highspire

25 year anniversary of our 1st show post

Hey all. We were talking a month back & it came up that it’d be 25 years since we first played live as Highspire soon. Which is crazy how time flies!

So figured I’d turn it into a bit of a story post on how we started.

Firstly, our first show was March 11, 2001 at in Doylestown, PA, which is still around! Great store for vinyl.

We played with the great Honeychurch, of which main man & friend Shilough Hopwood unfortunately passed in 2023.

And we played as a three piece, no drummer. Less than a month later, we played our second show at John & Peters in New Hope PA, which drummer Who moved up from Alabama to Philly & played that show same day 😂And played on our new album Crushed.

Highspire began in 1999 when Alex was working in a studio in Bucks County & would record songs as payment.

We (EJ & Alex) were in a band together called Intro to India. We had an EP & a song on the Sounds from Psychedelphia compilation, all put out on #4 label at the time, Lounge Records.

The song on that comp was heard by the great shoegaze mag of the time, Losing Today, out of Italy. Who asked if we’d send them a track for the comps that came along with their mag issues.

We were transitioning from ITI into this new project so Alex said yes, but we have a new band. And took the name Highspire off a street name in Bucks County, not the town in PA. That song was Believe.

The mag issue didn’t come out til 2001. And our first EP also in 2001. Which was more just for booking gigs at the time. But all 25 years old this year as well.

It’s was rad to share some new music with you last year after being away for so long. And there will be some new stuff this year as well. 🙏🏼🤘🏼

That time of year for “best ofs.” But how about album art?

We finally were able to share some new music for the first time in 15 years this year. With the help of Who released 12 songs of ours this year, via 10 on our newest album Crushed, and an extra 2 tracks on the Gloria 7”.

Everyone likes what they like musically. That’s cool, that’s natural. We absolutely love seeing the music resonate & be appreciated with those who share that line of musical communication.

But we try to match the artwork to our music as best as we can. And take pride in that too!

The Crushed album art is a painting EJ did, and sold (unfortunately) to help fund the making of the album. Which, Shelflife in their wisdom, suggested that it should have transparent print. To keep the aesthetic. Unless turned to the light to catch the text.

The Gloria 7” is a photo of Pennsylvania’s “most haunted statue”: Augusta Bitner’s grave in Lancaster PA City Cemetery. Where we are technically based. With other elements from graves in that cemetery worked in.

We are beyond happy with the music, as we always just make music we want to hear. That's it. But we are also grateful that Shelflife helped us in realizing the artwork that go with these releases.

Much love to all you during the holiday season. See ya in the new year 🙏🏼🤘🏼

 

   

Cheers yeah!

Album Of The Year 2025 - highspire "Crushed" 👋🏼🥰🎸

It sounds like a fantastic choice for Album of the Year! Highspire’s Crushed has certainly resonated with many fans of the genre this year.
If you are looking to expand your collection or explore more from the label, you can browse the latest releases and vinyl pressings at the Shelflife Records official store. For those who want to dive deeper into the band's history or find more lyrics to analyze, their complete discography is available on the Highspire Bandcamp page.
https://highspire.bandcamp.com/music
🥰🎸..a tu kupisz:
https://www.fan.pl/muzyka/560IRG78

Got the latest issue of in. Thanks to for listening & reviewing.

We came up when print was still king. And it's great there are still some places printing like the Big Takeover. Go read a book, or a magazine.

     

This one hurts a lot. One of our family. One of our greatest friends. One of the best people and musicians we've ever known. Absolute legend. Love ya Ror. Fleeting Joys 😢

I’m sad to share with the Fleeting Joys community that Rorika passed in late July. I’m sorry I couldn’t share it earlier. She was my person. She had been dealing with a serious illness since 2000 and she went out like a Viking.

She was fierce and feminine. She was a glorious woman of immense strength, softness, intelligence, style, charm, and integrity.

Her voice was a very special gem. Her musical taste was immaculate and exploratory, and her sense of humor was surprisingly random and original. She was as spiritual as she was a prepper. She was an incredibly involved and caring mother.

She loved music, and was grateful for the people she connected with over the years. The world is less special without her.

Happy Halloween!

Highspire - Ghosts Forever Ghosts Forever is the third single off of their upcoming album, Crushed.Crushed is available for p...

Big Takeover Magazine interview. Lengthy one talking about our history to now. It’s been our favorite indie music mag for well over 30 years now. Before we even really started playing music. So that’s amazing.

Lot of old info on how we started in the 90s, what we’ve been doing all these years, some funny stories, some ‘possibly’ great advice. Very candid.

Thanks to JB & Big Takeover. 🙏🏼🤘🏼

A few excerpts here. But it’s a long one. Check it at bigtakeover.com

A pretty long interview about a lot of not normal things about a lot of things. Dubya came and surprised us with questions and thoughts. Really fun, informative one. 🙏🏼🤘🏼

https://hiartontheedge.podbean.com/

IT'S OFFICIAL
SURPRISE CAST #199
Highspire

Pour yourself a nice drink, have a seat, and enjoy my conversation with EJ and Alex from highspire. They have plenty of cool things to share.
highspire Shelflife Records

Friday, a limited amount of signed by all vinyl & CD copies of Crushed will be going up for sale. On our & Shelflife Records bandcamps.

These went across the country and back, coast to coast, to have everyone who played on the Crushed sign them.

Alex, EJ, Laura Tears Run Rings , John Fleeting Joys , Kory, & Guyton.

Since we can’t really tour (as it’d be a logistical nightmare for us), & we’ve received many messages about this and signing stuff etc…

So, we have these limited signed in silver copies up this Friday instead. Which are pretty cool. I don’t even have one. 🤣

Thanks so much for your support! It’s been really amazing to be back to so much love after 15 years, of sleeping. 🙏🏼🤘🏼