News
05 Jan 08
looking forward, looking back
happy new year! hard to believe it’s 2008 already, especially after being laid up for a quarter of 2007. but we have some great news for the new year: our new record hidden reservations is finally mastered & you’ll hopefully see it released in one form or another in 2008. until then, i’ve posted some mastered tracks on our myspace page , including downloadable version of
despite being a little late to the party, here are some of the records from 2007 that jack & i enjoyed most this year:
CAMERON:
the besnard lakes – are the dark horse
radiohead – in rainbows
grinderman – grinderman
richard swift – dressed up for the let down
spoon – ga ga ga ga ga
bottomless pit – hammer of the gods
against me! – new wave
deerhoof – friend opportunity
the cops – free electricity
bat for lashes – fur and gold
menomena – friend and foe
JACK:
1. Besnard Lakes – Are the Dark Horse
2. Minivan – Broke Down
3. Wilco – Sky Blue Sky
4. Shearwater – Palo Santo Expanded
5. Ryan Adams – Easy Tiger
6. Stars – In Our Bedroom After the War
7. Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
8. Robert Pollard – Crickets
9. The Real Tuesday Weld – The London Book of the Dead
10. Richard Swift – Dressed Up for the Letdown
take good care of yourselves out there, and may 2008 treat you well!
contact: wsr@thewesternstates.com
18 Nov 07
WANT AD: DRUMMER
our old drummer michael decided to resign his post to focus on his solo pursuits. we wish him nothing but the best… but that leaves us on the hunt for a new drummer again, and as craigslist and other outlets of the like can be a bit of a crap shoot, we decided we might as well post about our search here. so if you or someone you know loves battle hymns and also rules on drums, take a gander at the listing posted below and drop us a line if you’re interested/fit the bill.
OVERVIEW:
after recently losing a couple valuable members of the battle hymns family, we are on the hunt for a new drummer. we are searching for someone who is committed, ready and willing to practice, tour, and eventually record again. we’re looking for a full fledged band member, and are not interested in guns for hire. mercenaries need not apply.
battle hymns seek to marry great songwriting (tom petty & the heartbreakers, bob dylan, lou reed, elvis costello & the attractions, ray davies/the kinks, johnny cash, smog, silver jews, destroyer) + forward thinking rock band arrangements (spoon, television, the constantines, polvo, velvet underground, the who, wilco/loose fur, the new year, blonde redhead) + adventurous/inventive production (brian eno’s pop records, radiohead, califone) + some occasional darker/noisier moments (wire, joy division, comsat angels) thrown in for good measure… and while the above list of influences is quite far from comprehensive, it should get you in the ballpark.
you can check out some of our songs at:
www.myspace.com/battlehymnsofthewesternstates
or some of our older stuff at:
www.thewesternstates.com/music.php
DRUMS:
a band is only as strong as their drummer. we are looking for someone who is creative, has solid timing, plays with authority/confidence, is attune to the type of playing a song calls for contextually, is responsible/reliable, a good communicator, and is enjoyable to be around. here are some older & newer drummers that we love, this list is by no means definitive, nor do we expect you to be a photocopy of any of the below. ultimately, we’re looking for someone who has developed their own voicing behind the drum kit. but here is some various folks we dig nonetheless for a frame of reference:
older: keith moon, john bonham, charlie watts, jim keltner, steve ferrone, ringo, phil rudd, billy ficca, moe tucker, dave grohl, larry mullen jr
newer: jim eno, janet weiss, steven drozds, david bazan, simone pace, glenn kotche, dave douglas, greg saunier, brendan canty, brian chase
if this sounds like the band for you, drop us an email us at: drums@thewesternstates.com and tell us a little bit about yourself.
03 Oct 07
ON THE MEND: SW Reverb fest
We are very excited to be a part of Seattle Weekly’s first ever Reverb fest this Saturday (10/6)! The overall line-up for this 100% homegrown festival is pretty unstoppable, boasting such local favorites as Siberian, Pleasureboaters, Fleet Foxes, Triumph of Lethargy, Whore Moans, Partman Parthorse, Troubletown and many more (see full band line-up/schedule here ) rocking the foundations of venues all over Ballard. But ultimately, Im most excited for the line-up at our particular venue: the Lock n Keel, and no, thats not just because were playing there Not only do we have the good fortune to share the stage with one of my absolute favorite Seattle bands: The Lights, but also with many of our very talented friends like: J. Tillman, Jen Wood and The Maldives. So if you missed out on our show with The Besnard Lakes last Wednesday (and I do mean MISSED OUT They were amazing!), then you should join us at the Lock n Keel this Saturday (we play at 8pm). Hopefully, thisll be your last chance to catch the cripple rock (or as another friend dubbed it: cast-core) version of Battle Hymns. This is going to be an awesome day of local music, and the whole thing only costs $8!
The Lock n Keel (5144 Ballard Ave. NW) schedule looks like this:
12am – The Lights
11pm – The Maldives
10pm – Jen Wood
9pm – J. Tillman
8pm – Battle Hymns
7pm – Levi Fuller
6pm The Knast
Here is what the kind people at Seattle Weekly have had to say about Battle Hymns lately:
Reverb fest: Lock N Keel 10/6
It’s almost tragic how fateful, unforeseen circumstances have lead to a series of pitfalls and hurdles for Battle Hymns and their frontman, Cameron Elliott.
Following months of name changes (they were formerly known as the Western States) and a cast of revolving drummers that created an on-again-off-again vacancy, Elliott and bassist Jack Peters finalized and perfected Battle Hymn’s lineup with Michael Lerner, a polished drummer who also plays with Toy Gun and Night-Life.
When Battle Hymns played one of their first shows after many months’ absence, they had just finished putting together most of the pieces of Hidden Reservations, their forthcoming full-length. I noted in my preview blurb of that show that the music on Hidden Reservations “lays into the dark side of the rocky heartland with dour anthems, noisy refrains, and a somewhat hopeful resolve,” and that Elliott’s voice, a nasally pinch of Bill Callahan meets John Darnielle, is “steeped in helpless protest.”
Following that show, Elliott severely injured his leg, leaving him bedridden and unable to practice with his promising lineup. I couldn’t hear it then, but now, the pain he endured (emergency surgery? Ouch!) makes the songs feel all the more real. Not only should it be inspiring to see Elliott onstage with his war wound, leading Battle Hymns through the trenches after more than a month of confinement. It should also be inspiring to watch him move on from this and receive blessings from someone, somewhere, who can finally put an end to all these bad things that have been happening to such a great band. TRAVIS RITTER
Sunset Tavern 8/22
Seattles Battle Hymns, formerly known as the Western States, are just about as regional as you can get in this part of the country. Their forthcoming debut album, Hidden Reservations, is based around the gray history of the white man overthrowing Native Americans and stripping them of all but a few small patches of land in some of the states most remote regions, and additionally nods to their spiritual purpose. Vocally, singer/guitarist Cameron Elliott is a mesh of Bill Callahan, Silver Jews David Berman, and the Mountain Goats John Darnielle, steeped in helpless protest. All the while, Battle Hymns music lays into the dark side of the rocky heartland with dour anthems, noisy refrains, and a somewhat hopeful resolve. Im excited to see how far Battle Hymns can extend this bit of regional sanctity. TRAVIS RITTER
**Oh, and I posted a new song on our myspace page : Telegram No. One. Check it out!
contact: wsr@thewesternstates.com