The Heavenly States
Self-sustainable produce since 2002
Asking you to suspend your disbelief since 2002
Monounsaturated since 2002
Your sewer specialists since 2002
Converting your misery into our music since 2002
Supporting cat calendars since 2007
The Heavenly States came about in 2002 when lead singer/guitarist/lyricist Ted Nesseth met Jeremy Gagon (drummer, instrumentalist) and decided to form a new project. Nesseth, a self-taught lefty who plays upside-down and backwards, found his ideal drummer through a roommate service. Jeremy's power drumming backed by an education in jazz was the flexible and dynamic complement to Nesseth's unusual approach. Genevieve Gagon (instrumentalist/singer/lyricist) joined Nesseth and her brother Jeremy shortly thereafter, bringing string and key arrangements to further "derange" and realize that vision. Since then, the band has established itself through its writing, extensive touring, and working hard as an independent act. Quietly releasing three critically acclaimed records (Black Comet, King Epiphany, and The Heavenly States s/t), the band's 2008 effort, Delayer, has won even more attention for the group's songwriting and fully realized arrangements. Still the eclectic The Heavenly States record, Delayer (self-produced) may be the band's most successful presentation of an album to date. Showcasing the sensibilities of the Gagons on percussion, keys, and strings, Delayer retains the edge of a band leader weaned on SST records and his father's Wurlitzer jukebox.
Following a performance in early 2008, the group was personally invited by Spoon to open all three nights at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Known for their live performances, they have also shared the stage with The Minus Five, Smog (Bill Callahan), Mike Watt, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Calexico, The Arcade Fire, and hundreds of other acts including comedians Eugene Mirman (Flight of the Conchords), Mark Marin, Andy Kindsley.
The band has performed live on WXRT's Big Beat program in Chicago, KFOG, Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, and Seattle's KEXP, and has been featured on many community and internet radio stations. Veterans of the SXSW and Sasquatch music festivals, The Heavenly States have toured the USA, Australia, the UK, Egypt, and were the first rock band to play Libya. They have recorded three full-length albums entitled Delayer (2008), The Black Comet (2005), Heavenly States s/t (2003) and the EP King Epiphany I, II and Monument. Also released, a 7-inch single with Coldplay and The Postal Service, several Australian b-sides and the ep Elephants from Ants under the moniker Fluke Starbucker.
The band has made an as yet unreleased full length film entitled Borderline, an essayistic documentary account of its trip to Libya. They have also joined with film producer Jawal Nga (Sundance Grand Jury prizewinner) to develop a fictionalized narrative film of the band's Libya experience. They have further collaborated with artists and filmmakers in Milwaukee, Minneapolis and the San Francisco bay area to produce music videos for the songs "Pretty Life", "Car Wash" and "My Friends", and "The Pale."
The Heavenly States have made news and garnered features in Newsweek, The Washington Post, Billboard, The Los Angeles Times, Rolling Stone, Spin, Magnet, The San Francisco Chronicle, The San Francisco Bay Guardian, the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, Reuters, Alternative Press, the Daily Telegraph (London), the Guardian (London) and others. Their travels and adventures are documented in interviews by NPR's All Things Considered, NBC11 News in San Francisco and Reuters (Libya, Tunisia, London).
(read less)The Heavenly States
Self-sustainable produce since 2002
Asking you to suspend your disbelief since 2002
Monounsaturated since 2002
Your sewer specialists since 2002
Converting your misery into our music since 2002
Supporting cat calendars since 2007
The Heavenly States came about in 2002 when lead singer/guitarist/lyricist Ted Nesseth met Jeremy Gagon (drummer, instrumentalist) and decided to form a new project. Nesseth, a self-taught lefty who plays upside-down and backwards, found his...
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