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A few weeks ago, the four members of Harvey Danger found themselves the subjects of a major-label bidding war and flew to Los Angeles to sign a contract with Slash, part of the Polygram Music Group. What happened in between signals a promising if still untested trend in which one of the blandest of all cultural phenomena, modern-rock radio, embraces artists based on their music rather than their label affiliation. Harvey Danger's song "Flagpole Sitta" became a fluke hit when Seattle's KNDD-FM began playing it regularly in response to frequent listener requests. Soon, Portland's KNRK-FM joined in. As the song was added to stations nationwide, sales increased sharply (all 2,000 of the original copies have sold out, according to Arena Rock founder Greg Glover) and labels proceeded to salivate. "All this stuff happened by itself," says Harvey Danger lead singer Sean Nelson. "Nobody did much of anything except for the DJs. I don't think the amount of radio play we got was unprecedented, but it's pretty unusual for an unsigned band to get added to the stations we got added to...without a major label." "Flagpole Sitta," a jaunty rock tune with a brisk melody, catchy verses and an even catchier chorus, is now among the 20 most played songs on KNRK's rotation, according to program director Mark Hamilton. The Portland station took a chance of its own recently, adding a completely unsigned Portland band, Absinthe, to its playlist. The band's song "Happy in My Pants," like "Flagpole Sitta," became a favorite among listeners, who often phoned in requests for it. Though the quintet has yet to sign with a label, its appearance at this week's music-industry convention South by Southwest should heighten its appeal and raise its price tag. The Harvey Danger and Absinthe examples contradict a commonly perceived notion that the region's radio stations only broadcast established songs--like warmed-over alterna-hits such as Marcy Playground's "Sex and Candy" and Third Eye Blind's "Semi-Charmed Life"--rather than giving local bands a chance at stardom. Two years ago, it took Everclear and the Dandy Warhols' signing to Capitol Records for the bands' songs to make it to the airwaves, even in their hometown. Now unsigned acts that could only hope to hear their music on a late-night, quickie local showcase can attain a spot in the valuable, influential rotation, provided that listeners respond positively. Modern-rock stations still rely primarily on major-label groups with promotional muscle behind them, but a willingness to accept unheard-of bands like Harvey Danger and Absinthe would mean
a tremendous boost to regional scenes. KNRK's Hamilton maintains a blasé attitude about this turn of events, but his comments insinuate an open-mindedness that wasn't there a year or two ago. "It's not any strategy," Hamilton says. "If a song comes along and we like it, then we'll give it a shot." Portland Postscript: The have parted ways with drummer and founding member Eric Hedford. A rift developed between Hedford and frontman Courtney Taylor while the band was preparing for a month-and-a-half-long European blitz in support of its album, Come Down, according to Taylor. "We didn't mind working together," the lead singer and guitarist says. "It's just that we didn't like being together." He refuses to name Hedford's replacement, saying only that the new drummer is a longtime friend. The Dandys' new lineup debuts March 28 at the Melody Ballroom in its only local show before leaving for a tour that will take the band to most major European cities. |
