MUSIC

Rising Liverpool Band Her's and their Tour Manager Die in Tragic Arizona Collision

The event took place on March 27, when a pickup truck collided with their van

The members of the Liverpool band Her's passed away along with their tour manager from wounds they sustained during a car accident this Wednesday. They were on their way to a show in Santa Ana, California when the tragic event occurred.

A notable presence in the indie music sphere, Her's garnered praise from music critics and fans across the globe. Their August 2018 debut album, Invitation to Her's, is danceable, lighthearted, and musically sophisticated, and it sparked comparisons to artists like Mac DeMarco and Ariel Pink.

In addition to their undeniable talent, they were also widely loved for their live shows and warm personas. Earlier this month, BBC Introducing featured an acoustic performance at SXSW. Presenter Huw Stephens said the band was "excellent, funny and clearly [loved] playing to an American audience."

"In their interview, they spoke about their enduring friendship on tour, how Liverpool had adopted them as they'd moved there from Barrow-in-Furness and Norway respectively, and their excitement about the future," he added. "Their accomplished, joyous album released by their friends at Heist or Hit records, gained them many fans, and it will be some comfort that their music will still be enjoyed."

The band was driving about 350 miles from Phoenix, Arizona to Santa Ana to the 17th of 19 sold-out shows at the time of the crash, a collision with a pickup truck going the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Centennial, Arizona. The pickup's driver was also killed but has not yet been identified.

On Monday, the duo posted on Facebook, "It's almost home time for the lads, US tour has gone swimmingly so far. Got a hot sunset date with the Grand Canyon tonight."

Her's consisted of Stephen Fitzpatrick, 24, and Audun Laading, 25, who met while studying at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA). In a tribute, the school's Head of music Martin Isherwood called them "the funniest, sweetest, loveliest, most creative lads you [could] ever meet."

"The songs are just great and we all thought that they were going to be one of the biggest things out of Liverpool," he added.

Following the event, their label, Hit or Heist, released this statement:

Musicians and fans have widely mourned the band and their tour manager, Trevor Engelbrektson.










Eden Arielle Gordon is a writer and musician from New York City. Find her on Twitter @edenarielmusic.


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Music Reviews

Bristol To Memory Premiere Music Video, 'Wrapped Up'

Beefy alt-rock from Santa Ana, California.

Bristol to Memory - Wrapped Up (Official Music Video)

So-Cal alternative rockers Bristol To Memory premiere new music video – "Wrapped Up."

Made up of Rory O'Connell (vocals, guitar), Kealan O'Connell (bass), Alex Buster (drums), and Daniel Wonacott (guitar), the band's unique name was taken from the cross streets where the brothers O'Connell and Buster grew up in Santa Ana. The band has performed at the Van's Warped Tour, SXSW Music Festival, The Roxy, and The Whiskey, among others, and dropped five EPs.

The group's last official release was 2016's "Holograms," an alt-pop-flavored number with a skater-vibe. With "Wrapped Up," the band pumps out a beefier alt-rock sound with hints of punk.

Bristol to Memory - Wrapped Up (Official Music Video)youtu.be

Rory O'Connell explains "Wrapped Up," saying, "In life we find ourselves grounded by the ones we love. It's a sense of natural gravity but when that sensation is lost we can feel as if we are floating endlessly in an abyss searching for a common ground. This is where the video for 'Wrapped Up' takes you."

"Wrapped Up" opens on stuttering guitar riffs accompanied by O'Connell's tender voice. Then, with a snap of the snare, the track ramps up into a muscular alt-rock tune. Twinkling accents add dimension to the potent drive of O'Connell's pulsing bass line. A brief pause forms the bridge to the chorus, which swells on layers of colors that both growl and sparkle.

O'Connell has one of those tailor-made alt-rock voices, clean and hip on the verses, but capable of rasping brawn on the chorus. He has a knack for effective modulation, knowing how and when to inject harsh-textured timbres.

"Wrapped Up" delivers tantalizing energy, surging and subsiding infectiously, along with tasty vocals and harmonies. Keep an eye out for the band's forthcoming full-length album, Wake Up, slated to drop in early 2019.

Follow Bristol To Memory Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube


Randy Radic is a Left Coast author and writer. Author of numerous true crime books written under the pen-name of John Lee Brook. Former music contributor at Huff Post.


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