{"id":43015,"date":"2025-07-03T12:15:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T16:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=43015"},"modified":"2025-06-22T07:40:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-22T11:40:35","slug":"heatmisers-mic-city-sons-gets-a-30th-anniversary-makeover-courtesy-of-third-man-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=43015","title":{"rendered":"Heatmiser\u2019s \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 gets a 30th anniversary makeover courtesy of Third Man Records"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Let\u2019s rewind the tape to 1996: Heatmiser drops \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019\u2014a chaotic, heartfelt, and unfiltered final bow from one of Portland\u2019s most quietly influential indie rock bands. Now, nearly three decades later, \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 is getting the celebration it deserves. Third Man Records is rolling out a fully remastered, reimagined, and gloriously expanded 30th anniversary edition, landing July 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3ZIS7oK4xPA?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-CA&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><br>This isn\u2019t just a repackaging. It\u2019s a two-LP love letter to the band\u2019s last, emotionally charged chapter, complete with rare demos and unreleased tracks that have been sitting in the shadows for too long. The new edition will be pressed on classic black vinyl as well as a dreamy Sunset Pink Transparent and Starry Night Blue Glitter variant. (Yes, it\u2019s as pretty as it sounds.) Pre-orders and pre-saves are open now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Record Born from Friction\u2014and Magic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 sounds like a band on the edge, that\u2019s because it was. Behind the scenes, Heatmiser was falling apart\u2014creatively, emotionally, and personally. With Elliott Smith splitting his focus between the band and his burgeoning solo career, the sessions were tense. There were different visions, clashing personalities, and a growing sense of distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHe became such a thing on his own, and then just disappeared from the plans we&#8217;d made together,\u201d says Neil Gust, one of the band\u2019s founding members. \u201c<em>It sucked.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The songs reflected that intensity. Smith thought Gust\u2019s <em>Cruel Reminder<\/em> was a dig at him (spoiler: it wasn\u2019t). Coomes hated <em>Get Lucky<\/em>. And yet, out of all the friction came something wildly compelling: a raw, beautiful mess of a record that Pitchfork later called \u201c<em>a glorious, complicated swan song.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digging Through the Vault<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For this reissue, the band\u2019s drummer Tony Lash\u2014now a producer and engineer\u2014went full archeologist. Digging through the archives, he uncovered nearly finished tracks, lost demos, and songs that had never seen the light of day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>It brought me back to that time in a really visceral way,<\/em>\u201d Lash shares. \u201c<em>It made me appreciate this creative space and creative life that we were able to sustain there for a little bit.\u201d<\/em>b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among the bonus gems: a revved-up version of Smith\u2019s <em>Christian Brothers<\/em>, the aching <em>I\u2019m Over That Now <\/em>(built from a solo Smith take and fleshed out by the full band), and the sharp, catchy <em>Dark Cloud<\/em>, which Gust admits was \u201c<em>about being pissed at Elliott.<\/em>\u201d It\u2019s as honest and complex as the band ever was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Still Resonating, 30 Years Later<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The 30th anniversary edition of \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 is more than just nostalgia\u2014it\u2019s a reminder of what Heatmiser could do at their peak. There\u2019s heartbreak, brilliance, grit, and a creative push-pull that feels just as alive now as it did in \u201996.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>Since the record doesn\u2019t change, I\u2019m the one that changes,<\/em>\u201d says Gust. \u201c<em>I just forgot how good we could be together.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So whether you\u2019re a longtime fan or just discovering the band through Elliott Smith\u2019s legacy, this reissue is worth diving into. \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 still burns\u2014maybe even brighter now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 (30th Anniversary Remaster)<\/strong><br><strong>Release Date:<\/strong>\u00a0July 25, 2025<br><strong>Label:<\/strong>\u00a0Third Man Records<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4847.jpeg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"272\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4847.jpeg?resize=272%2C272&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Heatmiser Mic City Sons vinyl\" class=\"wp-image-43017\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4847.jpeg?w=272 272w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4847.jpeg?resize=150%2C150 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 272px) 100vw, 272px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tracklist (Original + Bonus):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Get Lucky<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plainclothes Man<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Low-Flying Jets<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rest My Head Against The Wall<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Fix Is In<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eagle Eye<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cruel Reminder<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You Gotta Move<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pop In G<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Blue Highway<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See You Later<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Half Right<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cocksucker\u2019s Blues *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I\u2019m Over That Now *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Silent Treatment *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Burned Out, Still Glowing *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rocker In C *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get Lucky (Demo) *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Everybody Has It *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dark Cloud *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dirty Dream *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You Gotta Move (Demo) *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Christian Brothers (Rock Version) *<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Untitled Instrumental *<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>* Bonus Tracks<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More info, vinyl variants, and pre-orders over at\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/thirdmanrecords.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">thirdmanrecords.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Let\u2019s rewind the tape to 1996: Heatmiser drops \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019\u2014a chaotic, heartfelt, and unfiltered final bow from one of Portland\u2019s most quietly influential indie <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=43015\" title=\"Heatmiser\u2019s \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 gets a 30th anniversary makeover courtesy of Third Man Records\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43016,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Heatmiser\u2019s \u2018Mic City Sons\u2019 gets a 30th anniversary makeover courtesy of Third Man Records #heatmiser #thirdmanrecords #reissue #music #elliottsmith","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2,"attached_media":[{"id":43016,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4846.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}]},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22,23,28,30,1907],"tags":[5843,12771,12770],"class_list":["post-43015","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-rock","category-indie","category-music","category-new-release","category-news","tag-elliott-smith","tag-heatmiser","tag-mic-city-sons"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/IMG_4846.jpeg?fit=682%2C446","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2B2TV-bbN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":19144,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=19144","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":0},"title":"Quasi announce 2016 West Coast tour dates","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"December 19, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Portland, OR DIYers\u00a0Quasi\u00a0are back with their first West Coast tour dates in over two years. Yep, the 23 year old underground institution of Sam Coomes (Heatmiser, Elliott Smith, Built to Spill, Deep Fried Boogie Band, etc) and Janet Weiss (Sleater-Kinney, Wild Flag, The Jicks, etc.) will be taking theirlegendary\u00a0live act\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Quasi","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/130815-quasi.jpg?fit=820%2C546&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/130815-quasi.jpg?fit=820%2C546&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/130815-quasi.jpg?fit=820%2C546&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/130815-quasi.jpg?fit=820%2C546&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":44720,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=44720","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":1},"title":"SONS are riding the wave with new banger \u2018Surfin\u2019\u2019","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"March 11, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Two minutes. That\u2019s all SONS need to absolutely wreck you. The Belgian rock quartet are back with Surfin\u2019, a shot of pure adrenaline that captures the dizzy, slightly unhinged feeling of falling head-over-heels for someone \u2014 and then disappears before you\u2019ve even processed what hit you. It\u2019s chaotic. It\u2019s joyful.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"SONS press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0003.jpeg?fit=1000%2C667&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0003.jpeg?fit=1000%2C667&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0003.jpeg?fit=1000%2C667&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_0003.jpeg?fit=1000%2C667&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38468,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=38468","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":2},"title":"Jon Spencer &#038; the HITMakers Fall US tour kicks off October 6th","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"September 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Catch Jon Spencer & the HITmakers live in concert featuring the talents of\u00a0Bob Bert\u00a0(Pussy Galore, Sonic Youth), Sam Coomes\u00a0(Quasi, Heatmiser), and lead by the original jet-screamer\u00a0Jon Spencer\u00a0(Blues Explosion, Boss Hog, Heavy Trash, Pussy Galore). Spencer says,\u00a0\"We are back - primed and loaded - ready to bring the HITS to all\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jon Spencer press photo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5165BDB4-9609-4755-815B-F105BAC070AA.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5165BDB4-9609-4755-815B-F105BAC070AA.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5165BDB4-9609-4755-815B-F105BAC070AA.jpeg?fit=600%2C400&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22062,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=22062","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":3},"title":"Cornelius shares original 1997 &#8216;Mic Check&#8217; video + shares bonus track &#8216;Taylor&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"June 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In celebration of the\u00a0release of the deluxe, 2xLP remastered reissue of his groundbreaking album 'Fantasma,'\u00a0Cornelius\u00a0has\u00a0shared the original Mic Check video from the album's original 1997 release and shares bonus track,\u00a0Taylor. The 'Fantasma' reissue is out now via Lefse\/Postmodern. Watch Mic Check via YouTube and listen to\u00a0Taylor via Soundcloud below. https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=L5xwwpNwQ70\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"Cornelius","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/FANTASMA_24P_P20_zpsr0tbhuaw.jpg?fit=1024%2C697&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/FANTASMA_24P_P20_zpsr0tbhuaw.jpg?fit=1024%2C697&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/FANTASMA_24P_P20_zpsr0tbhuaw.jpg?fit=1024%2C697&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/FANTASMA_24P_P20_zpsr0tbhuaw.jpg?fit=1024%2C697&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29988,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=29988","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":4},"title":"Whispering Sons release debut album &#8216;Image&#8217;","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"October 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Belgian post-punk band\u00a0Whispering Sons have released their debut album 'Image'. The LP is comprised of ten tracks, and will be released via Cleopatra Records in North America and Smile Records in Europe. Take a listen to their track Stalemate,\u00a0which\u00a0is lifted from the LP via\u00a0Soundcloud below. This is the first major\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;guitar rock&quot;","block_context":{"text":"guitar rock","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=22"},"img":{"alt_text":"Whispering Sons","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/680351.jpg?fit=800%2C535&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/680351.jpg?fit=800%2C535&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/680351.jpg?fit=800%2C535&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cultureaddicts.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/680351.jpg?fit=800%2C535&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21474,"url":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?p=21474","url_meta":{"origin":43015,"position":5},"title":"Winners announced for the 2016 INDIES","author":"cultureaddicts","date":"May 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Canadian Music Week has\u00a0announced the winners of the\u00a016th Annual INDIES with INDIE88, which took place yesterday\u00a0at the\u00a0Phoenix Concert Theatre. Presented by\u00a0Indie88\u00a0and supported by the Ontario Media Development Corporation through the\u00a0Ontario Music Fund,\u00a0The INDIES\u00a0celebrate the best of both Canadian and international independent music. Experimental pop artist\u00a0Grimes\u00a0took home one of the evening's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;indie&quot;","block_context":{"text":"indie","link":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/?cat=23"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43015"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":43155,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43015\/revisions\/43155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43016"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43015"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43015"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cultureaddicts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}