Harvey Milk (band)

Lore & Background

Harvey Milk formed in 1992 as a trio of Creston Spiers, Stephen Tanner, and Paul Trudeau. They released their debut album, My Love Is Higher Than Your Assessment of What My Love Could Be, in 1996 before Trudeau left that same year. The band disbanded in 1998 but reformed in 2006. During the interim, members pursued other projects.

On June 3, 2008, Harvey Milk released Life... The Best Game in Town. The band toured the eastern and southern US as well as Germany, England, Belgium, France, and Scotland during the summer of 2008. Guitarist/vocalist Creston Spiers has described it as the band's worst album. Since 2013, Kyle Spence has been the drummer for Kurt Vile and the Violators.

The band has a history of eclectic live performances, including a show consisting entirely of Hank Williams covers and an April Fool's Day gig at the 40 Watt in Athens where they performed R.E.M.'s Reckoning album from beginning to end while Michael Stipe was in attendance.

Reader's Guide

Harvey Milk occupies a distinctive niche in American experimental rock, blending noise rock with slow, heavy riffs that invite comparisons to the Melvins. Their willingness to incorporate diverse influences—from ZZ Top and Led Zeppelin to Leonard Cohen and Kiss—and to perform entire sets of Hank Williams or R.E.M. covers demonstrates a playful, genre-defying approach. The band's 2008 album Life... The Best Game in Town, despite being dismissed by its own guitarist, was critically acclaimed, winning a writers' poll in Rock-A-Rolla magazine. Their legacy includes a dedicated cult following and influence on the sludge and noise rock scenes. The band's name, chosen to honor a pioneering gay politician, adds a layer of cultural significance beyond their music. Harvey Milk's periodic reunions and continued activity since 2006 underscore their enduring relevance in underground rock.

Did You Know?

• Harvey Milk performed a live show consisting of nothing but Hank Williams covers.
• At an April Fool's Day gig at the 40 Watt in Athens, they played R.E.M.'s Reckoning album in full while Michael Stipe was in attendance.
• Guitarist Creston Spiers has called the band's 2008 album Life... The Best Game in Town their worst record.
• Since 2013, drummer Kyle Spence has been the drummer for Kurt Vile and the Violators.