White Hassle

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White Hassle were a band with the lead singer Marcellus Hall[1] based in New York, New York. Dave Varenka (also of Railroad Jerk) played drums, with Chris Maxwell and Joachim Kearns on guitars.[1][2] The Houston Chronicle described their music as "stripped-down ... noisy blues-soaked rock".[3]

Their debut album, "National Chain," was released on Matador Records in 1997.[4]

White Hassle released albums on Matador Records, Fargo Records,[5] Mazri Records, and Orange Recordings. The band toured Europe and America before disbanding in 2006.

Critical reaction[edit]

Modest Mouse singer, Isaac Brock, credits White Hassle's "Life Is Still Sweet" in helping turn around his songwriting and influencing their hit song "Float On."[6]

"When I heard it (Life is Still Sweet)," Brock said, "I thought, 'This is nice. This is actually an unsarcastically positive song.' I was like, 'Let's fuck this doom-and- gloom bullshit.' It was a really good thing to get reminded of, you know?"[7]

delarue described the song "Life Is Still Sweet" live performance as uplifting and a crowd favorite.[8]

Jason Ankeny described the music as "primitive folk/blues"[9]

After the song Life Is Still Sweet, the band's second most notable song may be Star Position whose lyrics contemplate the single life: "The key is in the ignition / If you're single you can sleep in the star position."[10]

Hall sang a version of the song on Eugene Mirman and Bobby Tisdale's "Invite Them Up" comedy CD.[11] He also re-recorded the song for his solo album The First Line.[4]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • National Chain (Matador, 1997)
  • Death of Song (Orange Music, 2003)
  • Your Language (Fargo, 2005)
  • The Death of Song/The Watertank (Fargo, 2005)

EP[edit]

  • Life Is Still Sweet (2000)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ashare, Matt (February 3–10, 2000). "Review: White Hassle & New Wet Kojak: Shticky Fingers". Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  2. ^ Miller, Eric T. (May 23, 2011). "Q&A With Marcellus Hall". Magnet Magazine.
  3. ^ Hess, Christopher (March 16, 2001). "SXSW Picks & Sleepers: White Hassle". Houston Chronicle.
  4. ^ a b "Marcellus Hall - the First Line".
  5. ^ "Fargo Records". Discogs.
  6. ^ "Modest Mouse". Flickr. 2004-04-10. Retrieved 2016-09-01.
  7. ^ "Modest Mouse". 2004-04-10.
  8. ^ "Concert Review from the Archives: Douce Gimlet and White Hassle at CB's Gallery, NYC 3/9/00". 2008-03-09.
  9. ^ "White Hassle Lyrics, Song Meanings, Videos, Full Albums & Bios".
  10. ^ "White Hassle - the Star Position Lyrics".
  11. ^ "Invite Them up". Amazon. 2021.

External links[edit]

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