Biography
Criminal Hygiene fuse the ragged edge of garage punk, the melodic punch of power pop, the bold thrust of hard rock, and the freewheeling ethos of lo-fi into a single, unpolished yet sharp-edged style. Their Los Angeles-based lineup projects an everyday demeanor that masks considerable songwriting intelligence, and they have earned a reputation for boisterous stage performances. Early home-recorded efforts such as the 2013 debut CRMNL HYGNE captured a deliberately unkempt yet inventive approach, while 2019’s Run It Again revealed greater control and polish after several years of constant performances; throughout both phases the group maintained an unwavering dedication to rock & roll and a knack for crafting high-energy yet melodic material.
The band formed in 2011 when University of Southern California classmates Michael Fiore and James Watson began writing songs together in their free time. Watson’s eight-track cassette setup yielded an initial set of recordings within months, after which the pair recruited drummer Sean “Birdman” Erickson through mutual contacts. With Fiore handling guitar and Watson on bass, the trio adopted the name Criminal Hygiene and honed its material through regular appearances at the Down & Out bar.
Two digital singles, “Blak Water” and “Rearrange Me,” surfaced in late 2012, followed by the full-length CRMNL HYGNE in January 2013. Favorable notices prompted a tour that included a stop at the SXSW Music Conference that year. Upon returning, Watson stepped aside to pursue other projects and was succeeded by his longtime friend Michael Hiller.
Outside of shows and sessions, Fiore, Erickson, and Hiller shared shifts at a local pizza parlor whose proprietor supported the band. During this period they issued the live album Live at the Barn in 2013, the EP Withdrawn in 2014, and the 2018 digital single “Hardly News.” They also maintained a busy concert calendar, headlining clubs and supporting the Whigs, Twin Peaks, and Together PANGEA. The addition of bassist Cameron Ward expanded the lineup to a quartet and shifted Hiller to guitar.
Strong reviews and word-of-mouth about their energetic shows attracted the attention of Dangerbird Records, which signed the group. Working with producer Alex Newport, Criminal Hygiene tracked Run It Again; when funds ran low mid-session, the pizza-parlor owner advanced the necessary capital. Three unused songs from those sessions, along with two reworked cuts, later appeared on the 2019 Again EP.
The band formed in 2011 when University of Southern California classmates Michael Fiore and James Watson began writing songs together in their free time. Watson’s eight-track cassette setup yielded an initial set of recordings within months, after which the pair recruited drummer Sean “Birdman” Erickson through mutual contacts. With Fiore handling guitar and Watson on bass, the trio adopted the name Criminal Hygiene and honed its material through regular appearances at the Down & Out bar.
Two digital singles, “Blak Water” and “Rearrange Me,” surfaced in late 2012, followed by the full-length CRMNL HYGNE in January 2013. Favorable notices prompted a tour that included a stop at the SXSW Music Conference that year. Upon returning, Watson stepped aside to pursue other projects and was succeeded by his longtime friend Michael Hiller.
Outside of shows and sessions, Fiore, Erickson, and Hiller shared shifts at a local pizza parlor whose proprietor supported the band. During this period they issued the live album Live at the Barn in 2013, the EP Withdrawn in 2014, and the 2018 digital single “Hardly News.” They also maintained a busy concert calendar, headlining clubs and supporting the Whigs, Twin Peaks, and Together PANGEA. The addition of bassist Cameron Ward expanded the lineup to a quartet and shifted Hiller to guitar.
Strong reviews and word-of-mouth about their energetic shows attracted the attention of Dangerbird Records, which signed the group. Working with producer Alex Newport, Criminal Hygiene tracked Run It Again; when funds ran low mid-session, the pizza-parlor owner advanced the necessary capital. Three unused songs from those sessions, along with two reworked cuts, later appeared on the 2019 Again EP.
Albums
