"New York rock after it learns to ditch the pretense...one of the better '90s-inspired indie outfits of late."
-Thomas J. Olsen, Deli Magazine
"Reinvigorates a sound that once dominated mixed tape nights everywhere...reminding us why the slacker spirit never dies."
-Frederick Foxtrott, FrederickFoxtrott.com
"So perfectly earnest that it's hard not to feel charmed...maintains a steady laidback vibe that tastes better over time, like a hotdish...these boys are clever."
-Lara Crombie, We Heart Music
"Messy, noisy rock that I cannot sit still to...can be compared to Nada Surf, Spoon and maybe a little I Am Kloot."
-Erica James, Unbound Culture, Unbound Culture
"Reminds me of Walt Mink...has an early '90s college radio sound that I love."
Mite Mutant, The Chicken Fish Speaks
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Worst Case Ontario, based (amazingly) in New York City, officially launched in late 2006. Although some of its songs were initially recorded in the fall of 2001 by vocalist/guitarist Sam Weisberg alone, on his drawling Fostex four track in a Japanese beetle-infested room somewhere in Oberlin, Ohio, it wasn't until several lineups and many heated, often violent arguments later before the band finally settled on that cheeky moniker. (Previous names the band performed under included Kinopalatsi, the Finnish word for "movie house" that proved too hard to pronounce/spell for the band's fans, enemies and members alike. Plus, the band would rather worship Canada than Finland any day.)
Between January and June 2007, Worst Case Ontario's first lineup (Jewish worrywart Sam Weisberg on vocals/guitar; Philly/Thinking Machines transplant John MacDonald on other guitar; Tennessee native Drew Eastmead on drums; and schoolteacher-turned-computer-jockey Tater Read on bass) recorded its first album "Burning Politely," guided gracefully by Gregg Rossetti and Rich Skibinsky of Suspyre and mastered by Len Monachello (All Night Chemists). By the end of 2007, Eastmead was replaced by Tim Perzan, formerly of Headquarters. Read left around then and was replaced in June 2008 by Joe "I slept in a graveyard" Grasso.
Since 2005 (as both Kinopalatsi and Worst Case Ontario), the band has performed at venues all over New York City--among them Pianos, Luna Lounge, Arlene's Grocery, CBGBs (before its demise), Knitting Factory Tap Bar (before its consolidation), and Continental (before its conversion into a frat boy dive reeking of Yaegermeister). It recently performed at Philadelphia's M Room to throngs of drinkers drinking away the Sunday blues.
Collectively, the band lifts sounds, tones and grunts from Fugazi, My Morning Jacket, Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Husker Du, Replacements, Soundgarden, Meat Puppets, Dinosaur Jr, Guided by Voices, The Who, Spoon, Interpol, Tortoise and others...like Ween, RHCP, Mission of Burma, Chavez, et al.
Purchase copies of "Burning Politely" at CD Baby OR download songs from iTunes here
Hey! I wanted to thank you for the really kind (and magnificently crude) words... sorry it's taken so long (my computer is made out of construction paper, office tape, and macaroni doodles).
Thanks for the add. You guys rock too!! It would be fun to come and play there, but I think we would have to sell all of our instruments in the process:) Maybe someday...
Hey thanks worst case ontario. I've always thought that we should all just be friends. Feels like money in the mysace bank. CHA-CHING$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ -hermit
Thanks for adding me. Good wee list of songs you have got there, my favourite is 'quit your stumbling', the vocals sound so cool in it. What are ur plans for this year, are you guys touring or anything?
thanks for adding me so i could check your band out. great music!you could play at geneva on the lake ohio at the cove 1440 466 8888 well thats there number just athouht anyways
