Heatmiser’s ‘Mic City Sons’ gets a 30th anniversary makeover courtesy of Third Man Records

Let’s rewind the tape to 1996: Heatmiser drops ‘Mic City Sons’—a chaotic, heartfelt, and unfiltered final bow from one of Portland’s most quietly influential indie rock bands. Now, nearly three decades later, ‘Mic City Sons’ 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.

This isn’t just a repackaging. It’s a two-LP love letter to the band’s 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’s as pretty as it sounds.) Pre-orders and pre-saves are open now.

A Record Born from Friction—and Magic

If ‘Mic City Sons’ sounds like a band on the edge, that’s because it was. Behind the scenes, Heatmiser was falling apart—creatively, 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.

“He became such a thing on his own, and then just disappeared from the plans we’d made together,” says Neil Gust, one of the band’s founding members. “It sucked.”

The songs reflected that intensity. Smith thought Gust’s Cruel Reminder was a dig at him (spoiler: it wasn’t). Coomes hated Get Lucky. And yet, out of all the friction came something wildly compelling: a raw, beautiful mess of a record that Pitchfork later called “a glorious, complicated swan song.”

Digging Through the Vault

For this reissue, the band’s drummer Tony Lash—now a producer and engineer—went full archeologist. Digging through the archives, he uncovered nearly finished tracks, lost demos, and songs that had never seen the light of day.

“It brought me back to that time in a really visceral way,” Lash shares. “It made me appreciate this creative space and creative life that we were able to sustain there for a little bit.”b

Among the bonus gems: a revved-up version of Smith’s Christian Brothers, the aching I’m Over That Now (built from a solo Smith take and fleshed out by the full band), and the sharp, catchy Dark Cloud, which Gust admits was “about being pissed at Elliott.” It’s as honest and complex as the band ever was.

Still Resonating, 30 Years Later

The 30th anniversary edition of ‘Mic City Sons’ is more than just nostalgia—it’s a reminder of what Heatmiser could do at their peak. There’s heartbreak, brilliance, grit, and a creative push-pull that feels just as alive now as it did in ’96.

“Since the record doesn’t change, I’m the one that changes,” says Gust. “I just forgot how good we could be together.”

So whether you’re a longtime fan or just discovering the band through Elliott Smith’s legacy, this reissue is worth diving into. ‘Mic City Sons’ still burns—maybe even brighter now.

‘Mic City Sons’ (30th Anniversary Remaster)
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Label: Third Man Records

Tracklist (Original + Bonus):

1. Get Lucky
2. Plainclothes Man
3. Low-Flying Jets
4. Rest My Head Against The Wall
5. The Fix Is In
6. Eagle Eye
7. Cruel Reminder
8. You Gotta Move
9. Pop In G
10. Blue Highway
11. See You Later
12. Half Right
13. Cocksucker’s Blues *
14. I’m Over That Now *
15. Silent Treatment *
16. Burned Out, Still Glowing *
17. Rocker In C *
18. Get Lucky (Demo) *
19. Everybody Has It *
20. Dark Cloud *
21. Dirty Dream *
22. You Gotta Move (Demo) *
23. Christian Brothers (Rock Version) *
24. Untitled Instrumental *

* Bonus Tracks

More info, vinyl variants, and pre-orders over at thirdmanrecords.com.