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About WigPR
WigPR takes its name from the spirit of the brilliant “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,� John
Cameron Mitchell’s story of fabulous creativity against cruel adversity. We’re a coupla
publicists lead by Ashley Graham, a Seattle-via-Los Angeles-via-Spokane force-ta-be-
reckoned-with who, due to her love of great music and great writing, has been able to move
unique bands forward that may have otherwise not seen their due (beyond those fervent
fanbases!).
Recently, ex-Light In The Attic publicist and fellow scribe Chris Estey (The Black Angels, Betty
Davis) came on board at WigPR, starting with Aviation Records’ new band See Me River,
which has gotten rich approval from Seattle alt-weekly luminaries Eric Grandy and Hannah
Levin. Ashley and Chris met last year while working for The Blakes together for Light in the
Attic--a band they both still love to bits!
For further examples of WigPR’s fine accomplishments, as this is written, roster-dominators
Team Gina have been sparking adoration from national media as they tour across the country.
And new client Athens Boys Choir is getting love from Dan Savage of the Stranger and
elsewhere. But it all started with a Spokane roots-rock band called Seaweed Jack, and that is
where we begin our…
Frequently Asked Questions
(questions by Chris Estey, responses by Ashley Graham)
1.) What was it about Seaweed Jack that attracted you?
Seaweed Jack had something onstage I'd never known (let alone locally, let alone locally in
Spokane). When I met them, their domination of Spokane was already in the works and I was to
interview them for local rag, The Finger. It was a hot June day as only Eastern Washington can
provide, and they were sprawled out all over the porch of their shared home near Gonzaga
University. Geoff was in a hammock off the front of the house, Anthony was stretched out on a
couch, Brian and Jack were sitting on the railing (and another fella, who’s turned out to be
one of the best people I’ve ever met, Pete Murray, was on a porch swing). They were
shirtless, scruffy college dudes (perhaps my least favorite breed of human), but full of high
hopes and incredible talent, and they turned into family (…even Jack and Brian). I helped
Seaweed Jack for a couple of years and one of the most magical nights of my life thusfar was
their final show here in July ‘07 at the Comet, when it was obvious the response they’d
gotten, the ground they’d covered, and the potential that still followed them up, up, up into
that little band heaven in the sky. I miss them… oh, so much. Seaweed Jack was my best friend
in band form. But, from great things come other great things, and now Hockey is in my life and I
couldn’t feel more fortunate for that (both for the music, and for those Anthony Stassi hugs,
I woulda missed those...).
2.) Why is the roster so... roots-based singer-songwriter?
Is it?
3.) And/or queer?
Well, but…
4.) And/or Shim?
What the hell IS going on with this roster?! Well, this makes a nice point. My favorite thing about
the roster is that it’s crazy diverse. I don’t want to pitch the same thing twenty times a
day, so maybe it’s mostly structured to keep me interested in what I’m doing. In any
given hour of my day I can go from talking about See Me River to Athens Boys Choir to
TacocaT to Cyrus Fell Down to Team Gina. AND I LOVE IT.
5.) Brag a little, Ash. Three biggest PR accomplishments you think you've had.
Two words: TEAM GINA. Team Gina profiled in the Advocate. Team Gina on the Venus Zine
website. Team Gina featured in a full-page spread in the Athens Banner-Herald. Number 1 =
Team Gina’s general takeover of the world (and it’s just begun!). Other highlights:
Seaweed Jack’s Haunt being “Album of the Month� in Performer magazine (total
shock); Shim in print in Seattle for the first time ever thanks to Ms. Hannah Levin (felt amazing);
getting Pitchfork and Filter love for the Blakes at Sasquatch ’07. I’m very fortunate to
have so many talented and wonderful people in my life, and to have been able to share them
with talented and wonderful people who have gotten behind their music and helped get the word
out.
6.) Think of your favorite publicist and tell me why you respect them so much.
Anybody who handles the big shots without bein’ a d-baaaaag! Just kidding (but seriouslyâ
€¦). I had the good fortune of working with Ever Kipp while interning at Barsuk Records and I
must say that Ever is my favorite publicist in the world. He’s a class act, not to mention one
heck of a support-supplier and has had my back and rallied behind me on multiple much-
needed occasions. Honorary mention to all the publicists I’ve worked with in any capacity:
Tim Plumley, Juliana Plotkin, Frank Nieto, Dana Erickson, Brendan Bourke, Joan Hiller, etc, etc.
7.) Why are you in Seattle?
Let me start this by saying that I have lived in LA twice, for about a year and a half collectively,
each time leaving and each time moving to Seattle. The first time I returned to Seattle, I began
college again (let’s say, following a craptastic year at Loyola Marymount) and started The
Wig Fits All Heads. I interned for House of Blues, met the amazing Ever Kipp (and Wes
Howerton-holler!) while interning at Barsuk Records and started freelancing for some
magazines, namely Chord Magazine (LA) and Out There Monthly (Spokane). I saw the Blakes
for the first time (March ‘05), Shim (April ‘05), Casy & Brian (April ‘05), etc and started
putting on shows (the first being in December ‘05 w/ Seaweed Jack). Then I graduated and
moved to LA to be a publicist. I worked with the AMAZING Juliana Plotkin and Tim Plumley at Ink
Tank PR at the task of tour press for acts like Silversun Pickups, The Casualties, Peter Walker
and Flogging Molly, and after two months decided, while ever-appreciative of the opportunity
(still today!), that it wasn’t the right match. I taught preschool for the next five months, and
during that time (November 2006) started WigPR. In my farewell letter to my students and their
parents, I explained how it felt to have my life in Seattle continuing without my physical
presence, and indeed it had: The Wig was thriving, and so were my new bands. I moved back to
Seattle in February 2007 and haven’t looked back. Since my return, I’ve built an
amazing family of people I love and trust and who love and trust me--a family of Ginas and
Shims and Llamas and Casys and Brians and Blakes and Anthony, Benny & Jerms and Katzs
and Kendricks and Nickys and Clicks and Blushes, etc and etc, on and on… and I couldn’t
be happier.
Â
8.) How did your relationships with both Don't Stop Believin' and Aviation come about?
Kerry and I got off to a rough start. Back when the Wig was a-presentin’ shows, we (as
everyone does, I hope…) had some serious stinkers. Now, while Kerry’s band Das Llamas
was involved in a couple good ones (actually, that was back in the stabmasterarson days), they
got stuck on a bill that just, I’ll admit it, totally sucked. We had an ill-fated monthly showcase
at the Mars Bar that was trying its damndest to work out its (insurmountable) kinks, and DLL
were going to play the first show of the series. I won’t name names but there were three
other bands on the bill and two of them never showed up and the third one didn’t end up
playing. It was awful. DLL, as any self-respecting band would be, were quite upset, and there
was a period of months there when that got back to me (or, god, poor Katie-I’m still so
sorry) on a couple of occasions. To his credit, though, Mr. Zettel later accepted my offer to do
PR for Das Llamas (after some time had passed and some wounds had healed) and now we
have a life-long contract between WigPR & Aviation Records (I swear, he even signed it!). Yay
for renewed trust!
As for Megan Birdsall and her Don’t Stop Believin’ empire… When I started WigPR, I
wanted to work the Pharmacy and approached Megan. Pieces fell into place and I was given the
opportunity to work a whole slew of her bands, one of which turned out to be the amazing Team
Gina, and the rest is history…
9.) Name a few of your favorite music magazines.
Â
WigPR specializes in press so we are always deep into the writ. We’re big fans of The
Fader, Paste, Skyscraper, Filter, Magnet, Interview, BUST, Venus Zine, Under The Radar,
among so many more.
WigPR takes its name from the spirit of the brilliant “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,� John
Cameron Mitchell’s story of fabulous creativity against cruel adversity. We’re a coupla
publicists lead by Ashley Graham, a Seattle-via-Los Angeles-via-Spokane force-ta-be-
reckoned-with who, due to her love of great music and great writing, has been able to move
unique bands forward that may have otherwise not seen their due (beyond those fervent
fanbases!).
Recently, ex-Light In The Attic publicist and fellow scribe Chris Estey (The Black Angels, Betty
Davis) came on board at WigPR, starting with Aviation Records’ new band See Me River,
which has gotten rich approval from Seattle alt-weekly luminaries Eric Grandy and Hannah
Levin. Ashley and Chris met last year while working for The Blakes together for Light in the
Attic--a band they both still love to bits!
For further examples of WigPR’s fine accomplishments, as this is written, roster-dominators
Team Gina have been sparking adoration from national media as they tour across the country.
And new client Athens Boys Choir is getting love from Dan Savage of the Stranger and
elsewhere. But it all started with a Spokane roots-rock band called Seaweed Jack, and that is
where we begin our…
Frequently Asked Questions
(questions by Chris Estey, responses by Ashley Graham)
1.) What was it about Seaweed Jack that attracted you?
Seaweed Jack had something onstage I'd never known (let alone locally, let alone locally in
Spokane). When I met them, their domination of Spokane was already in the works and I was to
interview them for local rag, The Finger. It was a hot June day as only Eastern Washington can
provide, and they were sprawled out all over the porch of their shared home near Gonzaga
University. Geoff was in a hammock off the front of the house, Anthony was stretched out on a
couch, Brian and Jack were sitting on the railing (and another fella, who’s turned out to be
one of the best people I’ve ever met, Pete Murray, was on a porch swing). They were
shirtless, scruffy college dudes (perhaps my least favorite breed of human), but full of high
hopes and incredible talent, and they turned into family (…even Jack and Brian). I helped
Seaweed Jack for a couple of years and one of the most magical nights of my life thusfar was
their final show here in July ‘07 at the Comet, when it was obvious the response they’d
gotten, the ground they’d covered, and the potential that still followed them up, up, up into
that little band heaven in the sky. I miss them… oh, so much. Seaweed Jack was my best friend
in band form. But, from great things come other great things, and now Hockey is in my life and I
couldn’t feel more fortunate for that (both for the music, and for those Anthony Stassi hugs,
I woulda missed those...).
2.) Why is the roster so... roots-based singer-songwriter?
Is it?
3.) And/or queer?
Well, but…
4.) And/or Shim?
What the hell IS going on with this roster?! Well, this makes a nice point. My favorite thing about
the roster is that it’s crazy diverse. I don’t want to pitch the same thing twenty times a
day, so maybe it’s mostly structured to keep me interested in what I’m doing. In any
given hour of my day I can go from talking about See Me River to Athens Boys Choir to
TacocaT to Cyrus Fell Down to Team Gina. AND I LOVE IT.
5.) Brag a little, Ash. Three biggest PR accomplishments you think you've had.
Two words: TEAM GINA. Team Gina profiled in the Advocate. Team Gina on the Venus Zine
website. Team Gina featured in a full-page spread in the Athens Banner-Herald. Number 1 =
Team Gina’s general takeover of the world (and it’s just begun!). Other highlights:
Seaweed Jack’s Haunt being “Album of the Month� in Performer magazine (total
shock); Shim in print in Seattle for the first time ever thanks to Ms. Hannah Levin (felt amazing);
getting Pitchfork and Filter love for the Blakes at Sasquatch ’07. I’m very fortunate to
have so many talented and wonderful people in my life, and to have been able to share them
with talented and wonderful people who have gotten behind their music and helped get the word
out.
6.) Think of your favorite publicist and tell me why you respect them so much.
Anybody who handles the big shots without bein’ a d-baaaaag! Just kidding (but seriouslyâ
€¦). I had the good fortune of working with Ever Kipp while interning at Barsuk Records and I
must say that Ever is my favorite publicist in the world. He’s a class act, not to mention one
heck of a support-supplier and has had my back and rallied behind me on multiple much-
needed occasions. Honorary mention to all the publicists I’ve worked with in any capacity:
Tim Plumley, Juliana Plotkin, Frank Nieto, Dana Erickson, Brendan Bourke, Joan Hiller, etc, etc.
7.) Why are you in Seattle?
Let me start this by saying that I have lived in LA twice, for about a year and a half collectively,
each time leaving and each time moving to Seattle. The first time I returned to Seattle, I began
college again (let’s say, following a craptastic year at Loyola Marymount) and started The
Wig Fits All Heads. I interned for House of Blues, met the amazing Ever Kipp (and Wes
Howerton-holler!) while interning at Barsuk Records and started freelancing for some
magazines, namely Chord Magazine (LA) and Out There Monthly (Spokane). I saw the Blakes
for the first time (March ‘05), Shim (April ‘05), Casy & Brian (April ‘05), etc and started
putting on shows (the first being in December ‘05 w/ Seaweed Jack). Then I graduated and
moved to LA to be a publicist. I worked with the AMAZING Juliana Plotkin and Tim Plumley at Ink
Tank PR at the task of tour press for acts like Silversun Pickups, The Casualties, Peter Walker
and Flogging Molly, and after two months decided, while ever-appreciative of the opportunity
(still today!), that it wasn’t the right match. I taught preschool for the next five months, and
during that time (November 2006) started WigPR. In my farewell letter to my students and their
parents, I explained how it felt to have my life in Seattle continuing without my physical
presence, and indeed it had: The Wig was thriving, and so were my new bands. I moved back to
Seattle in February 2007 and haven’t looked back. Since my return, I’ve built an
amazing family of people I love and trust and who love and trust me--a family of Ginas and
Shims and Llamas and Casys and Brians and Blakes and Anthony, Benny & Jerms and Katzs
and Kendricks and Nickys and Clicks and Blushes, etc and etc, on and on… and I couldn’t
be happier.
Â
8.) How did your relationships with both Don't Stop Believin' and Aviation come about?
Kerry and I got off to a rough start. Back when the Wig was a-presentin’ shows, we (as
everyone does, I hope…) had some serious stinkers. Now, while Kerry’s band Das Llamas
was involved in a couple good ones (actually, that was back in the stabmasterarson days), they
got stuck on a bill that just, I’ll admit it, totally sucked. We had an ill-fated monthly showcase
at the Mars Bar that was trying its damndest to work out its (insurmountable) kinks, and DLL
were going to play the first show of the series. I won’t name names but there were three
other bands on the bill and two of them never showed up and the third one didn’t end up
playing. It was awful. DLL, as any self-respecting band would be, were quite upset, and there
was a period of months there when that got back to me (or, god, poor Katie-I’m still so
sorry) on a couple of occasions. To his credit, though, Mr. Zettel later accepted my offer to do
PR for Das Llamas (after some time had passed and some wounds had healed) and now we
have a life-long contract between WigPR & Aviation Records (I swear, he even signed it!). Yay
for renewed trust!
As for Megan Birdsall and her Don’t Stop Believin’ empire… When I started WigPR, I
wanted to work the Pharmacy and approached Megan. Pieces fell into place and I was given the
opportunity to work a whole slew of her bands, one of which turned out to be the amazing Team
Gina, and the rest is history…
9.) Name a few of your favorite music magazines.
Â
WigPR specializes in press so we are always deep into the writ. We’re big fans of The
Fader, Paste, Skyscraper, Filter, Magnet, Interview, BUST, Venus Zine, Under The Radar,
among so many more.
WigPR out & about...
on tour with Kaylee Cole
| at Georgetown Fest with SHIM |
| at KEXP with Team Gina |
