The Western State Hurricanes
Encyclopedia
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 Winters songs.
, 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." 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.
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." The band recorded a demo with notable producer Phil Ek
and sold hundreds of copies at concerts.
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." 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."
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
.
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 in the late 1990s. It is best known as a precursor to the more successful group the Long Winters
The Long Winters
The Long Winters is an American indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington.-Early history:Singer-songwriter 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...
: both bands were fronted by songwriter John Roderick
John Roderick
John Roderick is an American musician and writer. Born in Seattle, Washington, he grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He is currently the lead singer and guitarist in the band The Long Winters and was formerly a touring member of the band Harvey Danger...
, and many Western State Hurricanes songs were later revamped into Long Winters songs.
Formation
While attending classes at the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
, and performing with his band the Bun Family Players, John Roderick
John Roderick
John Roderick is an American musician and writer. Born in Seattle, Washington, he grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He is currently the lead singer and guitarist in the band The Long Winters and was formerly a touring member of the band Harvey Danger...
had the opportunity to network with fellow musicians in other Seattle-area bands, such as This Busy Monster
This Busy Monster
This Busy Monster is an indie band that was formed in the early 1990s. They are known for their unconventional song structures and eclectic instrumentation . Their three full-length albums, Like Icicles, The Curious Sofa and Fireworks, accompany many singles and EPs. Their name is taken from a ...
and 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 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." 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.
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." The band recorded a demo with notable producer 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...
and sold hundreds of copies at concerts.
Failed Sub Pop deal and breakup
At the Hurricanes' third show, Jonathan Poneman from Sub PopSub Pop
Sub Pop is a record label founded in 1986 by Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman in Seattle, Washington. Sub Pop achieved fame in the late 1980s for first signing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and many other bands from the Seattle music scene...
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." 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
TASCAM
TASCAM is the professional audio division of TEAC Corporation, headquartered in Montebello, California. Tascam is credited as the inventor of the Portastudio, the first cassette-based multi-track home studio recorders. Tascam also introduced the first low-cost mass produced multitrack recorders...
. But the dude was a mess. He was a bad engineer and a bad guy."
The band played the SXSW festival in March 1999 with burgeoning fellow northwest-based indie pop-rockers 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 ....
. 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
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....
during their King James Version
King James Version (album)
King James Version, originally released by Sire Records on September 12, 2000, is the second full-length album by alternative rock band Harvey Danger. Although it garnered critical acclaim, it failed to produce a hit song, unlike the earlier Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?...
tour. Shortly afterwards, Roderick formed the Long Winters
The Long Winters
The Long Winters is an American indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington.-Early history:Singer-songwriter 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...
with 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 :...
and producer 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...
.