For the past twenty-five years, Tim Regan has worked in the realm of endearing, shimmery indie rock. In the late 90’s, he moved all around the south, in the calculus between Big Star and Elephant Six, both icons of melodic, jangly rock music. Regan co-founded Snowglobe with his best friend Brad Postlethwaite, and in the years since, Regan has traversed the alternative music scenes of the globe. He’s continued making records with Snowglobe, but also delved deep into loads of side projects, productions, recordings and live performances. “I've been very lucky to play and become lifelong friends with a lot of amazing and talented musicians,” he recalls.

Regan, a member of Snowglobe, Oh No Oh My, Spiral Stairs (aka Scott Kannberg of Pavement), Antenna Shoes, and Texas Never Whispers, has also recorded with Sparklehorse, Juanita Stein, Amy LaVere, and Cory Branan to mention just a few.

He’s also spent time behind the scenes, managing and booking artists from all over the world with his company Nine Mile. On December 12th, Regan debuts his latest solo project Basketball, a charming collection of songs backed up by friends and collaborators from this bright constellation of indie rock. The four-song EP captures Regan’s melodic songwriting and admiration for indie stalwarts alike, featuring two original compositions and two covers. 

The EP opens with “A Little Grace,” dedicated to his lifelong friend, Rob Lucas, a book editor and Cannes-featured filmmaker who passed away in 2020. “So many things to say / Words they just get in the way,” Regan sings. “I wish we had another day together.” Behind his voice, a panoply of sounds fall into place: Glockenspiel, reverse delayed guitar, Mellotron, and synths, all recorded by Regan. 

Singing harmonies behind him is Miranda Brown of Crooked Fingers. For years, while working together at a South Austin restaurant (when not on tour with their respective bands), Regan and Brown would play around Austin using the Basketball moniker, but this is their first material on-record.

Much of this record is pieced together from disparate parts of the globe. For example, Daniel Romano sent over string and horn arrangements from Canada. Steve Selvidge, who tours with The Hold Steady, also sent guitar parts from Memphis. From LA, Adam Wade of Shutter To Think recorded drums. “Dan didn’t love my drums,” Regan jokes, referring to Dan Long, who mixed and mastered the EP,  “So we asked Adam to come play.” 

Though Regan cut most of the EP at his home studio in Austin, Supersonic Sounds, one song was recorded in Los Angeles. He trekked up to Electromundo Studios for a Spiral Stairs session. The band wrapped up for the day, but he couldn’t sleep, so he began recording. What came to mind in that somnambulistic state was “Alison” by Slowdive. Shuffling across the studio to record drums, bass, piano, guitars, and synths, morphing ethereal vocals and haunting guitars into an upbeat, power-pop makerover. 

The final song is another cover, Low’s “Just Like Christmas,” which gets the same treatment. Originally, the song tells of Sparhawk and Parker’s 1999 tour, opening with “On our way from Stockholm, It started to snow,” with the second verse continuing “By the time we got to Oslo / The snow was gone.” Reinterpreted by Regan, the trip is from Memphis to Austin — never mind the fact that it rarely snows in that part of Tennessee. Taken as a whole, the song and EP are nostalgic reflections on these two-and-a-half decades. Tim Regan has journeyed across the globe, meeting lifelong friends along the way, but he’s finally made it back home to Austin.

This is just the beginning.

Artwork by Kat Brock

Photo by Tommy Kha