From the ashes of other northeast Ohio bands like Throttle Bottom and Velocipede, Kent, Ohio’s Harriet The Spy was born. The earliest incarnation of the band in 1992 was actually a 3-piece. Joel McAdams (guitar/vocals) hung a flyer in Akron looking for a bass player and drummer. Alex Hicox (drums) and Heather Royer (bass) soon joined. In Spring of 1993 Dave Neeson joined on 2nd guitar and by 1994 Alex and Heather left the band and were replaced by Tom Raichel (bass) and Jamie Stillman (drums).
Harriet The Spy offered a much needed musical departure from many of the bands at that time. Someone once wrote, “…they provided a slap in the face to the sanctimonious nature of 90s hardcore musically, aesthetically and lyrically…” and that couldn’t be more true. Shows in Ohio in the 90s were quite diverse. Metal-infused hardcore bands played with more traditional punk bands and somewhere in this milieu is where Harriet The Spy felt most comfortable. Ben Lines from the blog Canadian Wasteland said they, “...delivered a cacophony of elements that honestly shouldn’t work together but yet, they somehow did, perfectly.” Inspired by bands like Sonic Youth, Born Against, Universal Order of Armageddon, Antioch Arrow and Huggy Bear they were quite prolific in the DIY underground having played well over 200 shows before breaking up in 1998. When they weren’t touring the band were staples at venues like Speak In Tongues (Cleveland), the Neilhouse (Columbus), and local YMCAs and pizza shops.
If you were lucky enough to see them live you were greeted with, “…spastic, chaotic masterpieces of riff-filled dueling guitars, pissed off vocals, and some of the most pounding drums laid to record using formulas both simple and innovative.” They delivered a visceral punch to what seemed like far too much seriousness at the time. With sarcastic song titles like "Sneaking Peaks at the Will”, “Cold Cock a Dick”, “This Music Festival Sucks” and “Sleeping Through The Money Shot” they wrote songs about being at odds with the scene that embraced them.
The band lived together in the same house so they were always writing, recording and immersed in their process. They played shows with bands like Three Studies For A Crucifixion, Universal Order of Armageddon, Melt Banana, Thumbnail, Behead The Prophet (NLSL), Palatka, Franklin, Samuel, Fat Day, Bisybackson, and many more. They recorded for labels such as Donut Friends, File 13, Double Agent, and Troubleman Unlimited. In less than 5 years the band churned out 3 cassettes, 5 split 45s, a split 12” with Thumbnail, a 10” EP, and an LP.
By 1998 fatigue was setting in and the band called it quits. Dave and Jamie went on to start “New” Terror Class
. Jamie also continued to play in Party of Helicopters and run Donut Friends Records; releasing more than 50 records before shuttering the label in 2002 and founding the effects pedal company, Earthquaker Devices.
