When I lived out West a few years ago, I had a roommate who used to play these myteriously familiar sounding songs on his computer all the time. One day I got around to asking him about who the band was. My roommate, Johnny, was from the Portland music scene and met a few of the guys in the band when he was growing up. There was something so energetic and so catchy about the music, you couldn’t help but put these songs into immediate rotation and get them stuck in your head all day. It was infectious pop-punk at its finest… pure exuberance.
The songs “Throwaway Style” and “Sleepingaides and Razorblades” became the soundtrack to my spring. I asked my friend more about this band he knew, hoping to catch them when they next rolled through town. Maybe I’d go to a show and tell these dudes how rad I thought their music was.
Sadly, I would get no opportunity to greet The Exploding Hearts. Early on the morning of July 20th, 2003, on their way home from headlining two shows in San Francisco, the band flipped their van over several times killing drummer Jeremy Gage (21), and singer Adam Cox (23). Bassist Matthew Fitzgerald (20) died later at the hospital. Guitarist Terry Six (21), and manager Rachelle Ramos were also in the van but walked away from the accident with minor injuries.
At the time of their fatal acident, the band was ready to redefine punk music in America. The group had just been offered a record deal from former Green Day label, Lookout! Records, following the instant popularity, local cult following and media acclaim for their recently released LP, Guitar Romantic.
Since the demise of The Exploding Hearts nearly three years ago, several MTV-friendly bands with a similiar style, such as YellowCard, My Chemical Romance, Hawthorne Heights, (the comebacked) Green Day have emerged and the whole Pop Punk genre has exploded. But I’ve always felt these bands lack that spark that makes The Exploding Hearts so special.
The Exploding Hearts music is accessible and small, almost private, in the way that The Ramones and The Clash are accessible. Their finger-snapping-catchy-as-hell pop-punk numbers make you want to jump up and down on your bed in your underwear while eating a bowl of ice cream, but still manage to sound endearing, honest, and down to earth.
I’m sad that the Exploding Hearts weren’t around long enough to claim their crowns, but go listen to a song like “Modern Kicks” and you’ll realize why fans can only look back on these guys with big smiles.
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February 21st, 2006 at 9:34 pm
So true man. There was a time when this scene was all about lifestyle and passion for the music. I think you’re absolutely right. Something’s been missing from punk for awhile.