Tilly and the Wall

• http://www.myspace.com/officialtillyandthewall
• http://www.tillyandthewall.com
• Omaha, NE, anomaly Tilly and the Wall, formed in 2001 out of the ashes of several groups -- including Conor Oberst's pre-Bright Eyes endeavor, Park Avenue -- and gained some underground notoriety for their unorthodox approach to percussion: forsaking the traditional drum kit for the amplified tap shoes of dancer Jamie Williams, and hand percussion supplied by vocalists Neely Jenkins and Kianna Alarid. Rounded out by guitarist/vocalist Derek Pressnall and keyboardist Nick White (a contributor to Bright Eyes' live sets), the five-piece recorded a six-track demo titled Woo! in Oberst's basement that passed through enough hands to allow Tilly and the Wall an opportunity to tour. The group settled down to record, issuing a 7" titled 7 Inch on Rue Royal Records and subsequently convened to record their debut full-length, due out as the flagship release on Team Love, Oberst's sister label to Saddle Creek, in the spring of 2004. Bottoms of Barrels found a more confident and warmer sound from the band. It was released in 2006.
  --by Gregory McIntosh