Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger is a rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992 as Sean Nelson (vocals), Jeff J. Lin (guitar, piano, violin), Aaron Huffman (bass), and Evan Sult (drums). In 2005, after a reunion show the previous year sparked renewed creative interest among the band members, Harvey Danger returned with a new album, Little by Little..., and a new drummer, Michael Welke.

Related Topics:
Rock - Band - Seattle - Washington - 1992 - Sean Nelson - Jeff J. Lin - Aaron Huffman - Evan Sult - 2005 - Little by Little... - Michael Welke

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Their first album, Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?, was originally released on Arena Rock Recording Co. in July 1997. The band later signed with a bigger label, London/Slash Records, and in March 1998 re-released the album. The band had a modern rock hit with its first single, "Flagpole Sitta," an urgent, grunge-tinged track about losing one's mind. The album's only other single, "Private Helicopter," didn't perform nearly as well.

Related Topics:
Album - Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone? - Arena Rock Recording Co. - London/Slash Records - Modern rock - Grunge

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Early the following year, the group released a cover of English Beat's "Save It For Later" on the 200 Cigarettes soundtrack. An alternate version exists, featuring Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, but was only available on a CD-R distributed privately by the band.

Related Topics:
English Beat - 200 Cigarettes - Pearl Jam - Mike McCready

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In September of 2000, Harvey Danger released its second album, King James Version. The record garnered critical acclaim, but sold poorly. The first single, "Sad Sweetheart of the Rodeo," made little impact on rock radio; the accompanying video fared similarly.

Related Topics:
2000 - King James Version

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The release of King James Version was an arduous process for the band, as they and their record spent a year in limbo during convoluted label mergers. Frustrated with the music industry and their persistent lack of commercial success since "Flagpole Sitta," Harvey Danger disbanded, though members remained active musically: Sult relocated to Chicago and joined the band Bound Stems, Nelson recorded and toured with The Long Winters and worked on solo material, and Huffman formed Love Hotel, which he continues to play in.

Related Topics:
Sult - Nelson - The Long Winters - Huffman

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On April 21, 2004, Nelson, Lin, and Huffman gathered for an informal reunion at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe, during which they rediscovered their old musical chemistry and, to their surprise, found they had inspiration for and inclination to resurrect the band. Harvey Danger re formed (sans Sult, who had too many commitments in Chicago, family among them, to return to Seattle) and debuted some of their new material at a handful of live shows in the spring and summer. A limited-release EP presented in December 2004, Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes), featured 5 songs: two alternative versions of songs previously released, two rarities (including the title track), and a studio demo of a new song.

Related Topics:
April 21 - 2004 - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)

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On May 12, 2005, "Cream and Bastards Rise" became the first new Harvey Danger song to grace radio waves in nearly half a decade, appearing on John Richards' evening show on KEXP in Seattle and subsequently entering regular rotation on local alternative station 107.7 The End.

Related Topics:
May 12 - 2005 - John Richards - 107.7 The End

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The group's third album, Little By Little..., its first with new drummer Michael Welke, was released on September 13, 2005, made available in its entirety as a free BitTorrent download on September 20, and became available directly from the band's website on September 27.

Related Topics:
Little By Little... - Michael Welke - September 13 - 2005 - BitTorrent - Download - September 20 - September 27

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