Bombadil (band)

History

Bombadil began in early 2004 after guitarist Bryan Rahija and bassist Daniel Michalak studying abroad in Bolivia as students at Duke University. They recorded several demos at an elementary school in La Paz during their spare time.

After returning to the U.S., Michalak recruited his brother John to write drum parts. Pianist and friend Stuart Robinson joined the band a few months later.

After a busy year of touring and writing, Bombadil signed with Ramseur Records of Concord, North Carolina after playing a show with The Avett Brothers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The group immediately set out recording a debut EP, which was released in May 2006. John Michalak left the band to pursue medical school and was replaced by James Phillips in the fall of 2007.

The group released their first full-length album entitled A Buzz, A Buzz on April 29, 2008. The band toured throughout the United States, playing festivals like Bonnaroo, FloydFest, Pickathon, and Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion to support the album.

Their second album, Tarpits and Canyonlands, was recorded with Scott Solter and released on July 7, 2009.

From July 2009 to December 2010, the band was on hiatus due to Daniel suffering from nerve damage in his hands. Stuart Robinson also briefly left the band during this time to pursue academic interests, but later returned.

The band gathered in Portland, Oregon to record a follow up to Tarpits and Canyonlands in November 2010. The album was recorded by drummer James Phillips in a barn on Pendarvis Farm (the same barn where The Decemberists recorded The King is Dead). The album, released on November 8, 2011, is named All That the Rain Promises. The title is a reference to the mushroom collecting book All That the Rain Promises and More.

In the summer of 2011, the four members moved back to Durham to record Metrics of Affection, which was released on July 25, 2014. After recording Metrics of Affection, Bryan Rahija left the band to attend business school at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

In Rahija's absence, the other members recorded Hold On, their 5th full-length album. The album was released on March 24, 2015. "Amy's Friend," a song from the album, was used on the soundtrack to the movie Trainwreck.

On March 4, 2015 it was announced that Stuart Robinson would be leaving the band to pursue personal interests, and Daniel and James would continue writing and touring as Bombadil. During September 2016, the band, with new member Stacy Harden, recorded Fences, their 6th full-length album, with producer John Vanderslice in San Francisco. The album is scheduled for release in March 2017.

Current members

Past members

Full-Length Albums

EPs

7-inches

Singles