The Thermals
Encyclopedia
The Thermals are an American indie punk band based in Portland, Oregon
. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lo-fi punk, as well as more standard rock, the band's songs are also known for their political and religious imagery.
, who had been band mates before, most notably in the folk duo Hutch & Kathy. Their first album, More Parts per Million
, was released in 2003 by Sub Pop Records. The record was recorded and performed entirely by Hutch Harris, who played every instrument and recorded the record on a 4-track cassette machine in the kitchen of his house. The first live line-up was Harris with Kathy Foster on bass, Jordan Hudson on drums and Ben Barnett on guitar Their follow up album Fuckin A
was mixed by Death Cab For Cutie
member Chris Walla
, although the sound remained much the same. Ben Barnett had left the band by this point, so Hutch Harris took over on guitar for this album.
Their third album, The Body, The Blood, The Machine
, won the group much recognition, appearing on multiple top album lists for 2006 (including those of NPR, The AV Club and Pitchfork). Jordan Hudson dropped out of the band during the recording of their third album. Kathy Foster took over percussion duties in the recording studio, which Lorin Coleman performed on tour. Produced by Brendan Canty
of Fugazi, it was a politically charged concept album designed to showcase a path of religious tyranny that America might take.
The Thermals' fourth album, Now We Can See, was released on a new label, Kill Rock Stars
, and produced by label associate John Congleton. Again, Foster worked as the percussionist on the album. Westin Glass joined the group as a drummer after the album was finished and supported them on tour. He is the band's current percussionist.
Teaming up again with Walla, The Thermals fifth album, Personal Life
was released September 7, 2010.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The group was formed in 2002. With influences heavily rooted in both lo-fi punk, as well as more standard rock, the band's songs are also known for their political and religious imagery.
History
The Thermals came together in 2002 with Hutch Harris and Kathy FosterKathy Foster
Kathy Foster is the bassist for the punk band The Thermals and drummer for the All Girl Summer Fun Band. With The Thermals bandmate Hutch Harris, she was in Haelah, Hutch and Kathy, and Urban Legends. She also performs under the name Butterfly Transformation Service...
, who had been band mates before, most notably in the folk duo Hutch & Kathy. Their first album, More Parts per Million
More Parts per Million
More Parts Per Million is The Thermals' debut album. The album was released in 2003 on Sub Pop Records. Even though the band was considered to be a supergroup of sorts at the time of release, very little was spent on the recording. As such, the record has a very lo-fi aesthetic, not present on...
, was released in 2003 by Sub Pop Records. The record was recorded and performed entirely by Hutch Harris, who played every instrument and recorded the record on a 4-track cassette machine in the kitchen of his house. The first live line-up was Harris with Kathy Foster on bass, Jordan Hudson on drums and Ben Barnett on guitar Their follow up album Fuckin A
Fuckin A
-The Thermals:*Hutch Harris - Guitar/Vocals*Kathy Foster - Bass/Backing Vocals*Jordan Hudson - Drums-Additional Personnel:*Ed Brooks - Mastering*Rick Fisher - Mastering*Troy Tietjen - Assistant Engineer*Chris Walla - Engineer...
was mixed by 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 ....
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...
, although the sound remained much the same. Ben Barnett had left the band by this point, so Hutch Harris took over on guitar for this album.
Their third album, The Body, The Blood, The Machine
The Body, The Blood, The Machine
The Body, the Blood, the Machine is The Thermals' third album. The album was released on August 22, 2006 on Sub Pop Records, and was produced by Fugazi's Brendan Canty...
, won the group much recognition, appearing on multiple top album lists for 2006 (including those of NPR, The AV Club and Pitchfork). Jordan Hudson dropped out of the band during the recording of their third album. Kathy Foster took over percussion duties in the recording studio, which Lorin Coleman performed on tour. Produced by Brendan Canty
Brendan Canty
Brendan Canty is an American musician, composer, producer and film maker, best known as the drummer for the band Fugazi....
of Fugazi, it was a politically charged concept album designed to showcase a path of religious tyranny that America might take.
The Thermals' fourth album, Now We Can See, was released on a new label, Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars
Kill Rock Stars is an independent record label founded in 1991 by Slim Moon and based in both Olympia, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The label has released a variety of work in different genres, making it difficult to pigeonhole as having any one artistic mission...
, and produced by label associate John Congleton. Again, Foster worked as the percussionist on the album. Westin Glass joined the group as a drummer after the album was finished and supported them on tour. He is the band's current percussionist.
Teaming up again with Walla, The Thermals fifth album, Personal Life
Personal Life (album)
Personal Life is the fifth album from the Portland-based indie rock band The Thermals. The album was released on September 7, 2010, on Kill Rock Stars.The first single from the album to be released is "I Don't Believe You"...
was released September 7, 2010.
Current members
- Hutch Harris - vocals, guitar (2002–present)
- Kathy FosterKathy FosterKathy Foster is the bassist for the punk band The Thermals and drummer for the All Girl Summer Fun Band. With The Thermals bandmate Hutch Harris, she was in Haelah, Hutch and Kathy, and Urban Legends. She also performs under the name Butterfly Transformation Service...
- bass, vocals (2002–present) - Westin Glass - drums, vocals (2008–present)
Former Members
- Jordan Hudson - drums (2002–2005)
- Ben Barnett - guitar (2002–2003)
- Caitlin Love - drums (2006)
- Lorin Coleman - drums (2007–2008)
- Joel Burrows - guitar (2007)
Studio albums
- More Parts per MillionMore Parts per MillionMore Parts Per Million is The Thermals' debut album. The album was released in 2003 on Sub Pop Records. Even though the band was considered to be a supergroup of sorts at the time of release, very little was spent on the recording. As such, the record has a very lo-fi aesthetic, not present on...
(2003) - Fuckin AFuckin A-The Thermals:*Hutch Harris - Guitar/Vocals*Kathy Foster - Bass/Backing Vocals*Jordan Hudson - Drums-Additional Personnel:*Ed Brooks - Mastering*Rick Fisher - Mastering*Troy Tietjen - Assistant Engineer*Chris Walla - Engineer...
(2004) - The Body, the Blood, the MachineThe Body, The Blood, The MachineThe Body, the Blood, the Machine is The Thermals' third album. The album was released on August 22, 2006 on Sub Pop Records, and was produced by Fugazi's Brendan Canty...
(2006) - Now We Can See (2009)
- Personal LifePersonal Life (album)Personal Life is the fifth album from the Portland-based indie rock band The Thermals. The album was released on September 7, 2010, on Kill Rock Stars.The first single from the album to be released is "I Don't Believe You"...
(2010)
Singles and EPs
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "No Culture Icons" | Sub Pop |
| 2004 | "How We Know" | Sub Pop |
| 2007 | "A Pillar of Salt" | Sub Pop |
| 2008 | "Returning to the Fold" | Sub Pop |
| 2009 | "Now We Can See" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2009 | "We Were Sick" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2010 | "Canada" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2010 | "Separate" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2010 | "I Don't Believe You" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2010 | "Never Listen To Me" | Kill Rock Stars |
| 2011 | "Not Like Any Other Feeling" | Kill Rock Stars |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Insound Tour Support 2.0 | Insound |
| 2008 | LIVE at the Echoplex - December 7, 2007 | Kufala Recordings |
Compilations
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Wonder of the Underground Pressed On Plastic, Vol. 1 | Meow Meow |
| 2004 | Sub Pop: Patient Zero | Sub Pop |
| 2006 | To Elliott: From Portland | Expunged Records |
| 2006 | Terminal Sales Vol. 2: This Delicious | Sub Pop |
| 2007 | Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation Bridging the Distance: a Portland, OR covers compilation is a compilation album released April 17, 2007 by Arena Rock Recording Co. to benefit .- Track listing :-Bonus tracks :-External links:****... |
Arena Rock Recording Co. 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:... |
External links
- The Thermals (official website)
- The Thermals at Sub Pop Records
- The Thermals on FreeIndie
Interviews
- The Thermals Interview with Kathy Foster at Aural States (May 2009)
- The Thermals Interview with Hutch Harris at Aural States
- 2007 The Thermals Interview at Bandega.com
- Interview: The Thermals Interview by Jason Crock at Pitchfork MediaPitchfork MediaPitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
- Interview explaining The Body, The Blood, The Machine from Oct. 2006 on Aversion
- The Politics of Punk: Interview with The Thermals with the Center for American Progress
- The Thermals' Kathy Foster Gets Lasso'd
- Soundcrank Podcast Hosted by The Thermals
- Why aren't "post-pop-punks" The Thermals hotter? Interview by Joshua Ostroff at AOL Music Canada
- The Thermals CC Interview
- The Thermals interview April 2009
- Article
- Interview
- Spectrum Culture: interview