Fishman Artist // Glen Phillips
Glen Phillips bravely struck out on a solo career after twelve years as the lead singer of Toad the Wet Sprocket. When he first went solo, it was under the auspices that he would be backed by Columbia Records, which had been Toad's label. At the last minute, they changed their mind and dropped him. This had a snowball effect as the other major labels lost interest.Glen was left with the unfamiliar feeling of struggling to find his place in the music world. He went from getting what he wanted in his career to feeling like he was starting over from the beginning. It wasn’t easy being unemployed with a wife and two kids, (he now has three). Now five years later, he has proven to the industry that he is a solid solo performer. An indie label picked him up in April 2001 and released his first record abulum.
Glen is an imaginative lyricist who writes about such topics as deadbeat dads (Men Just Leave), the death of his father (Darkest Hour) and living in a Fred Meyer store in a post-apocalyptic world (Fred Meyers).
Now that Glen is playing solo, he is able to play smaller venues much to the delight of his ardent supporters. In a more intimate setting, he is able to connect on another level with the audience, which makes for a more dynamic performance. He has built a loyal following and fans appreciate the fact that he’s so reachable. His genuine sincerity is felt at each performance and makes his reflective songs on life all the more affecting.
He has collaborated with well-known bluegrass band Nickel Creek several times and they’ve recorded an album titled Mutual Admiration Society which will hopefully be released soon. Glen has also written a song titled Departure for Ghosts of the Abyss, which is James Cameron’s IMAX movie about the Titanic.
It is a good thing Glen did not follow his original career goals of being a high school drama teacher because we might not have been blessed with his captivating melodies and profound lyrics. Glen's voice speaks for an introspective generation.