Years active 1998–present Name John Roderick Parents David Roderick | Labels Barsuk Records Role Musician | |
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Born September 13, 1968 (age 55)
Seattle, US ( 1968-09-13 ) Occupation(s) Musician
songwriter
writer Instruments Vocals, guitar, keyboards Associated acts The Long Winters, Western State Hurricanes, Bun Family Players, Harvey Danger, Jonathan Coulton Website Official website
MySpace Page
The Long Winters Library and Archive Music groups The Long Winters, The Western State Hurricanes, Mt. Desolation Albums Putting the Days to Bed, When I Pretend to Fall, The Worst You Can Do Is Harm, Mt Desolation, One Christmas at a Time Profiles | ||
John Roderick is an American musician, writer, podcaster, and politician. Born in Seattle, Washington, he grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where as a young man he worked as a sluice box mucker for a gold mining operation in the area. He is currently the lead singer and guitarist in the band The Long Winters and was formerly a touring member of the band Harvey Danger. He is also a frequent guest musician on recordings by other bands, appearing on the Death Cab for Cutie album Transatlanticism, the Nada Surf album The Weight Is a Gift, The Decemberists album Picaresque, and the David Bazan album Curse Your Branches, as well as recordings by BOAT, Visqueen, Say Hi, Denver Dalley, Shelby Earl and Ken Stringfellow. He collaborated with Jonathan Coulton for Coulton's album, Artificial Heart, released in September 2011 and a duo album called One Christmas at a Time in November 2012. Roderick became a founding member of the Seattle Music Commission in 2010.
Contents
Career
In June 2006, Roderick covered the Bonnaroo festival as a correspondent for CMJ magazine, and then reprised his role for MSNBC the following year. He has also written about music and film for The Stranger and in early 2008 began writing a weekly column for the Seattle Weekly.
Roderick is a frequent collaborator with 826 Seattle, hosting the event People Talking and Singing with Dave Eggers in 2007, and teaching a course in writing called How to Write Like I Do. in 2009. Roderick also took part in the Revenge of the Bookeaters tour appearing at the Beacon Theater for 826NYC and at Park West for 826 Chicago.
Roderick has also appeared with John Hodgman and longtime Hodgman accomplice Jonathan Coulton at shows in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles. Roderick is a frequent guest on Oregon Public Broadcasting's Live Wire Radio and on KEXP. He narrated the Venue Songs for They Might Be Giants at the Moore Theater, appeared with Hodgman on Minnesota Public Radio's program Wits, and has performed readings of his own prose at John Wesley Harding's Cabinet of Wonders in Seattle and NYC.
Roderick is the son of Washington state legislator David Roderick.
Roderick was voted #3 on Seattle's "Sexiest Man" list of 2006.
His first book of extremely short prose, Electric Aphorisms, was published in November 2009.
In 2010, Roderick collaborated on the project Mt. Desolation with Keane's Tim Rice-Oxley and Jesse Quin. He also toured with John Hodgman on Hodgman's book tour, filling in for Hodgman's normal musical act, Jonathan Coulton.
In September 2011, Roderick began co-hosting Roderick on the Line, a podcast with Merlin Mann.
In June 2012, he toured with Coulton as the opening act for Coulton's Artificial Heart tour, and provided the lead vocals for the track "Nemeses" from that album.
In January 2013, Roderick guest starred as the "Expert Witness" in two episodes of John Hodgman's comedy/court show podcast Judge John Hodgman. He also served as "Guest Bailiff" on the same podcast for two episodes in April 2014: "Episode 154: Visitation Rights" and "Episode 155: The Perp Walk."
Roderick co-wrote two songs with Kathleen Edwards on her 2011 album Voyageur. "Soft Place to Land," co-written by Edwards and Roderick, won the 2012 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
In April 2015, Roderick announced that he would run for Seattle City Council. While his campaign was eventually unsuccessful, Roderick stated he will stay "committed to a better city".
Songs
The Commander Thinks Aloud
One Christmas at a Time
Give Me a Moment
Scent of Lime
Delicate Hands
Carparts
Rich Wife
Departure
Everything Is Talking
Pet Name
Blue Diamonds
Pushover
Scared Straight
2600
Teaspoon
The Sound of Coming Down
Bride and Bridle
Prom Night at Hater High
The Week Between
Unsalted Butter
Cinnamon
Fire Island - AK
Blanket Hog
Christmas in July
Clouds
Sky Is Open
Uncle John
New Girl
Christmas in Jail
It'll Be a Breeze
Christmastime Is Wunnerful
Medicine Cabinet Pirate