The Long Winters
Encyclopedia
The Long Winters is an American
indie rock
band based in Seattle, Washington.
John Roderick was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Anchorage
, Alaska
. He later returned to Seattle, formed the Bun Family Players and the The Western State Hurricanes
. Following the collapse of the latter, he acted as touring keyboardist for Harvey Danger
.
In 2001, Harvey Danger
singer/songwriter Sean Nelson
suggested that he and Roderick record an album—half of the songs penned by John, and the other half by Sean. Death Cab for Cutie
band member Chris Walla
had recently opened up the Hall of Justice
studio in Seattle and agreed to help them record.
John recruited Joe Bass of Sky Cries Mary
and Brian Young of Fountains of Wayne
to flesh out several of the songs, and gradually the album evolved to feature only John's songs. After several months, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm
was finished.
John traveled to New York, where he played solo shows and quickly began to pen new songs,several of which would eventually be included on The Long Winters' second album, When I Pretend to Fall
.
While there, he was contacted by Barsuk Records
—the label that would release The Worst You Can Do Is Harm—who made it clear they wanted John to tour to promote the release. He traveled back to Seattle and was joined by Chris Caniglia, former Western State Hurricanes drummer Michael Shilling and Eric Corson on bass. Thus, The Long Winters were born.
The original trio responsible for The Worst You Can Do Is Harm—Roderick, Nelson, and Walla—is often considered the original incarnation of the band. Roderick and Nelson, along with recruits Corson and Shilling (the drummer in Roderick's previous band, the Western State Hurricanes) are the core players behind When I Pretend to Fall, with Nelson having replaced Caniglia as the band's keyboardist. When I Pretend to Fall was released and Roderick, Nelson, Corson and Shilling embarked on an ambitious series of tours throughout 2003 in support of the album. The band toured North America with Barsuk Records labelmates Nada Surf
and Death Cab for Cutie, and later spent November touring Europe. Shilling eventually quit in December 2003, burned out by the hectic touring and lifestyle of the band. With the best wishes of The Long Winters, Nelson left in March 2004 to rekindle his former band Harvey Danger.
. Confronted with a double blow to the band's line-up, Roderick took opportunity to reinvent the band again. An east coast tour with The Pernice Brothers
, a more fleshed out European tour, and a nationwide tour supporting The Decemberists
that would take the band through the spring and well into the summer. Thus, the leaner three-piece version of The Long Winters was born, featuring John Roderick, Eric Corson, and Michael Schorr.
This extensive spring/summer 2004 tour took its toll on Schorr, who left the band shortly after its completion. Roderick continued to do small promotional events and shows throughout the latter half of 2004 and 2005, often previewing a handful of new Long Winters songs.
The next incarnation of The Long Winters featured Roderick on vocals, guitars, and keyboard, Corson on bass and back-up vocals, and Nabil Ayers
(co-founder of Seattle's Sonic Boom Records) on drums. The band did a tour supporting Keane in October 2005 in support of an EP
released October 11, 2005, titled Ultimatum. Roderick did a solo mini tour through Europe in May 2006 to promote the third full-length LP, Putting the Days to Bed
, which was released July 25, 2006. In the fall of 2006 the band—now with guitarist/keyboard player Jonathan Rothman replacing Mike Squires
—toured the USA, after which they joined the band Keane once again for a European tour. The Long Winters began 2007 with yet another European tour, followed by a month of shows in the USA and Canada.
In July 2008 the band went back into the studio to work on their fourth (yet untitled) album. In mid-2009 through early-2010, a satiric "quasi-weekly" 9 episode series by Roderick entitled "13 Songs with John" was made available through YouTube ostensibly focusing on the work he was doing in the studio. None of the episodes actually featured Roderick working in the studio. Through 2011, Roderick, through The Long Winters website, continues to promise the long-awaited new album will be released "soon."
The Long Winters released a split single with Spiral Stairs in September 2010. Their track was titled "Connections In Nashville."
EPs
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
indie rock
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 based in Seattle, Washington.
Early history
Singer-songwriterSinger-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
John Roderick was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. He later returned to Seattle, formed the Bun Family Players and the The Western State Hurricanes
The Western State Hurricanes
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, and many Western State Hurricanes songs were later revamped into Long...
. Following the collapse of the latter, he acted as touring keyboardist for Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
.
In 2001, Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger
Harvey Danger was an American indie rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1993, and rose to prominence in 1998 with the single "Flagpole Sitta." On August 29, 2009, the band played its final show at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle....
singer/songwriter Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson
Sean Nelson is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, notable as the frontman for the alternative rock group Harvey Danger.- Career :...
suggested that he and Roderick record an album—half of the songs penned by John, and the other half by Sean. Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie
Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr ....
band member Chris Walla
Chris Walla
Christopher Walla is an American musician and music producer, most notable for being the guitarist for the band Death Cab for Cutie. He is also a former DJ of KCWU, 88.1 The Burg...
had recently opened up the Hall of Justice
Hall of Justice
A Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States. In some cases, the facility may also house courts as well as jails...
studio in Seattle and agreed to help them record.
John recruited Joe Bass of Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary
Sky Cries Mary is an American trance rock musical group from Seattle, Washington, that formed in the late 1980s.The husband and wife team of Roderick Wolgamott Romero and Anisa Romero sing dual lead vocals...
and Brian Young of Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
to flesh out several of the songs, and gradually the album evolved to feature only John's songs. After several months, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm
The Worst You Can Do is Harm
The Worst You Can Do Is Harm is the debut album by indie rock band The Long Winters. It was released by Barsuk Records in 2002.-Track listing:# "Give Me a Moment" – 5:49# "Carparts" – 4:05# "Samaritan" – 2:44# "Mimi" – 5:06...
was finished.
John traveled to New York, where he played solo shows and quickly began to pen new songs,several of which would eventually be included on The Long Winters' second album, When I Pretend to Fall
When I Pretend to Fall
When I Pretend to Fall, is the second album by indie rock band The Long Winters. It was released on Barsuk Records in 2003.-Track listing:# "Blue Diamonds" – 3:49# "Scared Straight" – 4:17# "Shapes" – 4:03# "Cinnamon" – 4:12...
.
While there, he was contacted by Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records
Barsuk Records is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington, started and still managed by the members of the band This Busy Monster, Christopher Possanza and Josh Rosenfeld, who created the label in 1994 to release their band's material. Its logo is a drawing of a dog holding a...
—the label that would release The Worst You Can Do Is Harm—who made it clear they wanted John to tour to promote the release. He traveled back to Seattle and was joined by Chris Caniglia, former Western State Hurricanes drummer Michael Shilling and Eric Corson on bass. Thus, The Long Winters were born.
Official formation
Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger offered to sing harmony vocals on a number of songs at the band's first live gig. He ended up casually performing with the band for their first few shows before committing to full-time enrollment.The original trio responsible for The Worst You Can Do Is Harm—Roderick, Nelson, and Walla—is often considered the original incarnation of the band. Roderick and Nelson, along with recruits Corson and Shilling (the drummer in Roderick's previous band, the Western State Hurricanes) are the core players behind When I Pretend to Fall, with Nelson having replaced Caniglia as the band's keyboardist. When I Pretend to Fall was released and Roderick, Nelson, Corson and Shilling embarked on an ambitious series of tours throughout 2003 in support of the album. The band toured North America with Barsuk Records labelmates Nada Surf
Nada Surf
Nada Surf is an American alternative rock band. Formed in 1992, the New York band consists of Matthew Caws , Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca .-Early years:...
and Death Cab for Cutie, and later spent November touring Europe. Shilling eventually quit in December 2003, burned out by the hectic touring and lifestyle of the band. With the best wishes of The Long Winters, Nelson left in March 2004 to rekindle his former band Harvey Danger.
Early 2004 and onward
At the time of Nelson's departure, The Long Winters had recently begun rehearsing with Shilling's replacement for the band's 2004 tours, former Death Cab for Cutie percussionist Michael SchorrMichael Schorr
Michael Schorr is the former drummer of Death Cab for Cutie with whom he recorded The Photo Album and two of their EPs The Forbidden Love E.P. and The Stability E.P.. He has also played for The Long Winters...
. Confronted with a double blow to the band's line-up, Roderick took opportunity to reinvent the band again. An east coast tour with The Pernice Brothers
The Pernice Brothers
Pernice Brothers are an indie rock band. Formed by Joe Pernice in 1996 after the breakup of his old band, the Scud Mountain Boys, and including Joe's brother Bob Pernice , the band recorded their first album, Overcome by Happiness, for Sub Pop in 1998...
, a more fleshed out European tour, and a nationwide tour supporting The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
that would take the band through the spring and well into the summer. Thus, the leaner three-piece version of The Long Winters was born, featuring John Roderick, Eric Corson, and Michael Schorr.
This extensive spring/summer 2004 tour took its toll on Schorr, who left the band shortly after its completion. Roderick continued to do small promotional events and shows throughout the latter half of 2004 and 2005, often previewing a handful of new Long Winters songs.
The next incarnation of The Long Winters featured Roderick on vocals, guitars, and keyboard, Corson on bass and back-up vocals, and Nabil Ayers
Nabil Ayers
Nabil Ayers is an American musician and entrepreneur. He is a co-owner of Seattle's Sonic Boom Records, and the founder of The Control Group. As a drummer, he has performed with various acts, most recently The Long Winters. Ayers was described by music journalist Kurt B...
(co-founder of Seattle's Sonic Boom Records) on drums. The band did a tour supporting Keane in October 2005 in support of an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
released October 11, 2005, titled Ultimatum. Roderick did a solo mini tour through Europe in May 2006 to promote the third full-length LP, Putting the Days to Bed
Putting the Days to Bed
Putting the Days to Bed is the third full-length album by indie rock band the Long Winters. It was released in the US by Barsuk Records and distributed in Europe by Munich Records in 2006...
, which was released July 25, 2006. In the fall of 2006 the band—now with guitarist/keyboard player Jonathan Rothman replacing Mike Squires
Mike Squires (musician)
Mike Squires is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist in the hard rock group Loaded, the group led by Velvet Revolver and former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan....
—toured the USA, after which they joined the band Keane once again for a European tour. The Long Winters began 2007 with yet another European tour, followed by a month of shows in the USA and Canada.
In July 2008 the band went back into the studio to work on their fourth (yet untitled) album. In mid-2009 through early-2010, a satiric "quasi-weekly" 9 episode series by Roderick entitled "13 Songs with John" was made available through YouTube ostensibly focusing on the work he was doing in the studio. None of the episodes actually featured Roderick working in the studio. Through 2011, Roderick, through The Long Winters website, continues to promise the long-awaited new album will be released "soon."
The Long Winters released a split single with Spiral Stairs in September 2010. Their track was titled "Connections In Nashville."
Discography
Studio albums- The Worst You Can Do Is HarmThe Worst You Can Do is HarmThe Worst You Can Do Is Harm is the debut album by indie rock band The Long Winters. It was released by Barsuk Records in 2002.-Track listing:# "Give Me a Moment" – 5:49# "Carparts" – 4:05# "Samaritan" – 2:44# "Mimi" – 5:06...
(2002) - When I Pretend to FallWhen I Pretend to FallWhen I Pretend to Fall, is the second album by indie rock band The Long Winters. It was released on Barsuk Records in 2003.-Track listing:# "Blue Diamonds" – 3:49# "Scared Straight" – 4:17# "Shapes" – 4:03# "Cinnamon" – 4:12...
(2003) - Putting the Days to BedPutting the Days to BedPutting the Days to Bed is the third full-length album by indie rock band the Long Winters. It was released in the US by Barsuk Records and distributed in Europe by Munich Records in 2006...
(2006)
EPs
- Ultimatum (2005)