The Holy Fire began in early 2004 following a studio project that turned out better than planned (and also birthed the band’s self-titled EP, recorded in Toronto in late 2003). Singer/guitarist Sean Hoen had known drummer Nick Marko as a fellow Pixies and Hüsker Dü fan after years of late night conversations in Detroit dive bars. Bassist Nathan Miller, Hoen’s compatriot in the frighteningly fucked-up Thoughts of Ionesco soon got involved along with their friend, art enthusiast/guitarist Ryan Wilson. “That was when the band formed and we had some kind of desperate telepathy and approached songs the same way. Everyone also wanted to rock, which I had pretty much given up on,” says Hoen of the lineup’s formation.
The Toronto recording sessions were released as a self-titled EP (2004) that included the plodding and punchy “Lift Off Message” and five other gritty blasts of Afghan Whigs-meets-the Replacements-meets-My Bloody Valentine-influenced noise. Punk Planet called the EP “thoroughly impressive” while Real Detroit Weekly wrote “hands down this EP redefines what a rock band from Detroit should sound like.” The EP will be re-released on May 10, 2005.
The band booked their first show in April 2004 opening for TV on the Radio at the Magic Stick in Detroit. Playing to over 300 people, the combination of intensity and passion that they already attached to their fledgling songs made it easy for the band to plug in and play with their hearts sewn blood-filled on their black short sleeves.
Hoen describes the band’s chemistry, saying, “Ryan brings the color, flamboyance and sprawling, pretty spaciousness. Nick gives everything a primal, very physical sort of passion. He plays hard even when he is sitting back and also has a really good sense of creating things out of improvs; he’s a very emotional drummer. I think I bring the imagery and hooks and structural bases of the songs as well as a taste of paranoia. Nathan is kind of the sonic and emotional glue.”
The following months saw The Holy Fire playing with the likes of the Constantines and McClusky. In January of 2006, The Holy Fire signed a record deal with indie label The Militia Group. A second EP will be released nationally on February 21, 2006 and a full-length and national tour will follow later in the year. –Ryan Allen
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