Featured Artist
Vital StatisticsBand Members:Ted Nesseth: Guitar, Vocals Genevieve Gagon: Violin, Keyboards, Vocals Jeremy Gagon: Drums Home Town: Oakland, CA, USA and Millwaukee, Ohio Band formed: 2001 |
The Heavenly States
EVERY now and then a band comes along that proves, once and for all, you simply haven't heard it all before. And right now, that band is The Heavenly StatesÂ…a three piece hailing from Oakland, California with passion, energy and creativity to burn. THS is the second project for mainman Ted Nesseth, whose first band, Fluke Starbucker (named in honour of the cult film Hardware Wars) released two independent Eps. After releasing a farewell EP in 2002 (Elephants from Ants), the band took on the name The Heavenly States and has been moving forward in leaps and bounds ever since. That progress is wonderfully realised on THS' debut long player to be released nationally in Australia through Brisbane-based Baria Records. Featuring 11 very different but superbly crafted tracks, the songs move effortlessly from classic pop/rock balladry to powerful post-punk, and has justifiably earned the band rave reviews around the globe. But despite their dedication to crafting melody and powerful lyrics. THS is band that un-ashamedly rocks. Their powerhouse live set is nothing short of unforgettable and may give some disenchanted music fans hope that there is more to see and hear than the neatly styled, slickly oiled performances of so many of their peers. Much of that live energy comes from Nesseth himself, an improvising, savagely-energetic savant whose upside-down and backwards guitar playing and off-the-cuff ranting are gifts equal to both his song writing and to the quality of his voice. Nesseth's performance is supported by sibling collaborators Jeremy Gagon on drums and Genevieve Gagon (vox/violin/keys), who together rock decorum into madness and madden respectability into rock. It will be an experience Australian audiences will be able to savour firsthand when the band hits our shore early 2004 as part of an extensive promo tour to celebrate the release of their brilliant debut. Baria Records will also release a special series of singles and b-sides in February. But before they hit Australia, the band have embarked on a 70-date tour across the United States, during which they will pause to record at Herzog Zound in Milwaukee, WI, the studio of producer/engineer/performer Colin Gagon. Biography 2003 The Heavenly States' first record, a self-titled North American release featuring guitar, keyboards, violin, drums and bass is quickly establishing itself as a sleeper hit of 2003 with monstrous potential. The rock quartet from Oakland, CA that seems to have sprung from nowhere is the second project of Ted Nesseth. His first band named Fluke Starbucker in honor of the cult hit film Hardware Wars released two indie rock records before burning up somewhere between Minneapolis and Oakland in 1999. The generation 2002 version of the band released a farewell EP entitled Elephants from Ants on Berkeley indie Isota Records before changing the band's name to The Heavenly States at the behest of producer Jeff Saltzman and Isota friends Joe Finlaw and Mike Saltzman. Their current full-length release on San Francisco indie Future Farmer Recordings features eleven very different, uniquely crafted songs that are polished for radio but call for a radio renaissance. These as-if radio hits of an imagined radio world range from punk to classic rock balladry with post-rock touches. With all their melody and lyric attention, make no mistake. This is a band of rock, and to see The Heavenly States live not only confirms that but may give some disenchanted music fans hope that there is more to see and hear than the neatly styled, slickly oiled performances of so many of their peers. Much of that excitement live owes to Ted Nesseth himself, an improvising, savagely energetic savant whose upside-down and backwards guitar playing and off-the-cuff ranting are gifts equal to both his songwriting and to the quality of his voice. Nesseth's performance is supported by sibling collaborators Jeremy Gagon on drums and Genevieve Gagon vox/violin/keys who help with the bringing of the rock. The band has recently announced the licensing of their cd to Baria Records. The Australian label will release the as-yet untitled work with original art along with a special series of b-sides and singles this year. THS are very pleased to be working with Baria and will tour Australia in early 2004 to justify their love. With the critical acclaim of the record and many new projects on the docket including an independently produced tour documentary of the band, all that was old is new again for THS. The band recently renewed its relationships with producer Scott Mathews who played Fluke Starbucker in the film Hardware Wars and Ernie Fosselius, the artist, composer and underground filmmaker who wrote and created that film. Fosselius is working on the band's next video. This secret project will follow up the first video for the song My Friends, an elaborate, politically tinged work in full California color produced by Gucciboy earlier this year. Before they hit down under the band can be seen and heard this fall and winter in 70+ dates across the United States, during which tour they will pause to record at Herzog Zound in Milwaukee, WI, the studio of producer/engineer/performer Colin Gagon.   http://www.theheavenlystates.com
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ReviewsTHS's have so many reviews to mention, but here are a few to read:"Powerful, splendid...one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in 2003...Instrumentally, it's a revelation; vocally, it's stunning; and the songwriting comes close to perfection. It's certainly one of the best albums of 2003 so far, and essential." - Shaken Stir "The melodies are so strong and the performances so tight, not a single moment on The Heavenly States sounds out of place." - Alternative Press "Full of engaging melodic twists and winning dedication to the aggresive side of indie rock that make it endearing with repeated plays." -The Washington Post "Distinctive power riffs and gorgeous harmonies" -DIW "Why these guys and girl aren't famous yet is beyond me" - Zero "The most surprisingly beautiful music I've heard in a long time" -Lost At Sea "Destined to be considered an underground classic" -Fufkin "It's smart, aggressive guitar pop, but it's much, much more at the same time...With guitar pop turning into separate camps of chamber pop classicists and lame Big Star knockoffs, The Heavenly States couldn't have come at a better time." -Bullz-eye "The group attack their songs like their place in the afterlife depended on it." -San Francisco Bay Guardian "Incredibly catchy and jangly, guitar-driven pop rock." -Delusions of Adequacy "Independent pop music doesn't come much better than that of The Heavenly States." -Chart Attack "An eclectic delight...strange yet lovely pop creations, lush and unpredictable and often with a hard guitar edge." -Popmatters "A well written, thickly textured album that slowly reveals its merits like a time-release capsule" -Synthesis.com Sweet music Releases |
HEAVENLY STATES
THE LOVEMAKERS
WOMEN IN DOCS
BEDROOM WALLS