Aberdeen City (band)
| Company type | Indie/alternative rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Aberdeen City was an indie/alternative rock ensemble based in Boston, featuring Ryan Heller on guitar, Chris McLaughlin handling guitar and vocals, Rob McCaffrey on drums, and Brad Parker covering bass and vocals. The group originated at Boston College, with McCaffrey, Heller, and Parker all hailing from the same neighborhood in Chicago.
Their album, The Freezing Atlantic (released through Dovecote/Red Ink), was recognized as the best new album by the WFNX Boston Phoenix Best Music Poll in 2006. That year, it also secured the Local Album of the Year title at the Boston Music Awards, where the band additionally received the Best Local Rock Act honor. Prior to the album’s nationwide launch, their initial single, "God is Going To Get Sick of Me," was awarded Local Song of the Year. Their sophomore record featured a darker tone and was produced by Nic Hard (The Church, The Bravery) alongside Steve Lillywhite (U2, Morrissey, Talking Heads). Aberdeen City embarked on national tours supporting acts such as Electric Six, The Go! Team, Rasputina, We Are Scientists, and The Hold Steady. After completing these tours, their contract with Sony was terminated.
Work on a subsequent album was put on hold when the band joined forces with Amanda Palmer (The Dresden Dolls) for three sold-out performances in Boston, Hoboken, and New York City. Plans to record new material from this collaboration have not resulted in any official releases.
In 2008, speculation about the band's breakup intensified following Ryan Heller's departure to pursue graduate studies in New York. Although no formal announcement confirmed their disbandment at that time, their official website ceased updates after 2009. According to Brad Parker’s personal site, Aberdeen City officially ended activities that same year.
Discography
- Studio albums
- 2003: We Learned By Watching (independently released)
- 2005: The Freezing Atlantic (Dovecote), reissued in 2006 via Red Ink / Columbia