Kirby James Fairchild is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the
indie rock
Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...
bands
Grandaddy
Grandaddy is an American indie rock band from Modesto, California. The group was formed in 1992, and featured Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Jim Fairchild, Kevin Garcia and Tim Dryden, until Garcia's death in 2017 following a stroke.
After several ...
and
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members are lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Strongly influenced ...
. Fairchild has released solo material under the pseudonym All Smiles.
Biography
Born in
Fresno
Fresno () is a major city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley region. It covers about and had a population of 542,107 in 2020, maki ...
, California, Fairchild moved to
Modesto
Modesto () is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,464 at the 2020 census, it is the 19th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the Sacramento-Stockton- ...
at the age of two, and began to play guitar at the age of 14. He has lived in Los Angeles, Chicago,
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers, Portland is the county seat of Multnomah County, the most populous co ...
, San Francisco, and New York City. Since 2014 he has lived in Los Angeles.
Fairchild joined
Grandaddy
Grandaddy is an American indie rock band from Modesto, California. The group was formed in 1992, and featured Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Jim Fairchild, Kevin Garcia and Tim Dryden, until Garcia's death in 2017 following a stroke.
After several ...
as guitarist in 1995, and remained with the band until they broke up in 2006. He is featured on the
Giant Sand
Giant Sand is an American musical group from Tucson, Arizona, United States. Its most constant member is singer-songwriter Howe Gelb. The group started as Giant Sandworms in the late 1970s post-punk and paisley underground scenes. They later s ...
release, ''
Cover Magazine''. In 2001, he was the touring guitarist with Giant Sand, who were the opening act for
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments.
Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined loca ...
.
In 2005, Fairchild began touring as a guitarist in
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members are lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Strongly influenced ...
before
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr (born John Martin Maher, 31 October 1963) is an English musician, songwriter and singer. He first achieved fame as the guitarist and co-songwriter of the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 1987. He has since performed with numerous ...
joined the band. He released his first solo album, ''
Ten Readings of a Warning ''Ten Readings of a Warning'' is the first album by All Smiles. It was released on Dangerbird Records
Dangerbird Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, California. The label is home to artists from around the world and part of the ...
'', which he arranged to be
carbon neutral
Carbon neutrality is a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal (often through carbon offsetting) or by eliminating emissions from society (the transition to the "p ...
, in 2007, as well as a single, "Moth in a Cloud of Smoke". Musicians on the album include
Solon Bixler
Solon Ben Wixler (born January 4, 1977) is an American indie rock musician. He was Guitarist for the bands Thirty Seconds to Mars (2001-2003) and Earlimart. He is currently the lead male vocal and guitar player in the band Great Northern.
Early ...
,
Joe Plummer
Joseph E. Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. From 2004 to 2012 Plummer was a percussionist and drummer for the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, '' We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank''.
Before ...
,
Danny Seim
Lackthereof is the solo project of Danny Seim, a founding member of the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena.
History
The first six Lackthereof albums were recorded at home and given out to Seim's friends on cassettes and CD-R's. In 2005, FI ...
, and
Janet Weiss
Janet Lee Weiss (born September 24, 1965) is an American rock drummer, best known as a former member of Sleater-Kinney and a current member of Quasi. She was the drummer for Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, leaving after the album ''Mirror Traffic' ...
. The album art was created by
Natasha Wheat
Natasha Rose Wheat (born
October 25, 1981) is an Interdisciplinary arts, interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in the United States.
Her works have been described as situational constructions, often transforming her audience into co-pa ...
. Fairchild rejoined Modest Mouse in February 2009, and has continued to tour with them both nationally and internationally. Fairchild released his second album, ''
Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go'', on June 30, 2009. Band members on the album were Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell,
, and Joe Plummer. After recording in
Austin
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
, Chicago, Los Angeles, Modesto, and Portland, All Smiles released the EP ''Fall Never Fell'' on November 17, 2009. The EP was recorded with musicians Solon Bixler, Mike Cresswell, Nik Freitas, Chico Jones, Dave Osborne, Joe Plummer, Danny Seim, Rachel Stolte and Alance Ward.
He resumed his position in
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members are lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Strongly influenced ...
in 2009. He participated in the writing and recording of their 2015 album, ''
Strangers to Ourselves
''Strangers to Ourselves'' is the sixth album by American alternative rock band Modest Mouse, which was released on March 17, 2015, two weeks after its initially announced release date of March 3. The album was leaked to the internet on March 7, ...
''.
In 2010, Fairchild was selected to lead a project at the
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is a modern and contemporary art museum located in San Francisco, California. A nonprofit organization, SFMOMA holds an internationally recognized collection of modern and contemporary art, and was ...
, and was credited on
Admiral Radley's first album, ''I Heart California''.
On March 1, 2011, Fairchild released All Smiles third full-length album, ''Staylow and Mighty'', on his own Small Aisles label. This album included contributions from
Joe Plummer
Joseph E. Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. From 2004 to 2012 Plummer was a percussionist and drummer for the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, '' We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank''.
Before ...
,
Danny Seim
Lackthereof is the solo project of Danny Seim, a founding member of the Portland, Oregon-based band Menomena.
History
The first six Lackthereof albums were recorded at home and given out to Seim's friends on cassettes and CD-R's. In 2005, FI ...
, and
Gary Jarman
Gary John Jarman is a British multi-instrumentalist, best known for being bassist and singer in the Wakefield music group The Cribs. Formed in 2002, The Cribs have released eight albums to date, and numerous singles and EPs. their latest thre ...
.
Between Modest Mouse tours, Koley O'Brien and Fairchild began periodically writing and recording for a new project in 2017. Following O'Brien's tragic passing in a car accident in April 2019, Jim released the four songs they had completed on his Between A and B imprint.
In March 2020, Fairchild launched a new project, Grace Meridian, in collaboration with Temme Scott, Joe Plummer, and Mike Cresswell, also on Between A and B.
Fairchild became Director of A&R for Dangerbird Records in March 2020.
Fairchild announced his departure from Modest Mouse in June 2021 via Instagram.
Personal life
Fairchild's wife is artist
Natasha Wheat
Natasha Rose Wheat (born
October 25, 1981) is an Interdisciplinary arts, interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in the United States.
Her works have been described as situational constructions, often transforming her audience into co-pa ...
.
Discography
Albums released as All Smiles:
* ''
Ten Readings of a Warning ''Ten Readings of a Warning'' is the first album by All Smiles. It was released on Dangerbird Records
Dangerbird Records is an independent record label in Los Angeles, California. The label is home to artists from around the world and part of the ...
'' (Dangerbird Records, 2007)
* ''
Oh for the Getting and Not Letting Go'' (Small Aisles, 2009)
* ''Fall Never Fell'' (EP) (Small Aisles, 2009)
* ''Staylow and Mighty'' (Small Aisles, 2011)
* ''Mostly Cloudy, Morning Night'' (2012)
With
Grandaddy
Grandaddy is an American indie rock band from Modesto, California. The group was formed in 1992, and featured Jason Lytle, Aaron Burtch, Jim Fairchild, Kevin Garcia and Tim Dryden, until Garcia's death in 2017 following a stroke.
After several ...
:
* ''
Under the Western Freeway
''Under the Western Freeway'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. It was released on October 21, 1997, by record label Will.
The album, while not commercially successful, was well received by music critics.
Release ...
'' (
V2 Records
V2 Records (or V2 Music; V2 being an abbreviation for Virgin 2) is a record label that was purchased by Universal Music Group in 2007 and sold to IASin 2013. In the Benelux, V2 operates separately from PIAS, as the label bought itself out from ...
, 1997)
* ''
The Broken Down Comforter Collection
''The Broken Down Comforter Collection'' is a compilation album by American indie rock band Grandaddy, released in June 1999 by record label Big Cat. It is a combination of the tracks from the mini-album '' A Pretty Mess by This One Band'' and the ...
'' (V2 Records, 1999)
* ''
The Sophtware Slump
''The Sophtware Slump'' is the second studio album by American indie rock band Grandaddy. It was released in May 2000 by record label V2. It is seen by some as a concept album about problems concerning modern technology in society. The album was ...
'' (V2 Records, 2000)
* ''
Sumday'' (V2 Records, 2003)
* ''The Ham and Its Lily'' (2003)
** ''The Ham and Its Lily'' was a humorous release by Grandaddy under the band name "Arm of Roger"
With
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members are lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Strongly influenced ...
:
* ''
Strangers to Ourselves
''Strangers to Ourselves'' is the sixth album by American alternative rock band Modest Mouse, which was released on March 17, 2015, two weeks after its initially announced release date of March 3. The album was leaked to the internet on March 7, ...
'' (Epic, 2015)
*''
The Golden Casket'' (Epic, 2021)
Other releases:
*
Howe Gelb
Howe Gelb (born October 22, 1956, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer based in Tucson, Arizona.
Projects
Gelb's approach to music is collaborative and he has recorded with a number of s ...
, "Can't Help Falling in Love with You" (1998)
*
Giant Sand
Giant Sand is an American musical group from Tucson, Arizona, United States. Its most constant member is singer-songwriter Howe Gelb. The group started as Giant Sandworms in the late 1970s post-punk and paisley underground scenes. They later s ...
, ''
Cover Magazine'' (on selected tracks, 2002)
*
The Band of Blacky Ranchette, "Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" (2003)
* Goldcard, "The Rabbit Song" (2003)
*
Earlimart, ''
Treble and Tremble
''Treble & Tremble'' is the fourth album by Earlimart (band), Earlimart. The first single was "Heaven Adores You," and a music video was produced to accompany the song.
The album was influenced by Elliott Smith. In an interview with Pitchfork Me ...
'' (Palm Pictures, 2004)
* Peter Walker, ''Young Gravity'' (Producer) (Dangerbird Records, 2006)
*
Dappled Cities
Dappled Cities (formerly "Dappled Cities Fly") are an indie rock band from Sydney, Australia.
History 1997–2003
The band came together as teenagers in the northern suburbs of Sydney in 1997. Dave Rennick and original drummer Hugh Boyce wer ...
, ''
Granddance
''Granddance'' is the second album by Australian band Dappled Cities Fly, released in 2006. The album was recorded at Sunset Sound, Sanora Recorders and New Monkey Studios in Los Angeles in July 2006 and produced by Jim Fairchild (Grandaddy) and P ...
'' (Dangerbird Records, 2007)
*
Admiral Radley, "
I Heart California
''I Heart California'' is the debut studio album by American indie rock band Admiral Radley, a collaboration of members from the bands Grandaddy and Earlimart. It was released on July 13, 2010, by record label The Ship.
Reception
''I Heart ...
" (The Ship, 2010)
*
A, B, and The Sea, "
Constant Vacation
Constant or The Constant may refer to:
Mathematics
* Constant (mathematics), a non-varying value
* Mathematical constant, a special number that arises naturally in mathematics, such as pi, or
Other concepts
* Control variable or scientific co ...
" (Producer on Selected Tracks) (2012)
*
Donna Missal
Donna Joy Missal is an American singer-songwriter from New Jersey.
Early life and career
Missal grew up in a musical family; her grandmother was a songwriter in the 1950s and her father was a musician in the 1980s. She co-wrote and performed ...
, "
Stop The World" (Writer) (2016)
*
Hawai, "
Alive and Who Am I" (Writer) (Antler, 2017)
*
Cale and The Gravity Well, "
Creation Myths
A creation myth (or cosmogonic myth) is a symbolic narrative of how the world began and how people first came to inhabit it., "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Creation myths develop ...
" (Producer and Writer) (Made in the Shade, 2017)
*
Lontalius
''Lontalius'' is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. Its single species, ''Lontalius eltus'', is found in Borneo and the Philippines. Both the genus and species were first described by John Nevill Eliot
Lt. Col. John Nevill ...
, "
That Includes You" (Writer) (Partisan, 2018)
*
Lontalius
''Lontalius'' is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. Its single species, ''Lontalius eltus'', is found in Borneo and the Philippines. Both the genus and species were first described by John Nevill Eliot
Lt. Col. John Nevill ...
, "
Nothing Makes Me Feel Stronger" (Writer) (PBWH, 2019)
*
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American rock band formed in 1992 in Issaquah, Washington, and currently based in Portland, Oregon. The founding members are lead singer/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. Strongly influenced ...
, "
Poison the Well" (Epic, 2019)
*
Koley, "
All Day I Dream About" (Producer and Writer) (Between A and B, 2019)
*
Ethan Gruska, "
Enough For Now" (Writer) (Warner, 2020)
*
Grace Meridian, "
Clover to Clover" (Between A and B, 2020)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fairchild, Jim
American rock musicians
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
Songwriters from California
Record producers from California
Living people
Musicians from Modesto, California
Singers from California
Guitarists from California
Modest Mouse members
21st-century American singers
21st-century American guitarists
21st-century American male singers
Dangerbird Records artists
V2 Records artists
American male songwriters
Year of birth missing (living people)