The Long Winters

The Long Winters is an alternative rock / indie pop band from Seattle, Washington.

Related Topics:
The Long Winters - Alternative rock - Indie pop - Seattle, Washington

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Singer/songwriter John Roderick's history is one of great mystery. His hyperbolic, tongue-in-cheek humour is a sword kept dangerously sharp via his instantly overt intelligent wit. However, it is this deep-rooted humour that makes it difficult to piece together the truths amongst half-truths and unrestrained exaggerations that John is capable of spewing -- all without even the slighest twitch of a facial muscle. There are very few documented facts concerning John's (and thus, the Long Winters') rich history, but those known facts are well documented.

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Born on September 13, 1968 in Seattle, WA, John was raised in Anchorage, Alaska from an early age. Motivated by an undying sense of curiousity and adventure, John joined a high school friend in fleeing Alaska to experience a less disconnected America.

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After adventures that spanned continents and on more than one occassion, nearly ended John's life, Roderick participated in a number of moderately successful bands formed in and around his birthplace of Seattle, WA. Amongst these bands are the little documented Bun Family Players, the word-of-mouth sensation, the Western State Hurricanes, and college rock radio favourites, Harvey Danger.

Related Topics:
Bun Family Players - The Western State Hurricanes - Harvey Danger

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Although Harvey Danger's biography would best be served elsewhere, it is worth noting that after the popular radio hit "Flagpole Sitta" and a critically acclaimed but commercially disappointing sophomore album, Harvey Danger dissolved. Harvey Danger singer/songwriter Sean Nelson's companionship with Roderick, however, remained strong. Nelson suggested the duo go into a studio and record an album -- half being songs penned by John, and the other half by Sean. Chris Walla, of Death Cab For Cutie fame, had recently opened up the Hall of Justice studio in Seattle, and agreed that this "experiment" would be a great way to allow Walla to become accustomed to the studio's 24-channel mixer. John recruited Joe Bass and Brian Young to flush out several of the songs, and before long, Sean felt that the album should feature only John's songs. After several months of on-again-off-again boughts of inspiration and recording, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm was finished.

Related Topics:
Sean Nelson - Chris Walla - Death Cab For Cutie - Hall of Justice - Joe Bass - Brian Young - The Worst You Can Do Is Harm

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Due to high tensions that developed between John, Sean and Chris, John took off for New York almost immediately after the recording sessions had finished. He quickly began to pen new songs -- several of which would eventually be included on the Long Winters' sophomore album, When I Pretend To Fall. While in New York, John performed a number of solo shows before being contacted by Barsuk Records -- the label that would release The Worst You Can Do Is Harm -- who made it clear that they expected a tour to promote the release. Unable to afford the costs of putting together a band in New York, John began to formulate a plan that would bring him back to Seattle. Upon hearing of these plans, friend and sometime-roommate Chris Caniglia decided to nominate himself as the first member of John's touring act and moved back to Seattle with John. The duo got into contact with former Western States Hurricanes drummer, Michael Shilling and auditioned Eric Corson for the role of bass player. Thus, The Long Winters were born.

Related Topics:
When I Pretend To Fall - Barsuk Records - The Worst You Can Do Is Harm - Chris Caniglia - Michael Shilling - Eric Corson

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The time apart worked wonders for the strained working relationship between the band that was The Long Winters during the recording of The Worst You Can Do Is Harm, but Sean Nelson was unable to commit to the band, promising to support his friends to the best of his ability. At the band's first live gig, Nelson offered to perform harmony vocals on a number of songs. He ended up casually performing with the band for upwards of a year before conceeding to full-time enrollment. However, full-time enrollment is something that very few can lay claim to in regards to The Long Winters.

Related Topics:
The Worst You Can Do Is Harm - Sean Nelson

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The original trio responsible for The Worst You Can Do Is Harm (John Roderick, Sean Nelson, and Chris Walla) is often considered the original formation of the band. John and Sean, along with recruits Eric Corson and Michael Shilling are the core players behind When I Pretend To Fall, with Sean having replaced Chris Caniglia as the band's keyboardist. When I Pretend To Fall was received to critical and (albeit, commerically limited) public adoration. John, Sean, Eric and Michael embarked on an ambitious if not aggressive tour throughout 2003 in support of the album, which saw the band touring North America with Barsuk Records darling bands Nada Surf and Death Cab For Cutie, and a brief European stint over the course of November. Michael Shilling became burned out by the hectic touring and lifestyle of the band, and resigned in December of 2003.

Related Topics:
The Worst You Can Do Is Harm - John Roderick - Sean Nelson - Chris Walla - Eric Corson - Michael Shilling - When I Pretend To Fall - Barsuk Records - Nada Surf - Death Cab For Cutie

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Around this time, Harvey Danger had announced they had gotten together to casually 'jam', and rediscovered their spark. John officially announced on March 17th, 2004, that Sean had left the Long Winters to rekindle his former band. The split was obviously amicable -- John stated on The Long Winters' online message board that "Reuniting with Harvey Danger had an inescapable logic- we were just as excited about it as they were- and we cheered their reunion as friends and fans... In wishing Harvey Danger the best and most continued success we are obliged to lose him as a member of the Long Winters. Lose a member and gain a great band."

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At the time of Sean's departure, The Long Winters had recently begun rehearsing with Michael Shilling's replacement for the band's 2004 tour, former Death Cab For Cutie percussionist Michael Schorr. Confronted with a huge blow to the band's dynamic, John quickly realized the frutility of replacing Sean -- especially with an east coast tour with The Pernice Brothers, a more fleshed out European tour, and a nationwide tour supporting The Decemberists that would take the band through the spring and well into the summer. Thus, the leaner three-piece version of The Long Winters was born, featuring John Roderick, Eric Corson, and Michael Schorr.

Related Topics:
Death Cab For Cutie - Michael Schorr - The Pernice Brothers

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This extensive spring/summer 2004 tour took its toll on drummer Michael Schorr, who left the band shortly after its completion. John announced on the band's Message Board that Schorr "would prefer to concentrate on his other career of designing levels for first-person-player video games" (Schorr remains, however, as an active poster on the message board). John continued to do small promotional events and shows intermittedly throughout the latter half of 2004 and 2005, often previewing a handful of new Long Winters songs.

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The latest incarnation of The Long Winters features original members John Roderick on vocals and guitars, Eric Corson on bass and back-up vocals, Mike Squires pulling the double duty of guitar and keys, and Nabil Ayers taking over percussion. This line-up will appear on the next two Long Winters' releases; namely an EP due on October 11th, 2005 entitled Ultimatum, and an as-yet-untitled LP that will be released in the first quarter of 2006. Both discs will be available through Barsuk Records.

Related Topics:
The Long Winters - John Roderick - Eric Corson - Mike Squires - Nabil Ayers - October 11th - 2005 - Ultimatum - Barsuk Records

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The band will be embarking on a two-week mini-tour, in support of Keane and playing their own shows at various indie record stores along the way, in the second half of September 2005.

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