The Hang Ups are an

indie Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Gaming *Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies *Indie game, any game (board ...

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

band from

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

, formed in 1990 and fronted by vocalist and guitarist Brian Tighe. Other members include Jeff Kearns ( bass,

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

), Stephen Ittner ( drums), and John Crozier (

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...

). Producer and band friend Bryan Hanna replaced Ittner on the drums while the band toured. The Hang Ups released their debut EP ''Comin' Through'' in 1993, and have since released four studio albums. The band's efforts have been met with warm local and national critical response, and are perhaps most well known for the songs "Jump Start", which appeared in the Kevin Smith film ''

Chasing Amy ''Chasing Amy'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Kevin Smith and starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and Jason Lee. The film is about a male comic artist (Affleck) who falls in love with a lesbian woman ...

'', "Biography on Allmusic.com"Retrieved on December 4, 2009 and "Top of Morning," which featured in an episode of ''

Dawson's Creek ''Dawson's Creek'' is an American teen drama television series about the lives of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional town of Capeside, Massachusetts, beginning in high school and continuing into college that ran from 1998 to 2003. T ...

''.

History

Frontman Brian Tighe originally pursued a career in the visual arts. While working as an artist's assistant in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

, Tighe began writing music, and eventually abandoned visual arts in favor of music, returning home to Minneapolis to attend the

Minneapolis College of Art and Design The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) is a private college specializing in the visual arts and located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. MCAD currently enrolls approximately 800 students. MCAD is one of just a few major art schools to offer ...

. There, in 1987, he met Jeff Kearns and Stephen Ittner, and the three later formed the original Hang Ups. Soon after, guitarist John Crozier joined them, after criticizing the band's sound. The band was later signed to the local Minneapolis label Clean Records, which the band would stay with for the release of the debut EP ''Comin' Through'' and their first full studio album, ''He's After Me.''

Restless Records Restless Records is a record label that was started in El Segundo, California in 1986 by Enigma Records and primarily released alternative, metal, and punk records. Restless also licensed and released records from Bar/None Records, Metal Blade R ...

released The Hang Ups' follow-up ''So We Go'' in 1996, as well as their 1999 record ''Second Story'', which was recorded with Don Dixon and

Mitch Easter Mitchell Blake Easter (born November 15, 1954) is a musician, songwriter, and record producer. Frequently associated with the jangle pop style of guitar music, he is known as producer of R.E.M.'s early albums from 1981 through 1984, and as fron ...

.Harris, Keith. "A Sense of Where You Are." ''City Pages'' Nov. 3, 1999. Web. 2003 saw the release of their self-titled album on

Pete Yorn Peter Joseph Yorn (born July 27, 1974) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He first gained international recognition after his debut record, '' Musicforthemorningafter'', was released to critical and commercial acclaim in 2001. He is ...

's Trampoline Records.Terhark, Chuck. "Under Cover." ''City Pages'' Nov. 19, 2003. Web. ''The Hang Ups'' became available as a digital download for the first time in 2013 on the Korda Records label. Although the band never officially broke up, by 2011 most of its members had moved on to other projects, with occasional reunions. Hang Ups - First Avenue Star

The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the

nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.

Discography

Studio albums

*''He's After Me'' (Clean, 1993) *''So We Go'' (Restless, 1996) *'' Second Story'' (Restless, 1999)New York - Volume 32, Issues 22-28 1999 -- Page 188 "Pickings are a bit more slim for rock fans, but the Missed-out jangle-pop of the HangUps (whose new album, Second Story, was helmed by legendary producers Don Dixon and Mitch Easter, who last teamed up to produce R.E.M.'s Reckoning" *''The Hang Ups'' (Trampoline, 2003)

EPs

*''Comin' Through'' (Clean, 1993)

Compilations

*''Raspberries Preserved'' (Ginger, 1996)

Raspberries The raspberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus ''Rubus'' of the rose family, most of which are in the subgenus '' Idaeobatus''. The name also applies to these plants themselves. Raspberries are perennial with ...

cover "I Saw the Light" *''Minneapolis Does Denver: Tribute to John Denver'' (October, 1996) John Denver cover "

Leaving on a Jet Plane "Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written and recorded by singer-songwriter John Denver in 1966, originally included on his debut demo recording ''John Denver Sings'' as "Babe I Hate To Go". He made several copies and gave them out as presents f ...

" *'' Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics'' ( Emperor Norton, 1999)

Françoise Hardy Françoise Madeleine Hardy (; born 17 January 1944) is a French former singer and songwriter. Mainly known for singing melancholic sentimental ballads, Hardy has been an important figure in French pop music since her debut, spanning a career o ...

cover "Pardon" *''Korda Komp 2'' (Korda, 2013) previously unreleased track "Angel Please"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hang Ups, The Musical groups established in 1990 Indie rock musical groups from Minnesota American pop rock music groups Musical groups from the Twin Cities