SXSW 2012

ABOUT COTTON MATHER Legendary indie rock outfit Cotton Mather was founded by Robert Harrison of Austin, Texas in the early 1990s. What started as an experimental collaboration with cellist Nat Shelton had by 1993 evolved into a guitar driven pop quartet defined by accessible melodies, strong vocal harmonies and lyrical wit.
The group (with the lineup Robert Harrison- guitar and vocals, Whit Williams guitar and vocals, Matt Hovis- bass and Greg Thibeaux- drums) released their debut Cotton is King in 1994 on the short lived ELM label. The follow-up Kontiki, famously recorded on 4-track cassette and ADAT drew praise from critics and rock-stars alike. By this time George Reiff had assumed bass playing honors and Dana Myzer had taken over on drums. In his 2007 book, Shake Some Action, John Borack rated Kontiki number 26 of his Top 200 Power Pop Albums of all time, comparing the album to Revolver-era Beatles, Big Star, and Apples in Stereo. NME suggested Cotton Mather might just be "... the most exciting guitar pop band since Supergrass." The group's final lineup with Harrison, Williams, Myzer and Josh Gravelin (bass) released the 7 song mini-album Hotel Baltimore in 2000 and The Big Picture in 2002. Cotton Mather's frontman and songwriter Robert Harrison went on to form Future Clouds and Radar in 2006, with a self-titled CD released on the Star Apple Kingdom label. Future Clouds and Radar was named by Harp Magazine in 2007 Debut Artist of the Year. FC&R then followed up their eponymous debut with the equally well received Peoria in 2009. The Star Apple Kingdom launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the re-release of the long out of print Kontiki. Kontiki (Deluxe Edition), featuring a second disc of 12 bonus tracks, comes out on Valentines Day, 2012.