Hope of the States

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Hope of the States
Origin Chichester, England
Genre(s) Indie rock,
Years active 2000 - 2006
Website www.hopeofthestates.co.uk
Members
Sam Herlihy
Michael Hibbert
Simon Jones
Michael Siddell
Anthony Theaker
Paul Wilson
Former members
Jimmi Lawrence
Keith Seymour

Hope of the States were an English post rock-influenced indie band from Chichester.

Contents

[edit] Members

All instruments are as listed in the sleeve notes for the band's second album Left.

[edit] Former members

[edit] History

The band formed in 2000, naming themselves after a 1930s paper on the state of mental healthcare in the United States. They were discovered after sending a demo to the Planet Sound teletext page, and were signed to Sony BMG. The band's guitarist James Lawrence committed suicide in January 2004[1], shortly before the release of their first album, The Lost Riots, which reached the top 40 in the UK album chart. The band's first single, Black Dollar Bills, was packaged in a hessian sleeve, each hand-sewn by a band member, which later became a valuable collectors' item.[citation needed] The first album saw the band departing slightly from the heavily instrumental post-rock of their early material, blending it with more conventional indie rock, to the disappointment of some of their early fans.[citation needed]

The band's most extensive UK tour started in October 2004, beginning with a date in Belfast's Mandela Hall.

Much of 2005 was spent recording the follow-up to The Lost Riots, and the band only made six live appearances. The band performed some songs to be included on their second album at an acoustic performance in London. The band worked with fansite "The Halfway Home" to produce an advent calendar for Christmas 2005. The only studio recording released in 2005 was the track 'Shalom', included as Day 24 on the calendar.

In April 2006 the band released a new EP, Blood Meridian, accompanied by a low-key UK tour beginning in The Cockpit in Leeds. The EP was limited to 2000 copies, available on vinyl, and was also available for download. The single Sing it Out was released in June 2006, reaching #39 in the UK singles chart, and their second album Left followed on June 19.

The band appeared at T in the Park on July 8, and then the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August, where they played on the BBC Radio 1/NME stage. During their set on Sunday 27 August at Reading, it emerged it may be their last ever show as the band were splitting up.[2] This was suggested further later in the day by friends Broken Social Scene, who dedicated their festival set to the band. On 30 August, Sam Herlihy made a statement on the band's forum confirming the split and that Reading was their last ever show. Simon Jones and Mike Siddell also confirmed that the band were to split in the same thread. The band's statement read:

"We can walk away at this point as friends and be increasingly proud of what we have done. Thank you to everyone for all your support and the incredible times we have shared with our fans and supporters”

Since the split members of the band have gone on to perform as Troubles, featuring Sam Herlihy, Mike Siddell, Michael Hibbert and Simon Jones, along with Jon Winter and Joel Clifford. Herlihy has performed as a soloist and has released an online Demo under the name Blocks. Anthony Theaker has created several remixes using the name CERN. During March it was confirmed that Sam Herlihy, Jon Winter, Paul Wilson and Simon Jones are to perform in an as-yet unnamed band. Several proposed names for the new band have been discussed amongst the band including 'ghosts'. Herlihy is believed to be sensitive to criticism that the 'Hope Of The States' name was difficult to remember and often needed to be repeated to uninitiates.[citation needed]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Demos, singles and EPs

  • Untitled 8-track demo (CDR) (not 9 tracks, as some sources suggest)
  • Untitled 2-track demo (Black Dollar Bills/Three Days In The West) (CDR)
  • Untitled "Fingerprints" demo (CD limited to 10 copies)
  • Black Dollar Bills (March 3, 2003) (CD limited to 2000 copies)
  • "AMM=IBM" (MP3 download)
  • Enemies/Friends (September 29, 2003) (CD/7")
  • The Red The White The Black The Blue (May 24, 2004) (CD/Ltd. CD/7")
  • Nehemiah (August 16, 2004) (CD/7", both in heat reactive sleeves; partially focused on the life of Nehemiah 'Skip' James)
  • Winter Riot Dust Rackets EP (August 19, 2004) (CD) [Japan/USA only; both have different tracklists]
  • L'Ark Pour Les Enfants Terribles (December 2004) (Ltd. Tour CD)
  • Blood Meridian EP (April 3, 2006) (10")
  • Sing It Out (June 5, 2006) (CD/7"/7")
  • Left (Single) (August 21, 2006) (CD/7"/7")

[edit] Singles

Year Song UK Singles Chart UK Download Chart Album
2002 "Black Dollar Bills" - - The Lost Riots
2003 "Enemies/Friends" #25 - The Lost Riots
2003 "The Red the White the Black the Blue" #15 - The Lost Riots
2004 "Nehemiah" #30 - The Lost Riots
2006 "Blood Meridian" - - Left
2006 "Sing It Out" #39 - Left
2006 "Left" #63 - Left

Also of note are Thee Dust Racket CDs. The band have handed out five separate CDs of demos to fans, with the instructions to hand them out to four further fans and not to distribute them digitally. Thee Dust Rackets are "Singin' It All Wrong", Thee Blackstar-Red Star! Arkestar, Thirds, Fourth Quarter and Fifths.

[edit] The Dust Rackets

The Dust Rackets (sometimes known as Thee Dust Rackets) are a post rock side-project of Hope of the States, showcasing the band's more experimental side.

[edit] History

The name "The Dust Rackets" was first used by the band in March 2004, when a trio of secret gigs following the completion of their debut album The Lost Riots were billed as "Komakino, with support from Thee Dust Rackets".

“ Dear friends,

After many days, weeks, months of strife and feverish building on a RECORD! worthy of their good name thee hopeofthestates shall be performing songs and pictures on the following dates:

THURSDAY 15TH APRIL-LONDON CAMDEN BARFLY

FRIDAY 16TH APRIL-MANCHESTER NIGHT AND DAY

SATURDAY 17TH APRIL-BRISTOL LOUISIANA

On all advertisements for the above shows thee hopeofthestates are billed as "The Dust Rackets", as support to our dear, dear friends the brave and sweet perfection of Komakino. Thee hopeofthestates shall be headlining on each night however. We hope and pray to see many of our kindly and most patient supporters on these late nights and shall endeavour to stage a return of magnificent design and grandly swelling hearts for yis all. Finally, run with yr coins all speedy dear friends! There be not many golden tickets around ah hear....[3]

 ”

It was at these gigs that Singin' It All Wrong (the first of the Dust Rackets CDRs) was "released". One copy was handed out at each gig to fans, who were instructed to make copies and send them on to a number of other fans, but were forbidden to put the tracks online or to sell them on.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.nme.com/news/107242.htm
  2. ^ Drowned in Sound - News - Hope Of The States split confirmed
  3. ^ Sam Herlihy, 5th April 2004

[edit] External links