| Elk City | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City, New York, USA |
| Genres | Art pop |
| Years active | 1997––present |
| Labels | Starrysky, Talitres, Earworm, Hidden Agenda, Warm, Friendly Fire |
| Associated acts | Melting Hopefuls |
| Website | elkcity.net |
| Members | |
| Renee LoBue Ray Ketchem Sean Eden Barbara Endes |
|
| Past members | |
| Peter Langland-Hassan | |
Elk City is an American art pop band from New York City, formed in 1997 as a spin-off of the Melting Hopefuls. The original lineup consisted of Renee LoBue, Ray Ketchem and Peter Langland-Hassan. They released two albums, Status and Hold Tight the Ropes, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. After the second album Langland-Hassan left the band, which led to the inclusion of Sean Eden and Barbara Endes. They released New Believers in 2007 under the new lineup, and it was followed by House of Tongues in 2010.[1]
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The band was formed in 1997 after Peter Langland-Hassan auditioned for the Melting Hopefuls, a band that Renee LoBue and Ray Ketchem had been part of since 1990. The trio decided to have a fresh start with a new name for the band, rather than pretend that they were still the old one.[2] The name refers to Elk City, West Virginia, an unincorporated community in Barbour County, West Virginia. Ketchem, an originary of West Virginia, drove past the town's sign one day, and he thought it would make a good name.[3] LoBue later commented that they liked that the name combined a rural element (an elk) with an urban element (a city).[4]
As they started playing the only instruments were an electric guitar and drums, played by Langland-Hassan and Ketchem respectively, while LoBue and Langland-Hassan shared the lead vocals, but shortly after LoBue started playing bass on a Novation Bass Station analog synthesizer. They spent the next three years playing on small venues, working on developing their sound as they traveled together.[2]
In 1999 they released an EP called Dreams of Steam with Starrysky Records. In early 2000 they changed the Bass Station for a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass,[2] and later that year they released their first LP, Status. It was released by Hidden Agenda Records (now Parasol Records) in the United States, and by Talitres Records in Europe in 2001.[5][6] In November of that same year London-based label Earworm Records released "Freeze Two Over Eight", one of the songs from Status, as a 7'' single.[7] The single featured the song "Judori" as a B-side, which isn't included in any of their studio albums. They had performed the song at the wedding of two friends of Langland-Hassan, called Jude and Midori, in late 1999.[2] In 2000 Parasol Records included them in volumes 1 and 2 of their Parasol's Sweet Sixteen series, with the songs "Dream of Steam" and "Love's Like a Bomb", respectively,[8][9] as well as in Parasol Presents Christmas Singles with the song "Deer Crossing".[10]
In 2001, soon after the release of Status in Europe, they played at "Black Sessions", a French radio show hosted by Bernard Lenoir, and that was followed by a two week tour in Europe.[2][11] Also that year one of their songs, "Three Ears", was included in This Is Next Year: A Brooklyn-Based Compilation, released by Arena Rock, while "Love's Like a Bomb", from Status, was included in Journey to End of Twilight: US Pop Life Vol. 9 - North East, a compilation released by Japanese label Contact Records.[12] After their return to the United States they signed a deal with Warm Records to release their next two recordings: an EP, The Sea is Fierce, released on October 23, 2001,[13] and their second studio album, Hold Tight the Ropes, released in May 7, 2002 by Warm Records in the United States, and again by Talitres Records in Europe that same month.[6][14]
During 2002 they kept touring on the United States, and near the end of the year they went over a tour in Europe that included shows in France, Italy, Spain, and Greece. While on the tour they opened for Luna on their presentations in Barcelona and Madrid, as part of their own European tour.[15][16] In February 2003 "Summer Song" was included in Flak Magazine's compilation Got No Songs on the Radio: The Best Music of 2002. The compilation takes it's name from a lyric in Elk City's song.[17]
On November 15, 2011, the band added a cover of Helixs "Heavy Metal Love" to a compilation album released by Engine Room Recordings entitled Guilt by Association Vol. 3.