Chris Golwitzer: Vocals, Guitar
Matt Shaw: Vocals, Guitar
Justin Miller: Bass, Vocals
Neal MacCannell: Drums
Base of operations: Chicago, IL & Peoria, IL
MP3s at www.myspace.com/explodingwithfavors
Biography:
Hinter is a human band of four guys who all grew up in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. Two of the guys (Chris and Justin) were in the college-age bands (including First Grade Crush and Signsedso) that the other two guys’ (Neal and Matt) high school band always tried to get shows with. Then one of the high school guys, Neal, joined one of college guy bands (Steven). Then time passed. Now everyone is old enough to buy his own beer, so age has become something of a non-issue. Except that Chris and Justin have this thing called ‘Non-Words’ which is this weird fake language that kind of comes from them being in another “older-age” band together, so it probably shouldn’t be included here, except that it’s pretty funny to listen to them talk in non-words, so if you, like, book them for a show or something, you should totally ask them to do it. It’s pretty hilarious.
In addition to those two having that great skill, all four members of Hinter are experts in driving from Bloomington to Chicago and Chicago to Bloomington. Hinter has shared the stage with No Idea Records’ Scouts Honor, Matador Records’ The Ponys, Suicide Squeeze’s Chin Up Chin Up, The Only Children (ex-Anniversary), and other great bands like Brief Candles, Pyrite, and The Box Social. Furthermore, this last summer, Hinter did a set of all Jawbreaker covers, which should probably just count as playing with them, since it’s practically the same. Members of Hinter have shared the couch with members of Hum (Matt Talbott recorded this 7”), Nada Surf, Owen, Constantines, David Dondero and more; seen such bands as Sonic Youth, Clem Snide, Guided by Voices, Mogwai, Interpol, Crooked Fingers, The National and way many more; and sometimes get drunk and wax nostalgic about bands like The Toadies, who were awesome. Remember that song “Tyler”? That song is hella good. And it totally rips off but awesomely inverts the guitar part from ‘Where Is My Mind?’ And they had a girl bass player! Double rip-off!!! Yes!!!
Chris just saw that Seaweed reunion show in Seattle, and he has a kid (-cool dad alert-), and he can sing lower than anyone else in Hinter (unless Neal has some secret low-singing power, which is possible, because he is a member of secrets; more on this later…) So, awesome. And Neal really, really likes Guided By Voices and Bob Pollard, and he’s amassing a lot of their/his releases, which, I’m sure you know, is really impressive. Because there’s so much stuff. One time Hinter played a Panera Bread Christmas Party at a Bloomington bar called Show Me’s, which is a low-rent version of Hooters that serves alcohol and has big-screen tv’s to try and make up for how awful it is. But it definitely fails to make up for how awful it is. Plus, the band was paid in Panera Gift Cards.
Hinter, yay! Yay, Hinter!
Similar artists: Samiam, Jawbreaker, Seaweed, Sebadoh, Slint, Smiths, Superchunk
Discography:
V/A "Playing In Peoria: Another Side Of Town" Live Music Peoria 2008
"Exploding With Favors" Thinker Thought Records 2008 (digital reissue)
7" single Thinker Thought Records 2007
"Exploding With Favors" Self Released 2007
Hinter - Download printable press photo 1 (957 x 1441 jpeg)
THI 995 - Hinter "Exploding With Favors" 4-song download
RELEASE DATE: August 26, 2008
PDF Press Kit
BUY IT NOW: iTunes
Download printable cover art (1500 x 1500 jpeg) by Matt Shaw
1. A Void
2. Thaw
3. Sailors
4. Werepire
Press:
"This album was a weird one from the start because it is just a selection of so-called "demos." They are mixed fairly well and seem somewhat mastered, so it's not a painful listen at all. Gives off a very DIY/underground feel, which is cool if you are in to that sort of thing. As for the music, I was pleasantly surprised with it. This band shows great potential and as a good punk/alternative band. I felt that their sound was very reminiscent of the type of alternative pop punk of the 90s. It was emotional, melodic, and seemed so familar that I wasn't trying to reach out and grasp the music, it just came naturally.
"The songwriting in these songs was impressive because it wasn't as predictable or repetitive as music of this particular genre can get. It kept me interested and also kept my toes tapping. A steady flow of catchy riffs and steady hooks drive the songs from start to finish. As I mentioned before, this music takes me back to a time when making music wasn't about fashion, stardom, or popularity, and when it was just making good music that was fun to play and fun to listen to. Purpose driven music without any strings attached.
"Now why this album will only get three stars is because they are just demos. A full length release from this band with totally mastered and tweaked songs would definitely draw a 4 star rating at least. This band could be on the verge of hitting the indie/pop/punk scene big-time because they have the talent. This is a definite band for anyone who likes stuff like Smoking Popes, Jawbreaker, Bayside, or the likes. It's not emo, its not punk, and its not indie. It's a good combination of all of the above." - Doug Klein at Punk Bands Dot Com
THI 015 - Hinter 3-song 7" vinyl
RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2007
PDF Press Kit
BUY IT NOW: Interpunk & iTunes
Download printable cover art (1500 x 1500 jpeg) - by Matt Shaw
Track Listing:
1. Kokomo Cassette Singles
2. The Pharaoh
3. Lucky Party
Press:
"When discussing Hinter's 7-inch with punkbands editor, Ian, I believe he characterized it best. When compared to the band's 2007 demos, the 7-inch is more Jawbox than Jawbreaker. It's a pretty good summary. It does show a different side of the band, for sure, but the inconsistency is a little off-putting. Since Hinter has yet to release a full-length, it's hard to tell which sound fully represents the band. The older demos did sound pretty consistently like Samiam or Jawbreaker or a little Braid-basically "emocore," if that means anything to anyone. For the most part, this 7-inch is a little darker and heavier, leaving me feeling like the band is hesitant to make one cohesive statement about their sound.
"Before I go into details, I'm not sure who sings what here. It could be one vocalist, it could be two. I wish I knew enough to say, but I don't. Oh well.
"The first track, "Kokomo Cassette Singles," has the airiness of Luna combined the same kind of low, unwavering vocals of Stephen Merritt (of The Magnetic Fields). At the end, the vocals are so flat it almost hurts my ears. It's only a minute-and-a-half long though.
"Track two, "The Pharaoh" has a latent Hail to the Chief-era Radiohead feel to it. It unravels slowly and methodically until about halfway through when it breaks (with an "ugh!) into something slightly more Nirvana-esque, with Cobainy vocals to match.
"The third and final song, "Lucky Party," sounds like a slightly more urgent Jawbox track, with loud guitars thriving off a rumbling rhythm section. In my opinion, it most consistently builds off the band's demo-sound, twisting it into something a bit darker and heavier.
"This collection of songs would probably be interesting after a proper full-length. It's hard to say whether or not you like a band if you're not really sure what they sound like. After all, I like both Jawbox and Jawbreaker, but they're different bands, with different sounds and apt to be played different moods. Despite my complaints with this 7-inch, I am definitely looking forward to this full-length, whenever it arrives. 3/5" - Michelle Stoffel at Punk Bands Dot Com