Hooray For Earth | Artist | TAMBOURHINOCEROS
Hooray for Earth by Tonje Thilesen

Hooray For Earth

Following up a critically acclaimed debut album can be an artist’s worst nightmare. It brings the type of intense pressure that, more often than not, leads to unfortunate stylistic departures and play-it-safe sequels. For Hooray For Earth leader Noel Heroux, plotting the band’s sophomore album Racy (2014) required ignoring expectations and stripping away baggage, musical and otherwise. “This album is the most intentional thing I’ve ever put together”, Heroux says. “I wanted everything loud and direct so you don’t have to guess at what you’re getting into.”

While Heroux began recording demos as Hooray for Earth as early as 2003, the band’s career began in earnest with Heroux’s relocation to New York City in 2007, and the subsequent release of 2009's EP Momo. The arrival of the LP True Loves (2011 / Dovecote Records) the following summer would prove to be a watershed moment for the band.

An audacious debut album packed with the type of songs that make you want to sing along, dance, and make you feel uncomfortable, all at the same time, True Loves won the band a well-deserved round of huzzahs from all of the key tastemakers and helped expand the band’s audience both in the US and abroad. In 2012, Hooray for Earth made their maiden voyage to the UK and saw their single “No Love'' reach the A-list on BBC Radio 1. After a hearty round of touring on the European festival circuit, the band closed out 2012 with the digital release of the single “Never/Figure”.

While the band spent a good chunk of 2013 in hibernation mode, Heroux had hardly been idle. After making an appearance on Twin Shadow’s sophomore album Confess, Heroux spent time producing, writing, and occasionally playing guitar with several NYC bands including Cymbals Eat Guitars and Autre Ne Veut, prompting Brooklyn Vegan to declare that “[Heroux] is proving to be one of the city’s most resourceful and creative guitarists.”

With Chris Coady (Grizzly Bear, Beach House, Future Islands) in the co-producer's seat, the sessions for Racy took place at Dreamland in Kingston, NY and at DNA Downtown in NYC over the first few months of 2013. Crafting a more fluid listening experience with Racy also meant a more active role in the studio for Heroux’s longtime bandmates, bassist Chris Principe, drummer Joe Ciampini, and keyboardist/vocalist Jessica Zambri.

“I’m still writing, arranging and doing the preliminary recording”, Heroux says. “But then it’s all funneled out through our scrappy rock band.” Racy is very much a rock album. Featuring nine finely etched songs rendered to life by Coady’s crystalline production, Racy represents a bold and beautiful step into the light for Hooray for Earth. 

"HFE is an indie-pop band that really isn't beholden to any sort of trend... Noel Heroux is delivering a deceptively forceful performance while drums boom and guitars chug, waiting for the festival masses to arrive." - Pitchfork

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Hooray for Earth's Events

May-15-2013
Retox @ Middle East - Downstairs
Cambridge, MA, US
Apr-12-2013
Hooray For Earth @ Europa
Brooklyn, NY, US
Apr-12-2013
Hooray For Earth @ Europa
Brooklyn, NY, US
Feb-03-2013
Hooray For Earth @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jan-31-2013
Hooray For Earth @ Knitting Factory - Brooklyn
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jan-17-2013
Bear In Heaven @ Grog Shop
Cleveland Heights, OH, US
Jan-16-2013
Bear In Heaven @ Schubas Tavern
Chicago, IL, US
Jan-15-2013
Hooray For Earth @ The Basement
Columbus, OH, US
Jan-13-2013
Bear In Heaven @ Black Cat
Washington, DC, US
Nov-29-2012
Hooray For Earth @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-17-2012
Helio Sequence @ Underground Arts
Philadelphia, PA, US
Oct-18-2012
Foxygen @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Aug-24-2012
Little Dragon @ Eriksdalsbadet
Stockholm, Sweden
Jul-13-2012
The Pine Hill Haints @ Brudenell Social Club
Leeds, UK
Jul-06-2012
The Wombats @ Merton Farm
Canterbury, UK
Jun-12-2012
Anamanaguchi @ Tammany Hall
New York (NYC), NY, US
Jun-05-2012
Hooray For Earth @ XOYO
London, UK
May-24-2012
Hooray For Earth @ Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY, US
May-19-2012
Hooray For Earth @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Mar-16-2012
Bass Drum of Death @ The Jacked Stage
Austin, TX, US
Mar-14-2012
The Drums @ Flamingo Cantina
Austin, TX, US
Mar-13-2012
Exitmusic @ Club de Ville
Austin, TX, US
Mar-02-2012
Hooray For Earth @ King Tuts Wah Wah Hut
Glasgow, UK
Mar-01-2012
Hooray For Earth @ The Deaf Institute
Manchester, UK
Feb-29-2012
Hooray For Earth @ Night & Day
Manchester, UK
Feb-28-2012
Hooray For Earth @ Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
London, UK
Feb-24-2012
Phantogram @ La Flèche d'Or
Paris, France
Feb-22-2012
The Wombats @ O2 Academy Brixton
London, UK
Dec-08-2011
Hooray For Earth @ Public Assembly
Brooklyn, NY, US
Nov-29-2011
Alex Clare @ XOYO
London, UK
Nov-24-2011
Alex Clare @ The Deaf Institute
Manchester, UK
Nov-23-2011
Alex Clare @ Cabaret Voltaire
Edinburgh, UK
Oct-27-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Bowery Ballroom
New York (NYC), NY, US
Oct-25-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ First Unitarian Church
Philadelphia, PA, US
Oct-23-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH, US
Oct-22-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ White Rabbit Cabaret
Indianapolis, IN, US
Oct-21-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Lincoln Hall
Chicago, IL, US
Oct-20-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ High Noon Saloon
Madison, WI, US
Oct-19-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ 7th St Entry
Minneapolis, MN, US
Oct-18-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Maintenance Shop
Ames, IA, US
Oct-15-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Hi-Dive
Denver, CO, US
Oct-14-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Kilby Court
Salt Lake City, UT, US
Oct-13-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Neurolux
Boise, ID, US
Oct-11-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Crocodile - Old Location
Seattle, WA, US
Oct-10-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Mississippi Studios
Portland, OR, US
Oct-08-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Bottom of the Hill
San Francisco, CA, US
Oct-07-2011
Hooray For Earth @ Origami Vinyl
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Oct-07-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Echo
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Oct-06-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Alex's Bar
Long Beach, CA, US
Oct-05-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Casbah
San Diego, CA, US
Oct-05-2011
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Culture Collide Festival
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Oct-04-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Club Congress
Tucson, AZ, US
Oct-02-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Dan's Silverleaf
Denton, TX, US
Oct-01-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Emo's Austin
Austin, TX, US
Sep-30-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Fitzgerald's
Houston, TX, US
Sep-29-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ One Eyed Jacks
New Orleans, LA, US
Sep-27-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Earl
East Atlanta, GA, US
Sep-26-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Local 506
Chapel Hill, NC, US
Sep-24-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Black Cat
Washington, DC, US
Sep-23-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ First Unitarian Church
Philadelphia, PA, US
Sep-22-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Space
Hamden, CT, US
Sep-21-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY, US
Sep-20-2011
Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Brighton Music Hall
Boston, MA, US
Jul-16-2011
Andre Williams @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jun-18-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ The Music Hall at World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA, US
Jun-17-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Black Cat
Washington, DC, US
Jun-16-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Webster Hall
New York (NYC), NY, US
Jun-13-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Boston, MA, US
Jun-12-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ La Tulipe
Montreal, QC, Canada
Jun-11-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club
Toronto, ON, Canada
Jun-10-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Lincoln Hall
Chicago, IL, US
Jun-09-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Varsity Theater
Minneapolis, MN, US
Jun-06-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Neumos
Seattle, WA, US
Jun-05-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Venue
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jun-04-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Wonder Ballroom
Portland, OR, US
Jun-03-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Amoeba Music
San Francisco, CA, US
Jun-02-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Great American Music Hall
San Francisco, CA, US
Jun-01-2011
Architecture In Helsinki @ Fonda Theatre
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Mar-24-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ Ottobar
Baltimore, MD, US
Mar-23-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Handlebar
Greenville, SC, US
Mar-22-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ Proud Larry's
Oxford, MS, US
Mar-20-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival
Hot Springs, AR, US
Mar-18-2011
Matt Shadetek @ Flamingo Cantina
Austin, TX, US
Mar-18-2011
Grimes @ Unknown venue
Austin, TX, US
Mar-16-2011
The Gay Blades @ The 512
Austin, TX, US
Mar-16-2011
Beach Fossils @ Emo's Austin
Austin, TX, US
Mar-15-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Korova
San Antonio, TX, US
Mar-13-2011
Dan Deacon @ Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios
Denton, TX, US
Mar-11-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ Motorco Music Hall
Durham, NC, US
Mar-11-2011
Kanye West @ Unknown venue
Austin, TX, US
Mar-10-2011
A Place To Bury Strangers @ The Masquerade - Heaven
Atlanta, GA, US
Mar-08-2011
Hooray For Earth @ Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY, US
Mar-06-2011
Hooray For Earth @ Glasslands Gallery
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jan-25-2011
The Concretes @ Rock & Roll Hotel
Washington, DC, US
Jan-24-2011
The Concretes @ Johnny Brenda's
Philadelphia, PA, US
Jan-22-2011
The Concretes @ Bowery Ballroom
New York (NYC), NY, US
Jan-21-2011
Young Buffalo @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jan-20-2011
The Concretes @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Jan-19-2011
The Concretes @ La Sala Rossa
Montreal, QC, Canada
Jan-18-2011
The Concretes @ Mavericks
Ottawa, ON, Canada
Jan-17-2011
The Concretes @ The Horseshoe Tavern
Toronto, ON, Canada
Jan-16-2011
The Concretes @ Magic Stick
Detroit, MI, US
Jan-15-2011
Save The Clocktower @ The Empty Bottle
Chicago, IL, US
Jan-14-2011
The Concretes @ Triple Rock Social Club
Minneapolis, MN, US
Jan-11-2011
The Concretes @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Jan-08-2011
Grooms @ The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY, US
Nov-24-2010
Computer Magic @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-17-2010
Electric Tickle Machine @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-10-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-03-2010
Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-02-2010
The Dresden Dolls @ Wilbur Theatre
Boston, MA, US
Oct-23-2010
Popo @ Coco 66
Brooklyn, NY, US
Oct-09-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Slowdown
Omaha, NE, US
Oct-08-2010
A B & The Sea @ Hi-Dive
Denver, CO, US
Oct-02-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Bottom of the Hill
San Francisco, CA, US
Sep-30-2010
A B & The Sea @ The Echo
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Sep-29-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Origami Vinyl
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Sep-24-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ ND at 501 Studios
Austin, TX, US
Sep-23-2010
Drive-By Truckers @ House of Blues - Houston
Houston, TX, US
Sep-21-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Cicero's
University City, MO, US
Sep-20-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Ear-X-Tacy
Louisville, KY, US
Aug-23-2010
Admiral Radley @ The Music Hall at World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA, US
Aug-21-2010
Admiral Radley @ DC9 Nightclub
Washington, DC, US
Aug-17-2010
Admiral Radley @ T.T. the Bear's Place
Cambridge, MA, US
Aug-13-2010
Admiral Radley @ Schubas Tavern
Chicago, IL, US
Jun-27-2010
Glass Ghost @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jun-16-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Black Cat
Washington, DC, US
Jun-15-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, NC, US
Jun-12-2010
Surfer Blood @ Grand Central
Miami, FL, US
Jun-11-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Venue 578
Orlando, FL, US
Jun-10-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ The Engine Room
Tallahassee, FL, US
Jun-06-2010
Elizabeth Cook @ Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH, US
Jun-04-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Historic German House
Rochester, NY, US
Jun-03-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Daniel Street
Milford, CT, US
Jun-01-2010
The Futureheads @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY, US
Feb-24-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Cake Shop
New York, NY, US
Jan-28-2010
Oh No Ono @ Union Hall
Brooklyn, NY, US
Dec-05-2009
Hooray For Earth @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Nov-13-2009
Emilyn Brodsky @ Santos Party House
New York, NY, US
Jul-24-2009
Hooray For Earth @ T.T. the Bear's Place
Cambridge, MA, US
Apr-22-2009
Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers @ The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY, US
Mar-12-2009
OK Go @ Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Boston, MA, US
Dec-06-2008
Bang Camaro @ North Star Bar
Philadelphia, PA, US
Nov-14-2008
Bang Camaro @ Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Boston, MA, US
Oct-11-2008
Neptune @ Massachusetts College Of Art
Boston, MA, US
Aug-14-2008
CounterVision @ North Star Bar
Philadelphia, PA, US
Jun-21-2008
Eksi Ekso @ Paradise Lounge
Boston, MA, US
Apr-12-2008
Moving Mountains @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Feb-29-2008
Born Ruffians @ Middle East - Downstairs
Cambridge, MA, US
Sep-08-2007
Guster @ Leader Bank Pavilion
Boston, MA, US
Jan-17-2011
The Concretes @ The Horseshoe Tavern
Toronto, ON, Canada
Jan-16-2011
The Concretes @ Magic Stick
Detroit, MI, US
Jan-15-2011
Save The Clocktower @ The Empty Bottle
Chicago, IL, US
Jan-14-2011
The Concretes @ Triple Rock Social Club
Minneapolis, MN, US
Jan-11-2011
The Concretes @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Jan-08-2011
Grooms @ The Rock Shop
Brooklyn, NY, US
Nov-24-2010
Computer Magic @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-17-2010
Electric Tickle Machine @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-10-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-03-2010
Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Nov-02-2010
The Dresden Dolls @ Wilbur Theatre
Boston, MA, US
Oct-23-2010
Popo @ Coco 66
Brooklyn, NY, US
Oct-09-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Slowdown
Omaha, NE, US
Oct-08-2010
A B & The Sea @ Hi-Dive
Denver, CO, US
Oct-02-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Bottom of the Hill
San Francisco, CA, US
Sep-30-2010
A B & The Sea @ The Echo
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Sep-29-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Origami Vinyl
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
Sep-24-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ ND at 501 Studios
Austin, TX, US
Sep-23-2010
Drive-By Truckers @ House of Blues - Houston
Houston, TX, US
Sep-21-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Cicero's
University City, MO, US
Sep-20-2010
Jukebox the Ghost @ Ear-X-Tacy
Louisville, KY, US
Aug-23-2010
Admiral Radley @ The Music Hall at World Cafe Live
Philadelphia, PA, US
Aug-21-2010
Admiral Radley @ DC9 Nightclub
Washington, DC, US
Aug-17-2010
Admiral Radley @ T.T. the Bear's Place
Cambridge, MA, US
Aug-13-2010
Admiral Radley @ Schubas Tavern
Chicago, IL, US
Jun-27-2010
Glass Ghost @ Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NY, US
Jun-16-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Black Cat
Washington, DC, US
Jun-15-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, NC, US
Jun-12-2010
Surfer Blood @ Grand Central
Miami, FL, US
Jun-11-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Venue 578
Orlando, FL, US
Jun-10-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ The Engine Room
Tallahassee, FL, US
Jun-06-2010
Elizabeth Cook @ Beachland Ballroom
Cleveland, OH, US
Jun-04-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Historic German House
Rochester, NY, US
Jun-03-2010
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart @ Daniel Street
Milford, CT, US
Jun-01-2010
The Futureheads @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Brooklyn, NY, US
Feb-24-2010
Hooray For Earth @ Cake Shop
New York, NY, US
Jan-28-2010
Oh No Ono @ Union Hall
Brooklyn, NY, US
Dec-05-2009
Hooray For Earth @ Great Scott
Allston, MA, US
Nov-13-2009
Emilyn Brodsky @ Santos Party House
New York, NY, US
Jul-24-2009
Hooray For Earth @ T.T. the Bear's Place
Cambridge, MA, US
Apr-22-2009
Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers @ The Bell House
Brooklyn, NY, US
Mar-12-2009
OK Go @ Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Boston, MA, US
Dec-06-2008
Bang Camaro @ North Star Bar
Philadelphia, PA, US
Nov-14-2008
Bang Camaro @ Paradise Rock Club presented by Citizens
Boston, MA, US
Oct-11-2008
Neptune @ Massachusetts College Of Art
Boston, MA, US
Aug-14-2008
CounterVision @ North Star Bar
Philadelphia, PA, US
Jun-21-2008
Eksi Ekso @ Paradise Lounge
Boston, MA, US
Apr-12-2008
Moving Mountains @ Pianos
New York, NY, US
Feb-29-2008
Born Ruffians @ Middle East - Downstairs
Cambridge, MA, US
Sep-08-2007
Guster @ Leader Bank Pavilion
Boston, MA, US
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