Thomas Trimble-vocals, guitars
David Feeny-pedal steel, guitars, keyboards, vocals
Garth Girard-bass, vocals
American Mars was formed in 1995 by Thomas Trimble, Brad Richards, Karla Richardson, and Dave Lentz. The band’s debut album, Late, was produced by David Feeny and released in 1997. The band was joined for its 1997 tour by guitarist Gary Watts, formerly of Crossed Wire.
The group’s first line-up disbanded after touring in support of Late. Trimble re-formed the band in 2000 with Late-producer David Feeny (Hysteric Narcotics, The Orange Roughies), bassist Garth Girard, and drummer Mike Popovich. In 2001, the band released its second album, No City Fun.
In 2008, the group released its third full-length, Westernsides, on Gangplank Records. Westernsides featured the line-up of Trimble, Feeny, Girard, and drummer Charlie Koltak. Westernsides received positive national reviews from American Songwriter and Harp magazine.
In 2012, American Mars released its fourth full-length album, Chasing Vapor, with drummer Alex Trajano. In addition to nine originals, the album included a cover of Paul McCartney and Denny Laine’s 70’s hit “Mull of Kintyre.”
The group went on hiatus in 2016 with the release of Exposure. In addition to Trimble, Feeny, and Girard, Exposure featured drummers Brian Ferriby and Woody Saunders and contributions by Flogging Molly violinist Bridget Regan.
Over its history, American Mars’ opened for The National, The Avett Brothers, Elbow, Clem Snide, Magnolia Electric Company, Richard Buckner, and 16 Horsepower.
Discography
Late (1997), No City Fun (2001), Western Sides (2008), Chasing Vapor (2012), Exposure (2016)
Press
“There are, in fact, twin guitars in American Mars, but not the kind you’d expect from a Motor City act. Instead, guitarist/vox Thomas Trimble muses darkly over cold hearts and a cold heartland while producer/pedal steel player David Feeny adds twinkling touches. “-The Austin Chronicle
“…atmospheric heartland roots rock that romps like Ryan Adams and ruminates like Joe Henry.” – Harp Magazine
“…Western Sides doesn’t aim to sound downbeat so much as honest about the long odds of life and love in the industrial Midwest, and the songs are built around hooks that manage the neat trick of creating a world of heartache that you can whistle along with in the car.” – All Music
“Westernsides is an explosion of a different kind of pent-up experience – that is, the everyday kind made up of the growth, death, boredom, discovery, and everything else that falls between those low-key ecstasies and decay that make up an ordinary life.” – Detroit Metro Times
“A dynamic and studied work from Detroit-based American Mars with first-rate songs from the band and exceptional production” – Freight Train Boogie
“American Mars, during the years between recordings, has become a leaner, more confusing, and profound rock & roll band by aiming for the lyrical places where only ghosts dare to whisper and the musical spaces where past, present, and future bleed into one another as the timelessness of one endless twilight sky.” – Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
“American Mars’ No City Fun is a pedal steel-laden, song-driven disc rich with gentle sadness, melodic acumen and knotty wordplay whose reference points fall somewhere between Yo La Tengo, Calexico and the Flying Burrito Brothers. In a just world, American Mars would be huge. – Brian Smith, Detroit Metro Times
“Living on the hard edge of Americana, drawing well-crafted emotional vignettes in chiaroscuro, looking at familiar things through the eyes of a stranger.” – Karen Koski, Billboard
“A sense of haunting floats throughout No City Fun, the second album for the revered Detroit ensemble. It’s a sort of unearthly heartland rock…just in time to call it one of the best albums of 2001.” – Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press
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