Harvey Danger

Remember 'Flagpole Sitta'? Harvey Danger Return

12 Sep 2005 09:48:00 EDT

Band releasing Little by Little on Tuesday.
By Rodrigo Perez

Harvey Danger
Photo: Ryan Schierling

Remember Harvey Danger?

In the summer of 1998, the group's single "Flagpole Sitta" became a breakthrough MTV hit. With its catchy and sarcastic teenage refrain "I wanna publish 'zines/ And rage against machines" and its video with dorky frontman Sean Nelson dancing unselfconsciously, the group became an out-of-left-field sensation ... for a few months.

Success came a little too fast and a little too soon for the young band. "It created questions of identity and disorientation," Nelson said. "And, of course, you know, with all the cocaine and Ferraris lying around, it [all became] pretty, pretty disturbing," he joked.

The debut that spawned "Sitta," Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?, eventually sold more than 500,000 copies. But after the album's surprise success, the band seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. What really happened is an almost paint-by-numbers '90s story of record-company mergers that eventually screwed over the Seattle indie rockers big time.

"By the time [the label] got sorted out no one even remembered us at that point," Nelson said of their overlooked follow-up disc, King James Version. "It's such a classic, cliché story that it almost makes me cry to think about it. But I'm not going to cry. I promised myself that I wouldn't," he joked.

Deflated and discouraged by their lack of label support, Harvey Danger quietly called it a day, their band seemingly destined for the one-hit-wonder trash bin.

The bandmembers went their separate ways and took up different projects, musical or otherwise: Nelson became a movie critic for Seattle alt-weekly The Stranger and then eventually joined Seattle pop rockers the Long Winters in 2002, adding his sharp melodies and virtuosic keyboards to their pop mix, but then eventually decided he wanted to work on solo material. He also became a business partner in the Northwest Pacific label Barsuk that helped launch his friends Death Cab for Cutie (Harvey Danger essentially discovered Death Cab and gave the then-fledgling band its first few opening slots, and frontman Ben Gibbard appeared on King James Version).

After a few years of distance and some water under the bridge, Nelson enlisted a couple of ex-Harvey Danger members — guitarist Jeff Lin and bassist Aaron Huffman — and Nada Surf drummer Ira Elliot to assist with his solo material. Soon after the sessions began, the Harvey Danger guys clicked again.

Bonding with Nada Surf didn't hurt, either. Nelson and company witnessed how Nada Surf also went through the one-hit-wonder problem (with the 1996 song "Popular"), were neglected by their label, and somehow came out on the other side to achieve acceptance as a genuine band.

While recording songs in the studio, they looked at a calendar and realized April 21 — the 10th anniversary of Harvey Danger's very first show — was on the horizon. The band booked a gig for that day and played an inspiring reunion show that cemented the group's faith in a comeback effort.

"There was such an outpouring of love from the crowd and to each other [onstage]. It was just really fun and really gratifying," Nelson said.

Working at a relaxed pace, the band finished its third album, Little by Little, in February. The LP is due Tuesday (September 13), the fifth anniversary of the King James release. However, the band will be distributing its album for free on its Web site starting next week. Produced by original Harvey Danger producers John Goodmanson and Steve Fisk, the piano-driven 10-song disc is coming out on the group's own Phonographic Records, and will be accompanied by a 30-minute bonus EP of alternative takes and some new material.

Whether fans familiar with "Flagpole Sitta" will return to Harvey Danger's side is unknown, but Nelson said he's just happy the band has gotten a second chance on its own terms. "We'll have that sense of satisfaction or closure that comes from making a record and releasing it to the public. They either embrace it or don't, but at least they'll have the option of noticing it this time."

Of course, an "O.C." slot couldn't hurt. After all, half the band's friends have been on the show.

"Death Cab is practically a character on that show! I sang on the Nada Surf cover of [Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's] 'If You Leave' [featured on the soundtrack and show]. I mean, Harvey Danger were on 'Dawson's Creek' a lot, which was sort of 'The O.C.' of the '90s. Maybe I could do a cameo as someone's grandpa. That would be fun."

Little by Little track list, according to Phonographic Records:

"Wine, Women, and Song"
"Cream & Bastards Rise"
"Moral Centralia"
"Little Round Mirrors"
"Happiness Writes White"
"Incommunicado"
"Cool James"
"What You Live By"
"War Buddies"
"Diminishing Returns"

Little by Little bonus EP track list:

"I Missed It"
"Picture, Picture"
"Cream and Bastards Rise" (writing session snippet)
"Elvis, I Don't Love You Anymore"
"Cold Snap"
"Little Round Mirrors" (writing session snippet)
"Moral Centralia" (demo)
"Cream and Bastards Reprise"
"The Piano Lesson"

Related Artists
- Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger Whittles Through Material For Sophomore Album

24 Mar 1999 02:00:00 EST

Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson

After scoring one of the most memorable singles of last year with "Flagpole Sitta," Harvey Danger is now holed up at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York, recording the follow-up to their '97 debut disc, "Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?"

The group did take a little time out recently to update the English Beat's 1982 ditty, "Save It for Later," for the "200 Cigarettes" soundtrack, but Harvey Danger has since returned to their sophomore effort with producer John Goodmanson -- who also manned the boards for Danger's last album.

Frontman Sean Nelson recently spoke with the MTV Radio Network, and provided a progress report on the studio sessions. "For the first time in our history as a band, we're dealing with a surplus of songs," Nelson said with a hint of surprise, "it's just out of control that we would have almost 20 [unreleased] songs at once."

Harvey Danger is still working on a title for the record, which the band hopes to have ready in time for a summer release.

Related Artists

Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger, Blondie, Others Kick In For Ben Affleck/Courtney Love Movie

4 Jan 1999 04:00:00 EST

Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson

The film, a romantic comedy set on New Year's Eve of 1981, turns to the sounds of those bygone days for its soundtrack as both GVSB and Harvey Danger will cover tracks from that era (GVSB will revisit "Boogie Wonderland" while Harvey Danger has yet to choose a cover). Meanwhile, two new Blondie songs ("No Exit" and "Marie") will be incorporated into a Blondie mix that also features their single from 1980 "Rapture" for the soundtrack.

The soundtrack, which hits stores on February 9, also features vintage cuts from the Ramones, The Cars, the Go-Gos, Bow Wow Wow, Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, and others. Costello also makes an appearance in the film, along with GVSB and Buster Poindexter. The film, which also stars Paul Rudd, Martha Plimpton, Gaby Hoffman, Casey Affleck, arrives in theaters on February 26. When the soundtrack arrives more than two weeks before that, here's what you'll find:

Nick Lowe - "Cruel To Be Kind"
Blondie - "In The Flesh"
The Cars - "Just What I Needed"
Harvey Danger - TBD
Go-Gos - "Our Lips Are Sealed"
Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"
Ramones - "I Don't Care"
Girls Against Boys - "Boogie Wonderland"
Kool & The Gang - "Ladies Night"
Joe Jackson - "Different For Girls"
B-Movie - "Nowhere Girl"
Roxy Music - "More Than This"
Dire Straits - "Romeo & Juliet"
Elvis Costello - "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love & Understanding"
Blondie - mix (featuring "Rapture," "No Exit," and "Marie")

Related Artists

They Might Be Giant Directs A Danger

2 Nov 1998 04:00:00 EST

John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants

If you were excited by the news that Harvey Danger had tapped They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh to direct their video for "Private Helicopter," you can thank the good people at Seattle's annual Bumbershoot Festival.

TMBG first crossed paths with Harvey Danger at the Seattle shindig earlier this year, and the two bands struck up a fast friendship.

"I saw their show, and we would just like hang out in this giant sort of locker room area," Flansburgh recently explained to our friends in the MTV Radio Network.

Despite the song's title, Flansburgh said that the band stayed grounded during the recent New York City shoot, which found Harvey Danger doing much of their playing in the subway. Flansburgh did employ helicopters to shoot aerial footage of the city, but managed to keep himself firmly planted on the ground as well.

"The insurance would not cover me to ride in the helicopter," Flansburgh explained. "Yeah I would never have done it anyway. I mean I was not interested. It's funny because cameramen are a different breed of people than directors and they're really into the cowboy life."

Of course, Flansburgh and his They Might Be Giants partner John Linnell are busy with their own band as well. The group is trying to drum up support for its recent live collection "Severe Tire Damage," and its new single "Dr. Worm."

Related Artists

Harvey Danger Taps TMBG's Flansburgh For New Video

16 Oct 1998 04:00:00 EDT

Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson

Harvey Danger has tapped They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh to help the band with the daunting task of following up its breakthrough hit "Flagpole Sitta."

Flansburgh will hook up with the band next week in New York to shoot a video for "Private Helicopter," the band's second single from its album "Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?"

The band, and Flansburgh, will shoot the video at various spots in and around the city on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, and yes, they will be using a helicopter as part of the shoot.

The video shoot comes during the first break that the band has had after several months of touring with the likes of Semisonic, Grant Lee Buffalo, and Creeper Lagoon. The band has no tour plans on the horizon, but may soon have more dates lined up.

Related Artists

Harvey Danger Takes Flight With Lost Love On "Helicopter," Eyes Fall Tour

26 Aug 1998 10:00:00 EDT

Harvey Danger's Sean Nelson 550k QuickTime

As Harvey Danger considers directors and treatments for its next single, "Private Helicopter," the band is already looking forward to being elevated from being an opening act for others to headlining its own tour, which starts on September 10 in Buffalo, New York.

The Seattle band has yet to settle on a concept for the video for "Helicopter," the follow-up to Danger's break-through single, "Flagpole Sitta," but is clear about the message of the song, a paean to love lost.

"It's about that one moment after you've gone to bed ... alone," vocalist Sean Nelson told the MTV Radio Network,

Joining Harvey Danger on the road will be Creeper Lagoon and Spoon until October 2, at which point Actionslacks and Death Cab for Cutie assume the opening gig. The dates just announced for Harvey Danger's fall tour:

9/10 - Buffalo, NY @ The Funhouse
9/11 - Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
9/12 - Boston, MA @ TBA
9/13 - Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
9/15 - New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
9/16 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 club
9/17 - Richmond, VA @ The Floodzone
9/18 - Philadelphia, PA @ Theater of Living Arts
9/19 - Phoenix, AZ @ TBA
9/20 - Atlanta, GA @ Cotton Club
9/22 - Nashville, TN @ 328 Music Hall
9/23 - New Orleans, LA @ Howlin' Wolf
9/24 - Houston, TX @ Numbers
9/25 - Austin, TX @ Liberty Lunch
9/27 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
9/29 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
9/30 - San Diego, CA @ Cane's
10/1 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Athletic Club
10/2 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
10/3 - Sacramento, CA @ Big Shots
10/9 - Portland, OR @ LaLuna
10/10 - Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater
10/11 - Seattle, WA @ RKCNDY

Related Artists

Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger Discuss The Folks Who Don't Get It

3 Aug 1998 04:00:00 EDT

Harvey Danger 540k QuickTime

"Flagpole Sitta," a sarcastic romp that mocks trends and the people who follow them, is an unlikely breakthrough hit for the Seattle outfit Harvey Danger given the song's seemingly antagonistic stand.

However, a little thing like that hasn't stopped the song ["Flagpole Sitta", 800k QuickTime] from riding high on the modern rock singles chart, where it currently resides at number four. Obviously, listeners are finding something else in the song, which is fine with them.

"I think that a lot of people are taking it very literally, which is I think O.K. because it sort of works that way too," frontman Sean Nelson told MTV News recently of his often misinterpreted lyrics. "It's not my intention, but I think once you release a song to the mainstream your intention doesn't count for much anymore. And you know, people are thinking, 'I think that when I drive to work.' I never considered that as a possible route for the song."

"But it's wonderful that you can find that in your own life," bassist Aaron Huffman quipped.

The band will take its message, whatever you think it is, to the people on a tour with Grant Lee Buffalo that kicks off Tuesday night in Minneapolis.

Related Artists

Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger Talks About Getting In On "Disturbing Behavior"

16 Jul 1998 02:00:00 EDT

Harvey Danger 600k QuickTime

Just when it seemed that "Flagpole Sitta," an enticing chunk of thinking man's pop from the Seattle outfit Harvey Danger, couldn't reach a wider audience, the song started popping up in theaters.

The band's modern rock radio hit ["Flagpole Sitta", 800k QuickTime] turns up in the theatrical trailers and television spots for the soon-to-be released teen creep-out, "Disturbing Behavior," which stars "Dawson's Creek's" Katie Holmes.

No, the band is not made up of compulsive "Dawson's Creek" watchers, rather the band says that its decision to pony up the song, which also appears in the film itself, was purely a business one.

"They asked, and after embarrassingly minimal debate, we said yes," frontman Sean Nelson told MTV News of the ad campaign.

"We really love the film, which we haven't seen."

Preparing themselves for any possible charges of "selling out," the band members have their own reasons for handing over the song.

"I think the reason that it was O.K. to do that was -- not to rationalize any of that away -- is that, good god, if you haven't heard 'Flagpole Sitta' yet, you know," Nelson said. "I mean, it's been exposed to the mainest of mainstream audiences. [600k QuickTime] I don't think that it's going to suffer from being exposed a little more, you know."

"That commercial is not where that song was compromised," bassist Aaron Huffman added.

"Right," Nelson said. "That happened years ago."

The band wraps up a tour with Semisonic on Saturday, and if you listen closely, you can hear them when "Disturbing Behavior" opens on July 24. The band will not be featured on the film's soundtrack, but you can satisfy your "Flagpole Sitta" jones with the band's album "Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?"

Related Artists

Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger Taking Surprising Hit On The Road

11 Jun 1998 12:00:00 EDT

Harvey Danger "Flagpole Sitta" 1MB QuickTime

Harvey Danger is currently on the road, and the band members couldn't be more surprised to see that they happen to have a hit on their hands with the song "Flagpole Sitta."

While speaking with our colleagues in the MTV Radio Network recently, the Seattle band's frontman, Sean Nelson called the experience "kinda weird" since the group considers its album, "Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone?," to be a "low budget album."

The group recorded the album last July, and didn't pick up steam until a Seattle radio station gave the record "a life of its own." ["Flagpole Sitta," 800k QuickTime]

As a result, the band now finds itself on the bill for this year's annual KROQ Weenie Roast in Los Angeles on June 20 along with the Prodigy, Green Day, the Deftones, Fastball, the Wallflowers, Everclear, and many others. The band will get a running start going into the show with the following dates:

6/5 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain's Ballroom
6/9 - Tempe, AZ @ Gibson's
6/10 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
6/14 - Santa Barbara, CA @ Coach House North
6/16 - Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
6/17 - Palo Alto, CA @ The Edge
6/18 - Sacramento, CA @ Dante Club

Related Artists

Harvey Danger

Harvey Danger - Save It For Later

11 Jun 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Save It For Later

Artist: Harvey Danger
Label: Mercury/Paramount-MTV Films
Director: Evan Bernard