Clint Sargent - lead guitar, vocals
Kaitlyn ni Donovan - vocals, rhythm guitar
Luke Strahota - drums/percussion
Colin Sheridan - bass guitar
Sounds Like
MBV, Spiritualized, Jesus and Mary Chain, Love and Rockets, Oasis, lush, Slowdive, Verve, Cocteau Twins, The Church, Mercury Rev, Dean and Britta, Charlatans UK, Galaxy 500, BRMC, Bowie, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Syd B., Mazzy Star, Chameleons, Stone Roses, Ride, A Northern Chorus, Air, Belle and Sebastian, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Radiohead,The Clientele, Macha, Bedhead, The Smiths, Swervedriver,The Cure, Cranes, Brian Eno, Arab Strap, Doves, Julee Cruise, Mojave 3 .......
The High Violets formed after the demise of legendary Portland favorite the Bella Low, a band that played regular gigs with other Portland psych bands like The Dandy Warhols, Swoon 23, Rick Bain & the Genius Position, Heatmiser and Sugar Boom. Clint and Luke picked up the pieces from that band's crash to form The High Violets.
After a few early line-up changes they drafted in one of Portland's most amazing voices, Kaitlyn ni Donovan. Having an extremely successful solo career of her own, Kaitlyn immediately added the lush vocals and beautiful melodies the band needed. A year after recording their self-released EP, "Dream Away," the band released their debut album "44 Down". Influenced heavily by My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Spaceman 3, Lush and the Cocteau Twins, critics praised the band as standouts in the resurgence of the shoegazer sound. Under the Radar Magazine and Magnet Magazine singled out the band and this album with full page feature articles after its release, noting its influence.
The High Violets album "To Where You Are," produced, engineered and mixed by Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith, Tahiti 80) and Jeff S. Saltzman (Sleater Kinney, Stephen Malkamus), was released in 2006. It took over three years to create and was well worth the wait. Press releases proclaimed Clint Sargent's layered guitars the standout feature and Kaitlyn ni Donovan's water color vocals the crowning jewel on the CD's shimmering sounds -- well crafted songs giving fans new and old a healthy dose of their soft and hard sides expertly mixed together. The album was named Best Independent CD of the Year by UK's Skidmark and hit several end of year Top 10 lists. Among others, Marc Stephens in the Miami Sun Post, Music Critic John Davidson, Music Directors at KYMC Radio and WMPG Radio and blogs such as MusicRex and Moopare all rated the release among their '06 favorites.
"Satellite Remixes" was released in North America November 12th 2007. It features re-mixes and new interpretations of songs from the albums "To Where You Are" and "44 Down" by Ulrich Schnauss (UK/Germany), Carmen Rizzo (LA), BASIC (Belfast), Antahkarana Music (Mexico City) and other artists from around the globe. Check out Pitchfork's glowing review of Chinese Letter (Ulrich Schnauss Remix)!
"Floats like The Cocteau Twins, rocks like Ride." Magnet Magazine
"This band shimmers like some heaven-sent shoegaze band." The Big Takeover
"Shimmering, starry-eyed ethereality." Rolling Stone
"Dreamy, melodious songs fueled by Kaitlyn ni Donovan's wispy vocals and Clint Sargent's fluidly gorgeous guitar figures." Alternative Press
"Unabashed disciples of echoed, wall-of-sound guitars, this Portland outfit play serious homage to their predecessors while crafting magic-carpet reveries worthy of their own audience." Atlanta Music Guide
Hey Kaitlyn! Hope you remember me...I came through Portland a few times a couple of years ago playing violin w/ Erinn Williams. Anyway, hope all has been well! Glad to see you guys are keepin on and doing well! I'll be in town this Thurs. May 15th w/ my alt-country band Leslie and the Badgers. We'll be playing the Towne Lounge after 9pm. If you're free to check it out, would love to see you/catch up. -Charlene
Clint cheats death just so he can play a show! Amazing! Not even a roll over car crash and stitches can keep you from the stage. Everybody better come to the gig to see if your hand falls off!
great songs ... especially your song title Wheel ... great tune ...it takes me high .... thanks for the friendship! you rule ... hope you have a great rocking day
