Hotels

Originating from Seattle, Washington, The Hotels bear no connection to the Alabama pop/rock ensemble that operated under a comparable name throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Established during the mid-2000s, the ensemble draws upon an eclectic range of inspirations that includes Devo, Joy Division, the Cocteau Twins, Kraftwerk, the Pixies, Stereolab, This Mortal Coil, M83, Claude Debussy, and the Yellow Magic Orchestra. These sources shape a sound blending power pop with garage hard rock, surf music, and electronics, while the outfit sustains two separate lineups—one anchored in the Pacific Northwest and the other in New York City—each directed by Blake Madden. Their catalog features the 2005 release Thank You for Choosing together with Where Hearts Go Broke, which appeared in 2009. Members active across both coasts comprise Madden, Max Wood, Brendan Malec, Kyle Frankiewich, Rich Bennett, and Rich Spitzer.