Helms

Artist

Helms

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About

Helms has its roots in the Massachusetts peninsula of Cape Cod, breeding ground in the early-to-mid '90s for a surprising number of quality "post-rock" musicians who later went on to comprise such other bands as Victory at Sea, Robots, and Lynx. Sean McCarthy's first notable band appearance was in 1994 as guitarist for Milkmoney, seemingly a forerunner to the rock sub-genre of slowcore that gained popularity as the decade progressed. His brother Dan drummed for Dagobah, whose sound was an instrumentally heavy marriage of progressive rock and hardcore. By 1996, Sean founded The Television Set with Tina McCarthy (at the time Tina Helms) making her debut on bass, and this band eventually transformed into Helms when Dan replaced their drummer. There was one name stop along the way as The Swimmer. This moniker was dumped when a major label band released a record under a similar name. The Swimmer eventually became the title of their 2000 debut album on Kimchee Records, released following an EP shared with Victory at Sea. A second full-length, McCarthy, had a November 2002 release.

The Helms experience often consists of equal amounts delicacy and power. The band expertly veers from softer hypnotic passages into precipitous cacophony, all the while maintaining total navigational control. Accompanying these sonic vestments is what appears on first listen to be somewhat inconsequential lyric imagery using the ephemera of modern-day culture. Closer attention can lead one to the big picture truths such fables portend. Helms' musical narrative, although marinated in that post-something aural tradition, is original and always compelling.

Data provided by Discogs

Top Tracks

Most popular songs on Last.fm · click ▶ to preview on Spotify

1

the smallest world in the world

Helms

2

io

Helms

3

the kindness of automatic doors

Helms

4

teenagers in the woods

Helms

5

It Takes Skin to Win

Helms

Releases

1 release · data from Discogs

Setlists

14 live performances · data from Setlist.fm

All · 14
2022
2008
2003
2002
2001

Setlist data provided by Setlist.fm

October 20, 2022

Downstairs

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

  • 1. The Smallest World in the World

  • 2. There Is No I In Team, But There Is One In Tina

  • 3. Satin Rules

  • 4. More Blackouts Than I Care To Remember

  • 5. Sno-Cone Lizard

  • 6. Untitled

  • 7. Fatbird

  • 8. Candy Fish


July 9, 2022

Music Hall of Williamsburg

Brooklyn, New York, United States

  • 1. The Smallest World in the World

  • 2. There Is No I In Team, But There Is One In Tina

  • 3. Satin Rules

  • 4. More Blackouts Than I Care To Remember

  • 5. Sno-Cone Lizard

  • 6. Untitled

  • 7. Fatbird

  • 8. Candy Fish


July 6, 2022

The Sinclair

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

  • 1. The Smallest World in the World

  • 2. There Is No I In Team, But There Is One In Tina

  • 3. Satin Rules

  • 4. More Blackouts Than I Care To Remember

  • 5. Sno-Cone Lizard

  • 6. Untitled

  • 7. Fatbird

  • 8. Candy Fish


October 11, 2008

The Roxy

Boston, Massachusetts, United States


June 22, 2008

Great Scott

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

  • 1. There Is No I In Team, But There Is One In Tina

  • 2. Satin Rules

  • 3. Fatbird

  • 4. Terrible Hands*

  • 5. Sno-Cone Lizard

  • 6. She Likes Sandwiches*

  • 7. Untitled

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Helms has released 1 album since 2006. Notable releases include Secret Doors. Explore their complete discography on this page.

Helms' most-played tracks include the smallest world in the world, io, the kindness of automatic doors, teenagers in the woods, It Takes Skin to Win. Listen to these songs and explore more from their catalog on this page.

Helms has its roots in the Massachusetts peninsula of Cape Cod, breeding ground in the early-to-mid '90s for a surprising number of quality "post-rock" musicians who later went on to comprise such other bands as Victory at Sea, Robots, and Lynx. Sean... Read the full biography on this page.

You can find Helms vinyl records, CDs and collectibles on eBay. Browse the selection of new and used releases available for purchase.

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