Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter

Formed from the ashes of two influential alternative country bands, Whiskeytown and Hominy, the duo of lead singer/guitarist Jesse Sykes and guitarist Phil Wandscher met in 1999 in Seattle's Hattie Hat bar. Sykes had just ended a relationship with Jim Sykes (her musical partner in the band Hominy) and had slowed her songwriting down, but a new seed sprouted when she met Wandscher. The pair began performing as a duo and received much praise, creating a slow buzz. The group eventually added drummer Kevin Warner, bassist Bill Herzog, and violinist Anne Marie Ruljancich. After ent...