Head Of State

Head Of State

Head Of State are a group from Lawrence, United States, active since 1997. The act is a duo made up of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, and is associated with indie pop.

Overview

Head Of State present themselves as a rock band built around dynamics, songcraft, and a singer-songwriter feel delivered through a rock format. Their material is framed by indie pop rather than a single strict genre, and the group’s listed label is Mates of State Publishing.

Formation and lineup

The project begins in April 2003 in a quiet suburb of Newcastle, Australia, although it is also identified as being from Newcastle. The lineup given in the bio is Ty Brennock on bass, Levi Dallen on drums, Murray Dickinson on vocals and guitar, and Tim Marriott on guitar.

Live activity and collaborators

Head Of State play a wide range of venues including the Annandale, Cambridge, Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Hopetoun, Metro, Q Bar, Bar On The Hill, Greenroom, Oxford Tavern, Shoreshocked, and Strikeback. They also share bills with The Drones, Airbourne, The Getaway Plan, Little Red, The Sleepy Jackson, Wolf & Cub, Spoon, Something With Numbers, Faker, and Shihad.

Recognition

The group receives a hand-written note of thanks from Tom Waits after he receives their demo. In 2005, Neil Young features their song “Pointless” as a Song Of Protest on his official website. The track also wins the Listeners’ Choice Award at the 1233 ABC Newcastle Music Awards in 2006.

Style and image

The bio emphasises a live-focused approach and a preference for letting the music speak for itself. It also notes the drummer’s habit of breaking many sticks and mentions the band’s beards and dress sense as part of their image.