Even though These United States calls Washington, D.C., its hometown, its members are very rarely all in the capital at once.
“We’ve always been geographically challenged — or maybe geographically enhanced,” pedal steel and guitar player J. Tom Hnatow said. “We’re a band of many homes. We’ve never known anything different, really.”
Scattered throughout the East Coast, the five members of These United States have never all lived in the capital at once. The band based itself out of D.C. and is officially saying goodbye to the city with a farewell tour through the East Coast and Canada.
“D.C. will forever be the place of many fond, hazy memories that we’ll try to relive whenever we pass through,” Hnatow said.
The band is currently on the road with Athens’ own Southeast Engine. The two groups will pass through Athens tonight, stopping at Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St.
“My band Human Cannonball played with These United States about three years ago, and we really hit it off both musically and personally,” Southeast Engine’s Jesse Remnant said. “We always talked about going on tour together, and we finally got the wheels turning and made it happen.”
The tour will wrap up at the end of September, and Southeast Engine will come back to Athens Oct. 11 along with the Jayhawks and Ha Ha Tonka to play at NPR’s Mountain Stage.
“Touring is a nice break from your everyday life,” Remnant said. “It’s been a blast so far, and These United States are a great band to be on tour with.”
When These United States parts ways with Southeast Engine it will head to Lexington, Ky., to work on a new album.
With band members currently spread across the East Coast, the writing process for These United States’ next album has been hectic, Hnatow said. The band managed to conquer the distance and write its new songs with the aid of demos, the Internet and occasional studio work.
“Recording is like a zoo,” Hnatow said. “You’ve finally got the animals tamed and put them on display for the world, but the zookeepers know the truth. And when we play these songs on our tour, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of them still roaming the wild plains.”
nb360409@ohiou.edu
