not on the tree? Wouldn't surprise us!