Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s are a musical collective from Indianapolis, Indiana. In an interview with Cincinnati’s WOXY.com, Margot bandleader Richard Edwards jested that their moniker comes from his daughter Margot (he doesn't have a daughter) and his enjoyment of president George W. Bush's pronunciation of the word “nuclear". There was also speculation it was named after a girl he met in California, mysteriously referred to as "Margot E.". In reality, the band is called Margot after Gwyneth Paltrow's character in the Wes Anderson film The Royal Tenenbaums.

The band's sound, categorized as "chamber pop", has been compared to the indie rock groups Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and The Shins, while incorporating elements of singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Conor Oberst.

Pre Margot

Richard Edwards was in a band during his college years called Archer Avenue (named after the street where the characters in The Royal Tenenbaums lived). The band self-released the album I Was An Astronaut in 2004. Before Archer Avenue, Edwards fronted the band Joey Hamilton.

Andy Fry was in The Academy before joining forces with Edwards to form Margot in 2004. He is also an engineer and producer, and a partner in Indianapolis recording studio Queensize. His brother is drummer Chris Fry, also formerly of The Academy. The Academy was previously known as Smart Milk, starting in late 1997 Bloomington, IN. Both are graduates of North Central High School in Indianapolis, and Indiana University, located in Bloomington, IN.

Emily Watkins graduated from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana in May 2005 with a B.A. in English. Tyler Watkins attended Ball State University and Full Sail Real World Education. Emily and Tyler, although sharing the same last name, are not related by blood or marriage. Tyler Watkins is the primary producer, with assistance from Fry, of the Margot recordings. He has also recorded many other Indiana bands, including ari.ari.

Cellist Jesse Lee and percussionist Casey Tennis have been friends, enemies, and musical collaborators since childhood growing up in Greencastle, Indiana. The two, along with Tyler and Andy, also play in the pop-punk band Pravada.

Formation of the band

According to their website, Edwards (vocals, guitars, bells, synth, melodica, banjo, percussion) and Fry (guitars, bass, synth, lap steel, melodica, banjo, percussion) met in a pet store. From there they struck up a friendship and formed the band. Current members include Chris Fry (drums, percussion), Lee (cello, vocals), Emily Watkins (keys, Rhodes piano, synth, vocals, “meows”) and Tyler Watkins (bass, guitar, synth).

Margot employs the talents of Kenny Childers (guest vocals), Hubert Glover (trumpet) and LonPaul Ellrich (various percussion). Originally signed by indie label Standard Recording Company, based in Indianapolis, Margot re-released their first album, The Dust of Retreat, on New York City's Artemis Records. Artemis' parent company, Sheridan Square Entertainment, recently purchased V2 Records North America, an international record label, which owns the rights to bands like The White Stripes, Grandaddy, Bloc Party and Moby.

Current Information and Upcoming Releases

Margot released an EP of live recordings done for the website Daytrotter on July 29. Two Margot full lengths were released on Oct. 7, 2008 - Animal! (vinyl and online download) and Not Animal (CD, vinyl, and online download). All releases were by Epic Records.

There have been delays in the release of Margot's second full length due to disagreements between the band and Epic records regarding the song selection of the album. Animal! is Margot's preferred version of their second full-length, while Not Animal is Epic's. Five songs appear on both releases (there are 12 tracks on each album). On their Myspace page, the band has said they would like fans to listen to Animal first.

Band members

• Richard Edwards - vocals, guitar
• Andy Fry - guitar
• Chris Fry - drums
• Hubert Glover - trumpet
• Casey Tennis - percussion
• Emily Watkins - keys, vocals
• Tyler Watkins - bass
• Erik Kang - violin, lap steel

Discography

• The Dust of Retreat (2006)
• Daytrotter Sessions EP (2008)
• Animal! (2008)
• Not Animal (2008)

Accolades

• XM Radio - Top 3 Unsigned Artists of 2005
• Audiolunchbox.com - #6 - Top Albums of 2005
• Marquee Magazine - #1 Show of 2005 (for their work at the South Park Music Festival)
• Spin Magazine's Who's Next for 2008

Trivia

• The entire band, at one time, lived together in a house in Indianapolis.
• Andy and Chris Fry are brothers.
• Edwards and Emily Watkins went to prom together
• All Margot artwork is painted by Stacy Novak, who also happens to be drummer Chris Fry's girlfriend.
• Four members of the band - Jesse, Casey, Tyler, and Andy - have another band together called Pravada.
• Richard and Andy also have another band called Panic Attacks.
• Margot songs were featured in an episode of FOX's Bones.

References

External links

• Margot & the Nuclear So and So's official website
• Margot and the Nuclear So and So's Live Recordings
• Interview on Brightest Young Things
• "Quiet as a Mouse" artist commentary
• Margot and The Nuclear So and So's at Haystack.com
• Margot & the Nuclear So and So's live on WOXY.com, November 28, 2005
• Margot Fan Forum