764-HERO
Encyclopedia
764-HERO was an American Indie rock
band from Seattle, Washington, signed to Up Records
. The band's name, suggested by a friend, is taken from the Washington State Department of Transportation
phone number for reporting HOV lane violators http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=bandnames270&date=20010827.
ist and Seattle native John Atkins from the Up Records' artists Hush Harbor, and drummer
Polly Johnson from Bell Jar. After releasing two vinyl
7" singles, 764-Hero released their debut album Salt Sinks Sugar Floats in 1996, followed by an EP called We're Solids the next year. Known locally for their powerful live performances, the duo quickly garnered a national audience. In early 1998, the band released a collaborative CD/12" single with Modest Mouse
called Whenever You See Fit
, consisting of a single track the two groups co-composed and performed while touring together. The B-side of the E.P. contained two remixes by DJ Dynomite D and Scientific American
.
(from Red Stars Theory
, formerly of Lync
and Beck
) and asked him to play bass. The session went so well they decided to make it permanent. With the new line up in place they recorded their second full-length record, Get Here and Stay. The group's fans felt that this record marked a large step forward for the group.
After several tours, the band got to work on Weekends of Sound. Recorded in early 2000 with Phil Ek
(who also produced Get Here and Stay as well as many of Built to Spill
's releases,) the record was felt to be sonically in keeping with their previous effort.
Following the release of Weekends of Sound the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. with Modest Mouse
. Shortly after the tour, citing creative differences, Bertram parted ways with 764-HERO. Shortly after, Robin Peringer took up bass guitar duties in the band. John and Polly met Robin while he played second guitar for Modest Mouse on tour. He started as a temporary replacement so the band could tour but quickly turned into a permanent member of the band.
to release songs he felt wouldn't fit under the 764-Hero title, and thus, The Magic Magicians
were born. In 2001, they released their debut album Girls.
764-Hero moved over to Tiger Style Records for their final release Nobody Knows This is Everywhere and they headed out on tour in March 2002. The group broke up in 2002.
The Magic Magicians have continued on, however, with the latest release being their self-titled album in 2003. In 2004, John Atkins got together with two friends, Thomas Wright and Ken Jarvey, to form The Can't See. In 2006 They released Coma Comma no More. Atkins has also collaborated with Spencer Moody
of the Murder City Devils
in a group called the John and Spencer Booze Explosion.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band from Seattle, Washington, signed to Up Records
Up Records
Up Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
. The band's name, suggested by a friend, is taken from the Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Department of Transportation
The Washington State Department of Transportation , was established in 1905. The agency, led by a Secretary and overseen by the Governor, is a Washington governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of the state's transportation infrastructure...
phone number for reporting HOV lane violators http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=bandnames270&date=20010827.
Formation and early work
Formed in 1995, the original members of the group were singer/guitarGuitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist and Seattle native John Atkins from the Up Records' artists Hush Harbor, and drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Polly Johnson from Bell Jar. After releasing two vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
7" singles, 764-Hero released their debut album Salt Sinks Sugar Floats in 1996, followed by an EP called We're Solids the next year. Known locally for their powerful live performances, the duo quickly garnered a national audience. In early 1998, the band released a collaborative CD/12" single with Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
called Whenever You See Fit
Whenever You See Fit
"Whenever You See Fit" is a 1998 single by American indie rock bands Modest Mouse and 764-HERO, first released by Suicide Squeeze Records and Up Records. At nearly fourteen and a half minutes long, it is currently the longest Modest Mouse song...
, consisting of a single track the two groups co-composed and performed while touring together. The B-side of the E.P. contained two remixes by DJ Dynomite D and Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
.
Later work and tours
In 1998, the band was set to perform live on the radio and thought they'd mix it up a bit. They called their old friend James BertramJames Bertram
James Bertram may refer to:*James Munro Bertram, New Zealand writer and academic*James Bertram, American indie-rock musician*James Bertram , secretary to steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie...
(from Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory
Red Stars Theory is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. The band was formed in early 1995 when James Bertram was looking for someone to play guitar with and found Tonie Palmasani , Jeremiah Green and Jason Talley...
, formerly of Lync
Lync
Lync was a 1990's post-hardcore band from Olympia, Washington.Formed in 1992, Lync was composed of vocalist/guitarist Sam Jayne, bassist/vocalist James Bertram and drummer Dave Schneider...
and Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
) and asked him to play bass. The session went so well they decided to make it permanent. With the new line up in place they recorded their second full-length record, Get Here and Stay. The group's fans felt that this record marked a large step forward for the group.
After several tours, the band got to work on Weekends of Sound. Recorded in early 2000 with Phil Ek
Phil Ek
Phil Ek is an American record producer, engineer and mixer. Ek began his career in Seattle, Washington, in the early 1990s recording live sound in clubs. He then moved into studio recording, recording small projects and demos for local bands. Around this time, Ek was frequently working with...
(who also produced Get Here and Stay as well as many of Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
's releases,) the record was felt to be sonically in keeping with their previous effort.
Following the release of Weekends of Sound the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. with Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...
. Shortly after the tour, citing creative differences, Bertram parted ways with 764-HERO. Shortly after, Robin Peringer took up bass guitar duties in the band. John and Polly met Robin while he played second guitar for Modest Mouse on tour. He started as a temporary replacement so the band could tour but quickly turned into a permanent member of the band.
Breakup and successors
Around 2001, John Atkins got together with friend Joe PlummerJoe Plummer
Joe Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. Since 2004, Plummer has been a member of the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank...
to release songs he felt wouldn't fit under the 764-Hero title, and thus, The Magic Magicians
The Magic Magicians
The Magic Magicians is an indie rock duo from Seattle, Washington formed in 2000. The group is composed of John Atkins and Joe Plummer , and is heavily influenced by '70s rock and pop music...
were born. In 2001, they released their debut album Girls.
764-Hero moved over to Tiger Style Records for their final release Nobody Knows This is Everywhere and they headed out on tour in March 2002. The group broke up in 2002.
The Magic Magicians have continued on, however, with the latest release being their self-titled album in 2003. In 2004, John Atkins got together with two friends, Thomas Wright and Ken Jarvey, to form The Can't See. In 2006 They released Coma Comma no More. Atkins has also collaborated with Spencer Moody
Spencer Moody
Spencer Moody is the vocalist for Seattle-based noise rock group Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive to Death. He was the lead vocalist for the Murder City Devils until their breakup in 2001, and returned to the band when they reformed in 2006....
of the Murder City Devils
Murder City Devils
-History:The band's original lineup, consisting of Spencer Moody, Dann Gallucci, Derek Fudesco, Coady Willis, and Nate Manny formed in Seattle, Washington in 1996. Gabe Kerbrat was their permanent roadie, and considered a member...
in a group called the John and Spencer Booze Explosion.
Band members
- John Atkins - vocalsLead vocalistThe lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(1995–2002) - Polly Johnson - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, percussion (1995–2002) - James BertramJames BertramJames Bertram may refer to:*James Munro Bertram, New Zealand writer and academic*James Bertram, American indie-rock musician*James Bertram , secretary to steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitar, keyboards (1998–2000) - Robin Peringer - bass, guitar (2000–2002)
Albums
- Salt Sinks and Sugar Floats (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
; 1996) - Get Here and Stay (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
; 1998) - Weekends of SoundWeekends of SoundWeekends of Sound is the third full-length album by American emo band 764-Hero. The album was released on July 28, 2000.-Track listing:...
(Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
; 2000) - Nobody Knows This is Everywhere (Tigerstyle Records; 2002)
EPs and Singles
- High School Poetry 7" (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
; 1995) - Now You're Swimming 7" (Suicide SqueezeSuicide squeezeSuicide squeeze may refer to:* Squeeze play , a play in baseball in which the runner on third starts for home immediately while the batter attempts a bunt.* Suicide Squeeze Records, a record label....
; 1996 (reissued in 1998)) - We're Solids EP (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
/Suicide SqueezeSuicide squeezeSuicide squeeze may refer to:* Squeeze play , a play in baseball in which the runner on third starts for home immediately while the batter attempts a bunt.* Suicide Squeeze Records, a record label....
; 1997) - Whenever You See FitWhenever You See Fit"Whenever You See Fit" is a 1998 single by American indie rock bands Modest Mouse and 764-HERO, first released by Suicide Squeeze Records and Up Records. At nearly fourteen and a half minutes long, it is currently the longest Modest Mouse song...
12" (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
/Suicide SqueezeSuicide squeezeSuicide squeeze may refer to:* Squeeze play , a play in baseball in which the runner on third starts for home immediately while the batter attempts a bunt.* Suicide Squeeze Records, a record label....
; 1998) - Garrison 7" (Up RecordsUp RecordsUp Records is a Seattle based independent record label founded in 1994 by Chris Takino and Rich Jensen.Some of the label's best known artists are 764-Hero, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Quasi and Tad.Chris Takino died of leukemia in 2000...
; 2000)
External links
- 764-HERO at MusicBrainz
- 764-HERO Lyrics
- 764-HERO Lyrics by albums
- [ 764-Hero at allmusic.com]
- 764-Hero at Up Records
- The Can't See