Hawthorne Heights
The energy of youth, mixed with equal parts frustration and anger, is the recipe for a number of solid, Midwestern bands. In fact, Hawthorne Heights has a quality that is eerily similar to Junior Varsity, an Illinois group that also hits the strings hard and puts crisp vocals on top. The band members insist they "sound like no one else." But don’t worry, sounding like Junior Varsity is a good thing!
With "Ohio Is For Lovers" from The Silence in Black and White, as well as "This Is Who We Are" from If Only You Were Lonely (2006), this Dayton Ohio ensemble is attracting listeners by the thousands. Eron Bucciarelli contributes confident drumming and seems to be a heartbeat for the group, working with Matt Ridenour, the group’s bassist, to set the foundation. Guitar work by Casey Calvert, Micah Carli and JT Woodruff is tight (Woodruff is the primary vocalist as well). The distortion and fuzz that typify rock and pop/punk are just right and it’s refreshing to hear some harmony guitar work.
Hawthorne Heights has been around for about six years and according to some accounts began playing as A Day in the Life. A stint with the Victory record label did not work out, to say the least. But the quest continues. The band’s recent Warped Tour included stops in Boise Idaho, Seattle Washington, Portland Oregon as well as dates in Fresno and Sacramento California.
Tags: hawthorne heights, indie, independent music, music, indie music
Hawthorne Heights is a band that I have noticed is very popular with the very young crowd. My younger sister loves them, and she is constantly blasting “Ohio Is For Lovers”. I thought it was a good song at first, but now it always seems like each song sounds the same as the last. I don’t think I care for them too much right now. They do have very creative music videos.
100% agree with you Jewel. Their songs seem to be the same thing, one after the next, like one long never-ending strings of songs made into one. The lead vocals is quite annoying too. Now, to be a bit positive as well, their instrumentals on “Ohio is for Lovers” is pretty tight.
One thing I should mention that I actually just found out is that one of the guitarists died last November. It’s really sad. I actually had no idea until recently, I’m surprised that it wasn’t on the news or anything, because this band is pretty popular where I am from.
Wow, that sucks. I didn’t hear anything about that Jewel. Are these guys still going to continue on with a new guitarist? I know that can be a hard task to do, but I say let the music keep going on in his honor, and improve in time.