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{{Short description|American indie rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Western State Hurricanes
| name = Western State Hurricanes
| image =
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: | image = WesternStateHurricanes.jpg -->
| caption = Schilling, Wicker, Gilliland and Roderick
| caption = Schilling, Wicker, Gilliland and Roderick
| image_size =
| image_size =
| background = group_or_band
| background = group_or_band
| alias =
| alias =
| origin = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]]
| origin = [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
| genre = [[Indie rock]]
| genre = [[Indie rock]]
| years_active = 1997–1999
| years_active = 1997–1999
| label = None
| label = None
| website =
| associated_acts = [[The Long Winters]]<br>[[Harvey Danger]]<br>[[Death Cab for Cutie]]<br>[[Bun Family Players]]
| website =
| current_members = [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]]<br>[[Stephanie Wicker]]<br>[[Bo Gilliland]]<br>[[Michael Shilling]]
| current_members = [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]]<br>[[Stephanie Wicker]]<br>[[Bo Gilliland]]<br>[[Michael Shilling]]
|past_members =
| past_members =
}}
}}

'''The Western State Hurricanes''' was a short-lived [[Seattle]]-based [[indie rock]] band in the late 1990s. It is best known as a precursor to the more successful group [[The Long Winters]]—both bands were fronted by songwriter [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]], and many Western State Hurricanes songs were later revamped into Long Winters songs.
'''Western State Hurricanes''' was a short-lived [[Seattle]]-based [[indie rock]] band in the late 1990s. It is best known as a precursor to the more successful group [[The Long Winters]]—both bands were fronted by songwriter [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]], and many Western State Hurricanes songs were later revamped into Long Winters songs.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==


===Formation===
===Formation===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes demo tape front.jpg|thumb|alt=The Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo tape, produced by [[Phil Ek]], dated July 1998. This particular copy is water-damaged and sun-faded. The label was originally darker red. | The Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo tape, produced by [[Phil Ek]], dated July 1998. This particular copy is water-damaged and sun-faded. The label was originally darker red.]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes demo tape front.jpg|thumb|alt=Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo tape, produced by [[Phil Ek]], dated July 1998. This particular copy is water-damaged and sun-faded. The label was originally darker red. | Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo tape, produced by [[Phil Ek]], dated July 1998. This particular copy is water-damaged and sun-faded. The label was originally darker red.]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes demo tape back.jpg|thumb|alt=The tape's back was blank, with no label. | The tape's back was blank, with no label.]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes demo tape back.jpg|thumb|alt=The tape's back was blank, with no label. | The tape's back was blank, with no label.]] -->
While attending classes at the [[University of Washington]], and performing with his band the Bun Family Players, [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]] had the opportunity to network with fellow musicians in other Seattle-area bands, such as [[This Busy Monster]] and [[Harvey Danger]]. In October 1997 at the final Bun Family Players show, John met Algae front-woman and guitarist [[Stephanie Wicker]].
While attending classes at the [[University of Washington]], and performing with his band the Bun Family Players, [[John Roderick (musician)|John Roderick]] had the opportunity to network with fellow musicians in other Seattle-area bands, such as [[This Busy Monster]] and [[Harvey Danger]]. In October 1997 at the final Bun Family Players show, John met Algae front-woman and guitarist [[Stephanie Wicker]].
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An ill-fated attempt was made at creating a full-length album. Roderick later spoke of the failed sessions: "We didn't go to a studio. We had this whole indie cred idea that we were going to do a basement recording on somebody's [[Tascam]]. But the dude was a mess. He was a bad engineer and a bad guy."<ref name="The Stranger"/>
An ill-fated attempt was made at creating a full-length album. Roderick later spoke of the failed sessions: "We didn't go to a studio. We had this whole indie cred idea that we were going to do a basement recording on somebody's [[Tascam]]. But the dude was a mess. He was a bad engineer and a bad guy."<ref name="The Stranger"/>


<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes CD.jpg|thumb|alt=The Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo CD, featuring two songs from the earlier red-labeled demo tape and three from the ill-fated album sessions. Four of the five song names are misprinted on the label. On this copy, the correct titles are handwritten in green. | The Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo CD, featuring two songs from the earlier red-labeled demo tape and three from the ill-fated album sessions. Four of the five song names are misprinted on the label. On this copy, the correct titles are handwritten in green.]] -->
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Western State Hurricanes CD.jpg|thumb|alt=Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo CD, featuring two songs from the earlier red-labeled demo tape and three from the ill-fated album sessions. Four of the five song names are misprinted on the label. On this copy, the correct titles are handwritten in green. | Western State Hurricanes' five-song demo CD, featuring two songs from the earlier red-labeled demo tape and three from the ill-fated album sessions. Four of the five song names are misprinted on the label. On this copy, the correct titles are handwritten in green.]] -->

The band played the [[SXSW]] festival in March 1999 with burgeoning fellow northwest-based indie pop-rockers [[Death Cab for Cutie]]. The group played only a handful of further shows; their final concert took place on April 17, 1999, at the Showbox in Seattle.
The band played the [[SXSW]] festival in March 1999 with burgeoning fellow northwest-based indie pop-rockers [[Death Cab for Cutie]]. The group played only a handful of further shows; their final concert took place on April 17, 1999, at the Showbox in Seattle.


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==== Western State Hurricanes Debut LP ====
==== Western State Hurricanes Debut LP ====


The Western State Hurricanes debut LP was launched as an Indiegogo campaign on [http://latentprintrecords.com Latent Print Records], September 2019, consisting of the following tracks:
Western State Hurricanes' debut LP was launched as an Indiegogo campaign on [http://latentprintrecords.com Latent Print Records] in September 2019, consisting of the following tracks:


# Unsalted Butter
# Unsalted Butter
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# Samaritan Reprise
# Samaritan Reprise


The album was released digitally and on colored vinyl in February 2020. The band appeared in concert on local Seattle radio station [[KEXP]] on February 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUKy4J6gqvs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/SUKy4J6gqvs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Western State Hurricanes - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)}}{{cbignore}}</ref> To mark the release of the album, the band also played two shows at the Tractor Tavern on February 7 & 8, 2020.
The album was released digitally and on colored vinyl in February 2020. The band appeared in concert on local Seattle radio station [[KEXP]] on February 6, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUKy4J6gqvs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/SUKy4J6gqvs |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Western State Hurricanes - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)|website=[[YouTube]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref> To mark the release of the album, the band also played two shows at the Tractor Tavern on February 7 & 8, 2020.


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
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==External links==
==External links==


*[https://www.facebook.com/WesternStateHurricanes/ The Western State Hurricanes Facebook page]
*[https://www.facebook.com/WesternStateHurricanes/ Western State Hurricanes Facebook page]
*[http://www.thelongwinters.com The Long Winters' official site]
*[http://www.thelongwinters.com The Long Winters' official site]



Latest revision as of 02:30, 25 January 2024

Western State Hurricanes
OriginSeattle, Washington
GenresIndie rock
Years active1997–1999
LabelsNone
MembersJohn Roderick
Stephanie Wicker
Bo Gilliland
Michael Shilling

Western State Hurricanes was a short-lived Seattle-based indie rock band in the late 1990s. It is best known as a precursor to the more successful group The Long Winters—both bands were fronted by songwriter John Roderick, and many Western State Hurricanes songs were later revamped into Long Winters songs.

Biography

[edit]

Formation

[edit]

While attending classes at the University of Washington, and performing with his band the Bun Family Players, John Roderick had the opportunity to network with fellow musicians in other Seattle-area bands, such as This Busy Monster and Harvey Danger. In October 1997 at the final Bun Family Players show, John met Algae front-woman and guitarist Stephanie Wicker.

The two began recording songs written on acoustic guitar, striving for "singer/songwritery boy-girl harmonies."[1] After experimenting with programmed drums and bass, they eventually decided to bring in additional musicians to play along. Bo Gilliland became the bass player and Michael Shilling joined on drums.[1]

The group played their first show on May 4, 1998, in Seattle to a sold-out crowd at the Breakroom, opening for Sycophant. Roderick would later recount, "We were all shitting our pants. But we played the show and it was just awesome."[1] The band recorded a demo with notable producer Phil Ek and sold hundreds of copies at concerts.

Failed Sub Pop deal and breakup

[edit]

At the Hurricanes' third show, Jonathan Poneman from Sub Pop approached Roderick to talk about signing the band. Weeks of negotiations followed, and the deal fell through. "At one point, when we were getting into a heated discussion about how much he was going to give us to record, I put my feet up on his desk and my hands behind my head," Roderick later said. "I was like, 'Let's talk turkey.' And he was apparently really offended by this."[1] At this point, Poneman apparently became uninterested in putting out any music by the band.

An ill-fated attempt was made at creating a full-length album. Roderick later spoke of the failed sessions: "We didn't go to a studio. We had this whole indie cred idea that we were going to do a basement recording on somebody's Tascam. But the dude was a mess. He was a bad engineer and a bad guy."[1]

The band played the SXSW festival in March 1999 with burgeoning fellow northwest-based indie pop-rockers Death Cab for Cutie. The group played only a handful of further shows; their final concert took place on April 17, 1999, at the Showbox in Seattle.

Following the dissolution of the band, Roderick traveled alone through Europe for several months. Upon returning to the United States, he became the touring keyboardist for Harvey Danger during their King James Version tour. Shortly afterwards, Roderick formed the Long Winters with Sean Nelson and producer Chris Walla.

Revival

[edit]

In 2019, Roderick brought the original tapes for their 1998 self-titled demo tape along with 1/4" 16-track tapes from their abandoned full-length album to Studio Litho in Seattle and began to resuscitate the original recordings. As of June 2019, Roderick and producer/engineer Floyd Reitsma had remixed and mastered 10 of these tracks, many of which had in the interim been recorded in a different style as songs by Roderick's The Long Winters.[2]

Western State Hurricanes Debut LP

[edit]

Western State Hurricanes' debut LP was launched as an Indiegogo campaign on Latent Print Records in September 2019, consisting of the following tracks:

  1. Unsalted Butter
  2. Samaritan
  3. Carparts
  4. Copernicus
  5. Medicine Cabinet Pirate
  6. Through With Love
  7. Delicate Hands
  8. Mimi
  9. Nora
  10. Samaritan Reprise

The album was released digitally and on colored vinyl in February 2020. The band appeared in concert on local Seattle radio station KEXP on February 6, 2020.[3] To mark the release of the album, the band also played two shows at the Tractor Tavern on February 7 & 8, 2020.

Discography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e The Stranger Interview with John Roderick 2-21-2002
  2. ^ "Roderick on the Line #342".
  3. ^ "Western State Hurricanes - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
[edit]