Ground Control Touring

The Olivia Tremor Control originated in Louisiana around 1988 as the
trio of W. Cullen Hart, Bill Doss, and Jeff Mangum. They ended up in
Athens, Georgia around 1992 and recorded the “California Demise” EP
which they released themselves on seven-inch vinyl.

After a while Jeff Mangum left to focus on his band Neutral Milk
Hotel, and another Louisiana native, John Fernandes joined the group
to play bass, clarinet, and violin, and they recorded the prelude to
their first album called “The Giant Day” EP.

Soon the band convinced Eric Harris, who had played with Bill in
Chocolate USA, to move to Athens to join the band as drummer,
thereminist, electronics expert and recording engineer. In 1996, their
debut double album “Music from the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at
Cubist Castle” was assembled, from years of 4-track tapes,  in the
Denver-based studio of childhood friend Robert Schneider.

After it’s release, Peter Erchick, who had grown up with Eric in New
Jersey, and also played in Chocolate USA,  joined the group to play
organ and piano.  They then exhaustively toured North America, Europe
and Japan opening for the Super Furry Animals, Beck, Stereolab, R.E.M.
and Derek Bailey, as well as many tours with Elephant 6 comrades
Neutral Milk Hotel, the Music Tapes, the Apples, Elf Power, etc.

Following the tours for their 1999 album, “Black Foliage: Animation
Music”, the band went on hiatus to focus on various projects. They did
some reunion shows in 2005 starting with an invitation from the All
Tomorrow’s Parties festival and ending with a joyful noise at the
Orange Twin conservation community.
6 years on, they are back in action, working on new recordings and
putting together a live show.

Currently, they are still performing the music to an unrealized film script.

PHOTO BY Jason Thrasher and Amy Hairston