Radio Free Elsewhere BulletinExtra

Heatmiser

American rock band

Heatmiser was an American rock band, formed in Portland, Oregon, in October 1991. Consisting of Elliott Smith, Neil Gust, Brandt Peterson and Tony Lash (drums), they were known for their well-crafted lyrics and songs often featuring the juxtaposition of melancholic and cheery words and melodies.

Smith's pop-oriented songs provided a contrast to Gust's darker compositions, yet both songwriters explored themes such as anger, alienation, loneliness and despair.

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Admit one

Heatmiser

what: a band
from: Portland
since: 1992
until: 1996
on the air here: 0 songs
still after: 1 song

File card: Heatmiser

members: Elliott Smith, Sam Coomes

labels: Cavity Search Records

genres: indie rock

Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.

alternative rockamericanindie rockrock

The Glitch WeeklyExtra

Pre-Heatmiser early years (1987–1990)

In 1987, while both of them were attending classes at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, Neil Gust and Elliott Smith met and formed a band, Swimming Jesus. In addition to covers of songs by Ringo Starr and Elvis Costello, the pair performed original songs in clubs in nearby Northampton. The two were prolific: besides Swimming Jesus, Gust and Smith had another pre-Heatmiser college band, featuring "a friend named Dylan and two others", and recorded "stupid and embarrassing" music on rented four-track recorders with "poetry on top", recited by a "Southern Californian stoner-photographer guy" friend.

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The Dial Tone DailyExtra

Heatmiser early years: Dead Air and Cop and Speeder (1991–1993)

Following their graduation from Hampshire College in 1991, Gust and Smith returned to Portland, Oregon. In Portland, Gust and Smith formed Heatmiser with Smith's high school friend Tony Lash, who'd been working at a recording studio and playing drums in local band Nero's Rome. Early versions of Heatmiser included Jason Hornick, who, like Lash, had also played in Smith's high school band Stranger Than Fiction. In high school, Lash and Smith played together in the school band—Lash played flute, Smith played clarinet—and Lash played drums in Smith's band Stranger Than Fiction. Lash and Smith had bonded over a mutual love of Rush, and outside of their high school band class, they began to work out "insanely complicated songs" together,...

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The Airwaves CourierExtra

Musical style

Heatmiser was labeled as a "homocore" or "queercore" band by the mainstream press, because of the themes espoused in the songs of the openly gay Gust. It was also speculated that Gust and Smith were lovers. Smith repeatedly denied this in interviews or that he was even gay. Smith also said that Gust's being gay was "not a big deal, [nor] anyone's business".

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The Static TimesExtra

Performance style

Gonson spoke of the uniqueness of the 1990s Portland music scene in relation to Heatmiser:

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American indie rock band from Portland formed in 1991 and disbanded in 1996 following the success of the first 2 solo albums. Line-up: Elliott Smith & Neil Gust: guitar and vocals Brandt Peterson and then Sam Coomes: bass Tony Lash: drums Also known as: Heatmeiser From Discogs (free to use). Their entry