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Previews of the new album Delayer:
Ted Nesseth sings as if he was ordained to front a rock band from birth.
Highlights include "Lost in the Light," which recalls the Velvet Underground circa Loaded, the slower-paced "Make Up," which breathes the same melancholic air as Jane's Addiction in their quieter moments, and "The System," which is propelled by the kind of squalling guitar riff that would have rocked just as hard in any decade out of the past five... "--KQED Arts and Culture
This band has the fury and high energy of TED LEO & THE PHARMACISTS or THE ORANGES BAND, with the wit of THE HOLD STEADY… “Lost In The Light" - reminds me of a revved up LOU REED on "Dirty Boulevard"--Future Sounds
An album loaded with monstrously memorable choruses and catchy riffs that are stickier than flypaper.
A fantastic band armed with a huge sound, frighteningly fragile moments and massively poppy tunes.
--First Coast News
Top-notch songwriting…. from the wry opening rocker "Morning Exercise" (with a chorus of "It hurts so bad/This goes on the record") to the ultra-catchy, New Pornographers-like finish of "The Race," this is by some measure the Heavenly States' finest work so far.--All Music Guide
Additional Press on The Heavenly States:
For all you indie snobs with a shadowy Dave Matthews Band-loving past, this Oakland, California, trio delivers equal parts patchouli-soaked violin and Superchunk-worthy melodies.--RollingStone
The last great indie-rock violinist, The Dambuilders' Joan Wasser was known for her dark, sawing ardor, but the States' Genevieve Gagon has a breezy, darting quality that deepens and brightens the hummable angst-purging of singer/guitarist Ted Nesseth. Full of romantic, lefty yearning, Nesseth recalls the sweaty conviction of another Ted (Leo).--SPIN
Buoyant, Bush-baiting pop. --Newsweek
Oaktown’s The Heavenly States may wear their pulsating hearts on their sleeves, but I’ll take earnest power-pop liberalism over bored mall-punk any day. From their self-titled 2003 debut to their recent Black Comet, the bands arch wordplay and jagged composition on tracks like “Pretty Life” and “Borderline” have been as compelling as they have been hilarious. Remember, these left-fielders signed on Hardware Wars creator Ernie Fosselius to direct their video for “Car Wash.” So, yeah, they’re well-versed in the intersection of entertainment and absurdity, political or otherwise. (For more on that score, check out their hilarious Flash short Osama bin Lozenges on YouTube. It’s a riot.) This advertisement of the Heavenly States’ artistic agenda was indeed paid for by the L.A. Weekly. But I would have given it to them for free, if they couldn’t pay. --LA Weekly
Teetering between pristine pop and searing punk rock. --Harp
Eschews bobby socks and first kisses for squalling grit à la early-'90s SST tough guys and the noisy theatrics of Dinosaur Jr.--SF Weekly
Biography:
It’s not often a person finds a bandmate, brother-in-law and friend on Craig’s List, much less someone who is willing to cover the tab for Chinese takeout. But for THE HEAVENLY STATES’ Ted Nesseth (guitar, vocals) and Jeremy Gagon (drums), that fateful posting was the beginning of an adventure that would take them from playing basement shows in their home town of Oakland, CA, to the British Consulate’s basement in Libya and beyond...
The roomate is a Battlestar head- so I have seen several- My favorite episode is the one with Bruce Dickerson as an ethnic cleansing doctor- - ( Bruce Dickerson is Kevin Corey's brother in Law)
Dear THS - I am Bummed that your Uptown show's on a Thursday- Got to get up at 5:30 in the am's on friday- No can do I think- TED- Feel free to look me up on Friday ifn' you are still in town - I would love to see any of you or get a call or whatevs-I understand how busy you all must be though, so- Whatever will be will be- Break a leg on this tour-Kris
it's joe here... im going to be down visiting friends in sac when your playing at the blue lamp... im hopfully going to bring some folks out to the show!!
Jesus. Remember playing poker and general bullshit a hundred years ago? Now you guys have a dude with your CD featured in his profile picture who calls himself "Superfan." Nice going!
