"I think I am in 5 different bands right now?!?" - Kristian Bush, November 2023
So
there is Dark Water, kinda best described as a modern interpretation of
the Greatful Dead, minus the hallucinogenics. Then there is the
instrumental background musical creation, Cabin Chill. Solo artist.
Musical playright. Then there is some multi-platinum, Grammy grabbing,
country band called "Sugarland", or something like that. BUT BEFORE ALL
OF THAT.... there was billy pilgrim!
First
heard them on WXRT, back in the 90s, when folks like Terri and Lin and
Norm and everyone else still had control and input over what went out
over the airwaves, and I was hooked-- what can I say, I apparently have
a strong affinity for acoustic rock duos. Saw them opening for Melissa
Etheridge and also Mary Karlzen (I think, it was nearly 30 years ago!), and saw them headlining their own shows later, including a reunion concert at Eddie's Attic in 2016
from wikipedia - Billy Pilgrim (often stylized billy pilgrim) is an American folk rock duo based in Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush. The band's name was taken from the time-traveling antihero of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Slaughterhouse Five. The name was adopted in 1994; prior to that the duo simply billed itself as Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush. The band has released two albums on a major record label (Billy Pilgrim, Bloom) and several independently. The songs "Get Me Out Of Here" and "Sweet Louisiana Sound" were released as singles.
Kristian Bush and Andrew Hyra (the brother of actress Meg Ryan) first began performing together in 1990. After about a year, they started recording their songs to tape. The self-release St. Christopher's Crossing was recorded in two days in a studio in Knoxville, Tennessee and appeared in 1991 (credited to "Andrew Hyra & Kristian Bush") on cassette. The album was released on CD in 1992 when Amy Ray of Indigo Girls helped them with the release costs. Playing hundreds of shows in the Southeast, their effort was noticed and they proceeded to record their second album Words Like Numbers under the indie label Sister Ruby. After this they signed to Atlantic Records, naming the group Billy Pilgrim.
In 1993 Billy Pilgrim recorded their debut album Billy Pilgrim at Nickel and Dime Studios, with Don McCollister producing and Hugh Padgham mixing the record. The eponymous album was a moderate success when released in 1994. With the next album, Bloom, the band launched a fall tour, headlining larger venues than they had in the past. Yet in early 1996, the band was dropped by Atlantic. After releasing several albums through Internet only, the album In the Time Machine became their last effort to date, released on May 12, 2001, and was rereleased in 2020.
In 2016 Billy Pilgrim reunited during the annual Thanksgiving shows Kristian Bush stages in Decatur, Georgia. It was the first time in 15 years they shared the stage.
Their single "Insomniac" (written by Bush) has been a favorite of numerous a cappella groups.