Fat Phil

Fat Phil is an American rock band formed in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2020 by singer/songwriter Sebastian Calmes, bassist Matthew Chichura, and drummer Ryan Taylor. After graduating college, friends Sebastian Calmes and Matthew Chichura moved to Lexington to find work, also harboring ambitions to start a band. The two would perform as a duo until they met Taylor in late 2020.

Taylor inquired with the duo about whether or not they were looking for a drummer while Calmes and Chichura were preforming an acoustic street event under the name SaM. Calmes invited Taylor over to his house for a jam the next day. The three musicians quickly hit it off, and soon after decided to form a band.

The name “Fat Phil” would come a month later as the band was practicing new material. Fat Phil was used to describe Taylor’s raucous drum fill style. According to the band, the name stuck instantly, and the band would go on to start performing.

In July 2021, Fat Phil added Daniel Miller to their ranks as a rhythm guitarist, back-up vocalist, keyboardist, and percussionist. Miller’s multi-instrumental expertise would add a new luscious texture to the group’s sound, further fulfilling the “Fat” energy of the band.