Member Since: 12/26/2004
Band Website: luckymadison.com
Band Members: I am, so far, the only constant member. However, as of late I've been playing with Jesse Johnson (Evolutionary Jass Band, Owl Dudes, Gulls) on trumpet/guitar/noise, Davis Hooker (A John Henry Memorial, ...Worms, Watery graves, Thanksgiving) on bass, David Fimbres (Paper/Uppercuts) on drums and in the past have had Jason Begin (Brown, Christie Front Drive), also on drums.
Influences: american imperialism, it's critics, effects, and how to end it. parents. lovers. friends. and every band i've ever been in (in chronological order, no less): crimebucks, vic-20, not the pilot, ubik, the 47, the city and the stars, grandrapids, the monitors/violence, dutchflat, blackeyesmotherfuckers, half man half woman, burnt plosives, ...worms, plants.
Sounds Like: "If Modernstate (the twisting, lilting, gorgeous head-trip of Sam Schauer) isn't already among your favorite Portland artists, just start by thinking of him as Portland's own Caribou—a rare performer that somehow makes his incredibly dense, arresting, beautiful songs seem airy, almost effortless; easy, but never simple." - Hannah Carlen, The Portland Mercury
"Sam Humans is Modernstate and Modernstate is avant-folk and avant-folk is played by Sam Humans' two human hands and a buncha loops and stacks of instruments. It's a one-man band with zero cheese, zero shtick, and more emotion, heart, and soul than whole states full of emo bands. This bill is top-notch fun." - The Portland Mercury
"It is sure, rudder-like, balanced, and moves forward with honest human emotion. It's folk, but it's also punk, experimental, lo-fi rock, and blends all of this into some sort of mutant confessional pop." - Adam Gnade, The Portland Mercury
"Modernstate is at the forefront of a burgeoning movement of one-man bands in the Pacific Northwest. With a little luck, perhaps it all will be known one day as the “Modernstate sound.â€" - Christian Kiefer, Sacramento News & Review
Record Label: lucky madison
Type of Label: Indie