The Western State Hurricanes

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While attending classes at the University of Washington, and performing with his little-known band the Bun Family Players, John Roderick had the opportunity to network with fellow musicians in other Seattle-local bands, such as This Busy Monster and Harvey Danger. At the penultimate Bun Family Players show, John met Algae front-woman and guitarist Stephanie Wicker.

The Western State Hurricanes

This meeting provided the foundation for the precursor to indie rock sensations The Long Winters, The Western State Hurricanes. A band was formed to accompany the vocal and guitar-based harmonies afforded by the duo; namely Bo Gilliland (bass) and Michael Shilling (drums). The band recorded a demo tape, which was distributed at shows to increasingly healthy-sized audiences. They were amassing somewhat rabidly favourable critical reviews, and even attracted the attention of Sub Pop records within weeks of their first performance. John's career as the leader of The Western State Hurricanes peaked quickly. After playing SXSW with burgeoning fellow Seattle indie pop-rockers Death Cab for Cutie and an ill-fated basement recording session for a debut LP, The Western State Hurricanes imploded. Disappointment plagued John and for a second time, he fled to Europe (which he travelled across on foot!) -- the series of adventures which followed are (supposedly) being penned for an eventual memoir autobiography, of which little or no information is known.

Upon John's return stateside, he was employed as the keyboardist for Harvey Danger before forming the Long Winters with Sean Nelson and Chris Walla.