It's hard to identify Jim Fairchild without first acknowledging that he was formerly the guitarist in the Modesto, Ca. group Grandaddy. Fairchild, however, has kept himself busy since the group's demise in 2006, touring with numerous other bands and also finding the time to record and release his first solo record under the moniker All Smiles. The resulting Ten Readings Of A Warning, a collection of charming, laid back lo-fi pop that belies his Southern Californian upbringing, was recorded on an 8 track with the help of a rotating cast of drummers from bands like Sleater-Kinney, Modest Mouse and Menomena. He's toured extensively behind the release, including area shows with Dappled Cities Fly and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. He was nice enough to answer a few questions over email ahead of his show tonight, opening for David Bazan at The Black Cat.

After Grandaddy broke up, I guess there was never a question if you would continue to play music. You've played in bands like Earlimart and Great Nothern and did a tour with Modest Mouse. Was Johnny Marr your replacement? What's it like filling in for a band for just one tour?

Yeah, I enjoy different experiences musically, and they've all informed what I'm doing now in one way or another. I wouldn't say that Johnny Marr was my replacement; it was always clear that my time with Modest Mouse would be temporary. But if he were my replacement, I can't imagine being replaced by anyone better. I love their tunes, them as people and their energy, so it felt great to take on an ephemeral role in a stunning band.

All Smiles is basically a Jim Fairchild solo record, recorded on an 8 track with a host of guest musicians. Is this something you've wanted to do for a while or something you only thought of once Grandaddy split? When were the songs written?

Yeah, I've had songs forever. I've also had an irrational fear of people hearing those songs. I
finally decided to finish something, if only for myself. And now it's out and I can't really be scared any more. The songs were mostly written in 2005 while the Grandaddy entropy become more imminent by the day.

Moving from guitarist to singer has to fairly nerve-wracking, right? On this tour and your recent tour with Gruff Rhys, it's just you playing solo.

Yeah, it is sometimes nerve-wracking. Having spent so much of my adult life on stage, you would think there would be a deep well of experience to draw from. I am still looking for it if there is one, but feeling better than ever all the same.

There are innumerable singer/songwriters out there. How hard is it to get noticed?

I guess pretty hard. But the touring situation at the moment probably won't last forever. I want to make big sounding music again.

You also do a fair amount of production work, including working on one of my favorite records of the year, Granddance, by the Australian outfit Dappled Cities Fly. How did you get involved with that project?

My name was brought up by someone in their circle, just because maybe someone thought I might be good at getting people to the spot where their ideas are clearest. We originally made an EP that went well and then it was decided that it would become a full length. They are so good. My role was mostly trying to push them, even before the beginning of recording, to make sure they had the technicolorest version of their original notion ready for foreverness.