{{Short description|American rock band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = | image = | image_size = | landscape = <!-- yes, if wide image, otherwise leave blank --> | alt = | caption = | alias = The Magoos | origin = Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States | genre = Alternative rock | years_active = {{start date|1986}}–{{end date|1995}} (intermittently since) | label = Mammoth | associated_acts = Hobex, Granger | website = | current_members = *Greg Humphreys * Kent Alphin * Chris Goode * Scott Carle | past_members = *Brooke Pitts * Trent Pitts * Jim Smith * Andy Ware | module = | module2 = | module3 = }} '''Dillon Fence''' was an American rock band from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They were initially active from the mid-1980s until 1995. The band released three full-length albums (''Rosemary'', ''Outside In'' and ''Living Room Scene'') on Mammoth Records.
==History== The group formed in 1986 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, originally named the Magoos, with an initial lineup of Greg Humphreys (guitar), Chris Goode (bass guitar), Kent Alphin (guitar), and Brooke Pitts (drums).<ref name="Mason">Mason, Stewart "[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dillon-fence-mn0000261912/biography Dillon Fence Biography]", Allmusic. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref> Humphreys and Goode had previously played together in a high school band.<ref name="Mason" /> They changed the band name to Dillon Fence prior to their first live performance,<ref name="Mason" /> derived from a regionally famous landmark fence made by local artists in the town of Dillon, South Carolina.<ref name="NR">"[http://www.greensboro.com/life/go_triad/dillon-fence-finds-its-way-back-on-tour/article_f78b4384-5c42-5301-8082-37233aba84da.html Dillon Fence finds its way back on tour]", ''Greensboro News & Record'', July 21, 2004. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref>
Pitts was replaced by his brother, Trent Pitts, due to a broken leg, prior to the recording of the band's self-titled first EP.,<ref name="Mason" /> and then by Scott Carle after the first album's release. They were signed by Mammoth Records in 1991, the label issuing the "Christmas" CD-single that year, and the band's debut album, the Ron Saint Germain-produced ''Rosemary'', the following year.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="Robbins">Robbins, Ira "[http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=dillon_fence Dillon Fence]", ''Trouser Press''. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref><ref>Jenkins, Mark (1992) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071216/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1001237.html Unnecessary Metal Added to Pop Fence]", ''The Washington Post'', April 17, 1992.</ref> Another EP (''Daylight'') followed,<ref>Jenkins, Mark (1993) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180121000020/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-944656.html 'Rosemary' Goes In Dillon Fence EP]", ''The Washington Post'', January 8, 1993.</ref> before the release of the band's second album, the Lou Giordano-produced'' Outside In'' in 1993.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="Robbins" /> The album raised the band's profile, although ''Option'' magazine described it as "like a whole record of oddly matched 70s radio rock".<ref>"Dillon Fence: Outside In", ''Option'', Issues 48-53, 1993, p. 435</ref>
''Living Room Scene'' followed in 1994, again on Mammoth, with Eastwest Records releasing it in the UK, and Atlantic Records in the rest of Europe, and built on the success of ''Outside In'' to become the group's biggest commercial success.<ref name="Mason" /><ref>Roach, Pemberton "[https://www.allmusic.com/album/living-room-scene-mw0000118933 ''Living Room Scene'' Review]", Allmusic. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref><ref>Jenkins, Mark (1994) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071212/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-911005.html Dillon Straddles Consistency Fence]", ''The Washington Post'', September 23, 1994.</ref>
Alphin and Goode left, to be replaced by Jim Smith and Andy Ware, and the band toured with both the Black Crowes and Hootie and the Blowfish, but the band split up in 1995 after demos for a fourth album were rejected by Mammoth.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="NR" /><ref name="Condran">Condran, Ed (2015) "[http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/music-news-reviews/article32357763.html Just like old times with Dillon Fence at Cat’s Cradle]", ''The News & Observer'', August 27, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref><ref>Manconi, David (1996) "[https://books.google.com/books?id=ogkEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22dillon+Fence%22&pg=PA20 Continental Drify: Chapel Hill, N.C.]", ''Billboard'', July 13, 1996, p. 20. Retrieved January 19, 2018 via Google Books</ref>
In December 2000, they regrouped for a three-date tour and recorded a double-CD album, ''Live at the Cat's Cradle''.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="Hanner">Hanner, Zach (2001) "[https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/dillon-fence/Content?oid=1184207 Dillon Fence]", ''Indy Week'', July 25, 2001. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref> They also did summer reunion tours in 2004 and 2005 to support the greatest hits album ''Best+''.<ref name="NR" /> As of the mid-2010s, Dillon Fence were still performing occasionally.<ref name="Condran" /><ref>Hussey, Alison (2017) "[https://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/the-state-fairs-musical-headliners-are-here-country-rock-an-eagles-tribute-andmarcy-playground/Content?oid=7740823 The State Fair's Musical Headliners Are Here—Country Rock, An Eagles Tribute, and...Marcy Playground?]", ''Indy Week'', August 30, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref>
Singer-songwriter Greg Humphreys' songs have been covered by bands like Hootie and the Blowfish (who used to open for them and later vice versa) and Letters to Cleo.
==Band members' other work== Greg Humphreys formed the soul-funk group Hobex, which has also featured Ware, and later the New York-based Greg Humphreys Electric Trio.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="Condran" /><ref>Devores, Cortney (2014) "[http://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/article9234614.html Dillon Fence/Hobex frontman back with new electric trio]", ''The Charlotte Observer'', November 20, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2018</ref> Scott Carle was in Collapsis (Cherry/Universal) in 2000.<ref name="Hanner" /> Later he joined the B-Sides with Ken Mosher (Squirrel Nut Zippers) and future members of The Never. Next was Marat, a heavy rock band on MoRisen records which included members of the Veldt (DesWhite), Snatches of Pink (MikeRank) and on vocals, John Ensslin from What Peggy Wants. As of 2008, Carle is playing with Bull City, a four-piece rock outfit, and also with Lost In The Trees, a 13-piece orchestra on Trekky records. Kent Alphin formed Granger after Dillon Fence and included Carle and G.Gilbert.<ref name="Mason" /><ref name="Robbins" /> Chris Goode was in Straddlecat while in Seattle, WA.<ref name="Hanner" />
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''Rosemary'' (1992), Mammoth * ''Outside In'' (1993), Mammoth * ''Living Room Scene'' (1994), Mammoth/Atlantic/Eastwest
;Live albums: * ''Live at the Cat's Cradle'' (2001), Phrex
;Compilations: * ''Best+'' (2004), MoRisen
===EPs, singles=== * ''Dillon Fence'' EP (1989), NOCAR * "Christmas" (1991), Mammoth * ''Daylight'' EP (1992), Mammoth * "Black Eyed Susan"/"The World's A Mess" (1993), Mammoth * ''Any Other Way'' EP (1993), Mammoth * ''Living Room Scene'' EP (1995), Mammoth
==References== {{Reflist}}
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Category:Musical groups from Chapel Hill-Carrboro, North Carolina Category:Alternative rock groups from North Carolina Category:American jangle pop groups Category:Musical groups established in 1986 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995