Photo of The Heavenly States

The Heavenly States

The Heavenly States Radio

General Info

  • Genre: Garage / Post punk / Rock

    Location Oakland, Un

    Profile Views: 271290

    Last Login: 12/21/2011

    Member Since 5/28/2004

    Website www.theheavenlystates.com

    Record Label Hippies Are Dead Records (HADR); Baria; Future Farmer; Isota; Devil in the Woods

    Type of Label Unsigned

  • Bio

    "As panoramic as the work of such larger-than-life rock storytellers as the Who."--Magnet "Combining the scruffy shocks of guitar and dyspeptic swagger of pre-grunge rockers like Agitprop and Pavement with a layered late-90's indie-pop aesthetic best associated with Dave Fridmann... the States' mix of beauty and attack are keenly calibrated"--AP Mag "A couple parts Chuck Prophet channeling Keith Richards, a pinch of chiming indie pop and dashes of naively swaggering Jonathan Richman and Eef Barzelay with occasional dollops of stripped down baroque rock, and the Heavenly States shimmer out of the rising mist. Like Nada Surf with a delightfully impish streak of Beck, the Heavenly States conjure up drama and whimsy with equal passion and often within the same song"--Amplifier Magazine The States are trying on a slew of different coats here, and if they sound like both a throwback to soulful proto-Bruce Springsteens like John Mellencamp as well as rock revivalists the Hold Steady (especially on "Lost In The Light"), then wait a track or two as they synthesize the coolelectronic textures of the Postal Service and Stereolab ("Make Up") or break into the dreamy, string-swept Bay Area psych-folk of Kelley Stoltz and Vetiver ("Butterflies," "Roses"). Throughout, the Heavenly States' ambitious sounds fit together divinely --Magnet Magazine.... Ted Nesseth sings as if he was ordained to front a rock band from birth. Highlights include "Lost in the Light," which recalls the Velvet Underground circa Loaded, the slower-paced "Make Up," which breathes the same melancholic air as Jane's Addiction in their quieter moments, and "The System," which is propelled by the kind of squalling guitar riff that would have rocked just as hard in any decade out of the past five " --KQED Arts and Culture "Lost In The Light" - reminds me of a revved up LOU REED on "Dirty Boulevard" --Future Sounds Loaded with monstrously memorable choruses and catchy riffs that are stickier than flypaper.... A fantastic band armed with a huge sound, frighteningly fragile moments and massively poppy tunes --First Coast News.... Top-notch songwriting.... from the wry opening rocker "Morning Exercise" (with a chorus of "It hurts so bad/This goes on the record") to the ultra-catchy, New Pornographers-like finish of "The Race," this is by some measure the Heavenly States' finest work so far --All Music Guide Delivers equal parts patchouli-soaked violin and Superchunk-worthy melodies --RollingStone The last great indie-rock violinist, The Dambuilders' Joan Wasser was known for her dark, sawing ardor, but the States' Genevieve Gagon has a breezy, darting quality that deepens and brightens the hummable angst-purging of singer/guitarist Ted Nesseth. Full of romantic, lefty yearning, Nesseth recalls the sweaty conviction of another Ted (Leo )--SPIN Buoyant, Bush-baiting pop --..Newsweek Oaktown's The Heavenly States may wear their pulsating hearts on their sleeves, but I'll take earnest power-pop liberalism over bored mall-punk any day. From their self-titled 2003 debut to their recent Black Comet, the bands arch wordplay and jagged composition on tracks like "Pretty Life" and "Borderline" have been as compelling as they have been hilarious. Remember, these left-fielders signed on Hardware Wars creator Ernie Fosselius to direct their video for "Car Wash." So, yeah, they're well-versed in the intersection of entertainment and absurdity, political or otherwise. (For more on that score, check out their hilarious Flash short Osama bin Lozenges on YouTube. It's a riot.) This advertisement of the Heavenly States' artistic agenda was indeed paid for by the L.A. Weekly. But I would have given it to them for free --LA Weekly Teetering between pristine pop and searing punk rock --Harp Eschews bobby socks and first kisses for squalling grit à la early-'90s SST tough guys and the noisy theatrics of Dinosaur Jr. --SF Weekly

  • Members

    Ted Nesseth, Genevieve Gagon, Jeremy Gagon Management: Kim Kaiman Strategic Marketing & Management, LLC.. 325 W. 89th Street, 2.. New York, New York 10024.. phone: 212-799-4209.. fax: 212-362-8678..

  • Influences

  • Sounds Like

    Oui Camera Oui, Delayer, Black Comet, The Heavenly States s/t, King Epiphany, Devil in the Woods Split 7-inch (w/Coldplay & The Postal Service)

Videos

00:00 | 0 plays | Jan 1 0001

You have no videos.

Comments

Post a comment...
  • Kyle

    Please put Black Commet on i-tunes^^ Happy new year

    2 years ago
  • Skyler Jackson

    get back to seattle. come to my bar and play my birthday in may!!!!! i miss you fools. like whoa!!!

    2 years ago
  • Rev. Craig

    I miss you guys (and super gal)! I hope all is well!

    2 years ago
  • ॐ KB ॐ

    i really like you list of upcoming shows... cant wait to see you guys in dubuque!!! wooo  <---- thats my excited face!

    2 years ago
  • Eliot Sweere

    You guys were in town for like 2 days.. wtf
    come back.

    2 years ago
  • iSexyBeast!

    Hey, I saw you guys at the Best of the East Bay Express show and really enjoyed your set. I direct music videos and if you guys ever need an awesome one, feel free to hit me up. I did a video for CU Next Weekend, a group who went on before you guys. Enjoy :)


    2 years ago
  • Eliot Sweere

    So you put Peter Pan

    and Lance Armstrong in a music
    video but not me?!


    What is this?
    this is an outrage Ted

    2 years ago
  • Robert

    werd

    3 years ago
  • Talking House

    have an amazing show tonight!!!!

    3 years ago
  • Borders San Francisco

    Thanks so much for adding us!

    3 years ago
10 of 1571More

Login

Forgot password?

Need an account? Sign up