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MEDIA FAQ
What's
in a name?
The Whole Bolivian Army owes its name to original bass player
and cofounder Steve Miller. The name itself is a reference to
the final scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,
when the two American outlaws are surrounded by what seems like
the entire armed forces of Bolivia.
When did
the band form? 1993.
Who is
The Whole Bolivian Army? As of summer 2009, TWBA is led by the
wife-and-husband team of Mary Beth (vocals) and Matt Kite (guitar).
The rest of the lineup varies from project to project, show to
show. TWBA has seen several incarnations, both as a five-piece
and four-piece band (go here for an entertaining look at the band's sprawling
history).
Where is
TWBA from?
Seattle, roughly.
What kind
of music does TWBA play? Indie rock, modern rock, left-of-center
pop. Influences include U2, Kate Bush, Radiohead, and Throwing
Muses. TWBA has been compared to several bands, including The
Sundays, 10,000 Maniacs, Veruca Salt, Garbage, and Souxie and
the Banshees. None of the comparisons are quite on the mark.
TWBA's sound is elastic and changes from album to album, with
North
by Nowhere
(2006) its most refined, War Stories (2003) its loudest, Be (2001) its lushest,
Amnesty (1999) its most well-rounded,
Spinner (1998) its most passionate,
The
Whole Bolivian Army (1997) its most eclectic, and Hazen (1995) its most... embryonic.
TWBA's newest EP, Morning After Food Poisoning in the
South of France (2008), might be the band's best offering to date.
Where have
I seen you guys and gal? TWBA has made appearances at the Bite
of Portland (2000), Bite of Seattle (1998, 2000, 2002, 2004),
Edmonds Arts Festival (2000, 2008), Fremont Fair (1998, 2000),
Oktoberfest (2001), Pike Place Market Street Festival (2000-2002),
Rockrgrl (2000), Seahawks Stadium (2003), Super Saturday (2004,
2008), U-District Street Fair (2001-2), and Wilmafest (1998-99).
For a complete list of previous shows, go here (scroll down).
Questions? Contact Matt Kite at
twba1@msn.com. Stage plot, contact
information, and other materials available upon request.
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DISCOGRAPHY
Click on the
album title below for sample songs, press clips, lyrics, and
album credits:
Morning
After Food Poisoning in the South of France (2008)
North
by Nowhere
(2006)
War
Stories
(2003)
Be (2001)
Amnesty (1999)
Spinner (1998)
The
Whole Bolivian Army (1997)
Hazen (1995)
COMPILATIONS
Ad 2's Drip;
Heyday Records' The Last Time I Went to Las Vegas; CMJ's
Certain Damage (Vol. 96, 115); The Bread Alone Project
(Vol. 1); Seattle Peace Concerts' Picking Up the Peaces;
Blimp Kitty Records' Best of Seattle (No. 3, 5).
COMMUNITY
TWBA runs its
own label, Gargantuan Records, and has played an active
role in the Seattle music community for the last several years.
Along with spawning Wilmafest (a foofy-free, estrogen-fortified
version of Lilith Fair) and Gargantuan Productions (a
short-lived musicians' co-op), the band has donated performances
and/or recordings to Amnesty International, Students Against
Violence Everywhere, the Bread Alone Project, Home Alive, Northwest
Harvest, Seattle Peace Concerts, and the Washington State Arthritis
Foundation.
HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS

Mary Beth Kite,
vocals
- Photo by
Matt Kite
- color, 550 KB |

Mary Beth Kite,
vocals
- Photo by
Scott Ross
- color, 392 KB |

Matt (guitar) and
Mary Beth (vocals) Kite
- Photo by
Scott Ross
- black & white, 331 KB |
Matt (guitar) and Mary Beth (vocals)
Kite
- Photo by
Scott Ross
- black & white, 299 KB |
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