Elk City (band)
Encyclopedia
Elk City is an American art pop band from New York City
, formed in 1997 as a spin-off of the Melting Hopefuls. The original lineup consisted of Renee LoBue, Ray Ketchem and Peter Langland-Hassan. They released two albums, Status and Hold Tight the Ropes, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. After the second album Langland-Hassan left the band, which led to the inclusion of Sean Eden and Barbara Endes. They released New Believers in 2007 under the new lineup, and it was followed by House of Tongues in 2010.
, an unincorporated community in Barbour County
, West Virginia
. Ketchem, an originary of West Virginia, drove past the town's sign one day, and he thought it would make a good name. LoBue later commented that they liked that the name combined a rural element (an elk
) with an urban element (a city
).
and drums, played by Langland-Hassan and Ketchem respectively, while LoBue and Langland-Hassan shared the lead vocals, but shortly after LoBue started playing bass on a Novation Bass Station
analog synthesizer
. They spent the next three years playing on small venues, working on developing their sound as they traveled together.
In 1999 they released an EP
called Dreams of Steam with Starrysky Records. In early 2000 they changed the Bass Station for a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, and later that year they released their first LP
, Status. It was released by Hidden Agenda Records (now Parasol Records
) in the United States, and by Talitres Records in Europe in 2001. In November of that same year London-based label Earworm Records
released "Freeze Two Over Eight", one of the songs from Status, as a 7
single
. The single featured the song "Judori" as a B-side, which isn't included in any of their studio albums. They had performed the song at the wedding of two friends of Langland-Hassan, called Jude and Midori, in late 1999. In 2000 Parasol Records included them in volumes 1 and 2 of their Parasol's Sweet Sixteen series, with the songs "Dream of Steam" and "Love's Like a Bomb", respectively, as well as in Parasol Presents Christmas Singles with the song "Deer Crossing".
In 2001, soon after the release of Status in Europe, they played at "Black Sessions
", a French radio show hosted by Bernard Lenoir
, and that was followed by a two week tour in Europe. Also that year one of their songs, "Three Ears", was included in This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation
, released by Arena Rock
, while "Love's Like a Bomb", from Status, was included in Journey to End of Twilight: US Pop Life Vol. 9 - North East, a compilation released by Japanese label Contact Records. After their return to the United States they signed a deal with Warm Records
to release their next two recordings: an EP, The Sea is Fierce, released on October 23, 2001, and their second studio album, Hold Tight the Ropes, released in May 7, 2002 by Warm Records in the United States, and again by Talitres Records in Europe that same month.
During 2002 they kept touring on the United States, and near the end of the year they went over a tour in Europe that included shows in France
, Italy
, Spain
, and Greece
. While on the tour they opened
for Luna
on their presentations in Barcelona
and Madrid
, as part of their own European tour. In February 2003 "Summer Song" was included in Flak Magazine
's compilation Got No Songs on the Radio: The Best Music of 2002. The compilation takes it's name from a lyric in Elk City's song.
On November 15, 2011, the band added a cover of Helix
s "Heavy Metal Love" to a compilation album released by Engine Room Recordings
entitled Guilt by Association Vol. 3
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, formed in 1997 as a spin-off of the Melting Hopefuls. The original lineup consisted of Renee LoBue, Ray Ketchem and Peter Langland-Hassan. They released two albums, Status and Hold Tight the Ropes, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. After the second album Langland-Hassan left the band, which led to the inclusion of Sean Eden and Barbara Endes. They released New Believers in 2007 under the new lineup, and it was followed by House of Tongues in 2010.
History
The band was formed in 1997 after Peter Langland-Hassan auditioned for the Melting Hopefuls, a band that Renee LoBue and Ray Ketchem had been part of since 1990. The trio decided to have a fresh start with a new name for the band, rather than pretend that they were still the old one. The name refers to Elk City, West VirginiaElk City, West Virginia
Elk City is an unincorporated community in Barbour County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Elk City lies along West Virginia Route 57 and takes its name from nearby Elk Creek....
, an unincorporated community in Barbour County
Barbour County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there are 15,557 people, 6,123 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density is 46 people per square mile . There are 7,348 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Ketchem, an originary of West Virginia, drove past the town's sign one day, and he thought it would make a good name. LoBue later commented that they liked that the name combined a rural element (an elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
) with an urban element (a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
).
Early years
As they started playing the only instruments were an electric guitarElectric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and drums, played by Langland-Hassan and Ketchem respectively, while LoBue and Langland-Hassan shared the lead vocals, but shortly after LoBue started playing bass on a Novation Bass Station
Novation Digital Music Systems
Novation Digital Music Systems Ltd. is a UK musical equipment manufacturer. Founded in 1992 as Novation Electronic Music Systems, the company specialises in MIDI controllers and analog modeling synthesizers, which they have manufactured in China....
analog synthesizer
Analog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
. They spent the next three years playing on small venues, working on developing their sound as they traveled together.
In 1999 they released 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...
called Dreams of Steam with Starrysky Records. In early 2000 they changed the Bass Station for a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, and later that year they released their first LP
LP record
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, Status. It was released by Hidden Agenda Records (now Parasol Records
Parasol Records
Parasol Records is an American independent record label based out of Urbana, Illinois. The label was founded by Geoff Merritt as an outgrowth of the catalogue Parasol Mail Order ....
) in the United States, and by Talitres Records in Europe in 2001. In November of that same year London-based label Earworm Records
Earworm Records
Earworm Records was a London-based independent record label, with its first release by the band Hood in 1997. Other bands to release music on the label include Yo La Tengo, Of Montreal, Stars of the Lid, Windy & Carl, Portal, The Besnard Lakes, Fridge, Damon & Naomi and Magnétophone....
released "Freeze Two Over Eight", one of the songs from Status, as a 7
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...
single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. The single featured the song "Judori" as a B-side, which isn't included in any of their studio albums. They had performed the song at the wedding of two friends of Langland-Hassan, called Jude and Midori, in late 1999. In 2000 Parasol Records included them in volumes 1 and 2 of their Parasol's Sweet Sixteen series, with the songs "Dream of Steam" and "Love's Like a Bomb", respectively, as well as in Parasol Presents Christmas Singles with the song "Deer Crossing".
In 2001, soon after the release of Status in Europe, they played at "Black Sessions
Black Sessions
Black Sessions are performances of live music broadcast on the French radio station France Inter. They are recorded in front of a live audience, and feature on the C'est Lenoir show...
", a French radio show hosted by Bernard Lenoir
Bernard Lenoir
Bernard Lenoir is a radio personality, specializing in independent rock. His program, directed by Michelle Soulier, is broadcast in the evenings on France Inter....
, and that was followed by a two week tour in Europe. Also that year one of their songs, "Three Ears", was included in This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation
This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation
This is Next Year is a compilation album released July 17, 2001 by Arena Rock Recording Co.-Disc 1:#"Radio" – The Walkmen#"I've Got A Fang " – They Might Be Giants#"Wasting In The Sun" – #"Keep Your Feelings To Yourself" – Clem Snide...
, released by Arena Rock
Arena Rock Recording Co.
The Arena Rock Recording Company is an independent record label based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Albums are distributed by Redeye in the United States and Koch in Canada.-History:...
, while "Love's Like a Bomb", from Status, was included in Journey to End of Twilight: US Pop Life Vol. 9 - North East, a compilation released by Japanese label Contact Records. After their return to the United States they signed a deal with Warm Records
Warm Records
Warm Electronic Recordings is an independent record label based in Athens, Georgia. Azure Ray, Japancakes, and Crooked Fingers are some of the artists on their roster.-Artists:*Azure Ray*Crooked Fingers*Elk City*Empire State*Japancakes*Liz Durrett...
to release their next two recordings: an EP, The Sea is Fierce, released on October 23, 2001, and their second studio album, Hold Tight the Ropes, released in May 7, 2002 by Warm Records in the United States, and again by Talitres Records in Europe that same month.
During 2002 they kept touring on the United States, and near the end of the year they went over a tour in Europe that included shows in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. While on the tour they opened
Opening act
An opening act or warm-up act is an entertainer or entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured entertainer...
for Luna
Luna (band)
Luna was a dream pop/indie pop band formed in 1991 by Dean Wareham after the breakup of Galaxie 500, with Stanley Demeski and Justin Harwood...
on their presentations in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
and Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, as part of their own European tour. In February 2003 "Summer Song" was included in Flak Magazine
Flak Magazine
Flak Magazine was a pioneering American online magazine, founded in 1998. The chief editor is James Norton, the managing editor is Joey Rubin. , it reported over 250,000 unique visitors monthly. In 2008, Flak suspended publication....
's compilation Got No Songs on the Radio: The Best Music of 2002. The compilation takes it's name from a lyric in Elk City's song.
On November 15, 2011, the band added a cover of Helix
Helix (band)
Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
s "Heavy Metal Love" to a compilation album released by Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings
Engine Room Recordings is an independent record label with a roster of Indie rock and Alternative rock musicians. Beyond marketing and distribution for its artists, the label does booking and artist management....
entitled Guilt by Association Vol. 3
Guilt by Association Vol. 3
Guilt by Association Vol. 3 is a compilation album released November 15, 2011 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its previous installments, Guilt by Association Vol. 1 and Guilt by Association Vol. 2, Guilt By Association Vol...
.
LP records
- 2000 – Status
- 2002 – Hold Tight the Ropes
- 2007 – New Believers
- 2010 – House of Tongues
Compilations
- 2011 - Guilt by Association Vol. 3Guilt by Association Vol. 3Guilt by Association Vol. 3 is a compilation album released November 15, 2011 by Engine Room Recordings. Like its previous installments, Guilt by Association Vol. 1 and Guilt by Association Vol. 2, Guilt By Association Vol...
- "Heavy Metal Love" (HelixHelix (band)Helix are a Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don...
cover)