The Hardship Post

The Hardship Post
Also known asThe New Hardship Post[1]
OriginSt. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
GenresIndie rock, Grunge
Years active1992 – 1997
LabelsSub Pop
Murderecords
Cinnamon Toast Records
Mag Wheel Records
Past membersSebastian Lippa
Mike Pick
Matt Clarke
Alyson MacLeod
Mike Kean

The Hardship Post was a Canadian alternative rock band that formed in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1992. The band moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, during the Halifax Pop Explosion of the early 1990s.[2]

The band originally consisted of vocalist and guitarist Sebastian Lippa, bassist Mike Kean and drummer Matt Clarke.[3] Initially signed to Murderecords,[4] they released the EPs Mood Ring and Hack in 1993, and undertook their first cross-Canada tour to support the recordings.[5] Mike Pick would replace Kean on bass in mid-1993.

In late 1994, they signed to Sub Pop,[6] which released their full-length album Somebody Spoke in 1995.[7] Around that time Clarke left the band, and was replaced by Alyson MacLeod of Jale.[8] This formation of the band would be known as "The New Hardship Post", which released one single on Squirtgun Records, in 1996.,[9] as well as one track on the various artists compilation Pet-kout-koy-ek: Songs For A River, also in 1996.[10]

Hardship Post won as Best Alternative Band at the 1994 East Coast Music Awards,[11] and were nominated for the same award in 1996.[12] At the Juno Awards of 1996, Somebody Spoke was a nominee for Best Alternative Album.[13]

Prior to the groups dissolution in 1997, the band recorded a second album for Sub Pop in 1996. It was recorded on 4-track in their rehearsal space. At that time, they had changed their name to The New Hardship Post; the lineup consisted of Sebastian Lippa, Alyson MacLeod, and Mike Pick. This album has never been released, or leaked.[14]

The band broke up in 1997.[15]

  1. ^ https://www.discogs.com/artist/2444567-The-New-Hardship-Post [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Hardship Post delivers lean sound". Ottawa Citizen, June 8, 1995.
  3. ^ "Grungy Newfoundland trio poised to steal Christmas". Toronto Star, December 16, 1993.
  4. ^ "Sloan tucks Thrush Hermit under wing". Ottawa Citizen, September 2, 1993.
  5. ^ "The Rock is a hard place for bands like Hardship Post; But young rockers still call Newfoundland home". Montreal Gazette, August 12, 1993.
  6. ^ "Halifax new hothouse for hip bands". Ottawa Citizen, September 30, 1993.
  7. ^ "The Hardship begins: The Newfoundland trio in The Hardship Post have finished thinking about their future. Now, they're living it." Halifax Daily News, June 11, 1995.
  8. ^ "Crime seems to pay -- at least when it comes to copyrights". Halifax Daily News, August 18, 1995.
  9. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/3147580-The-New-Hardship-Post-No-Time [bare URL]
  10. ^ https://www.discogs.com/release/3656310-Various-Pet-kout-koy-ek-Songs-For-A-River [bare URL]
  11. ^ "Rankins dominate awards". Montreal Gazette, February 14, 1994.
  12. ^ "Nominees for the East Coast Music Awards". The Globe and Mail, February 8, 1996.
  13. ^ "Cheers and jeers for Juno nominees". Edmonton Journal, February 1, 1996.
  14. ^ Sebastian Lippa interview; Let It All Fall, p.242, Mike Heffernan, 2023
  15. ^ "Lippa abandons rock with `cathartic' show". Halifax Daily News, July 31, 1997.