Formed in 1995, the original members were singer/guitarist and Seattle native, John Atkins from Hush Harbor and drummer Polly Johnson from Bell Jar. The band released two 7" records, the full-length album Salt Sinks, Sugar Floats and the EP We’re Solids in quick succession. With just two members 764-HERO were able to create a national following with their unique sound and powerful live shows.
The two members released their debut album Salt Sinks Sugar Floats in 1996. Known locally for their powerful live preformances the duo quickly garnered a national audience. For their second full length album, Get Here And Stay, James Bertram,(Lync, Red Stars Theory) played bass guitar. The third album, Weekends of Sound (considered by many to be the band's swan song) included Bertram as well, and the band also added a keyboard player. Bertram left soon after, but was replaced by another bassist, and the band remained a four-member act.
In 1998, the band was set to perform live on the radio and thought they'd mix it up a bit. They called their old friend James Bertram from Red Stars Theory (ex-Lync and Beck) and asked him to play bass. The session went so well they decided to make it permanent. With the new line up in place they recorded "Get Here and Stay". While "Salt Sinks" was undoubtedly a great record, "Get Here and Stay" was in a whole other realm, a fully realized sound with amazing songwriting and outstanding musicianship.
After several full tours and the "Whenever You See Fit" EP with Modest Mouse, the band got to work on "Weekends of Sound". Recorded in early 2000 with Phil Ek (who also produced "Get Here and Stay" as well as most of Built to Spill's releases) the band hasn't strayed to far from the sounds of "Get Here and Stay".
Following the release of "Weekends" the band embarked on a tour of the U.S. with pals Modest Mouse. Shortly after the tour, citing creative differences, James Bertram parted ways with 764-HERO. But it didn't take long before Robin P. stepped in to strap on the four stringed beast and bring 764 back up to speed. John and Polly met Robin while he played second guitar for Modest Mouse on tour. He started as a temporary replacement so the band could tour but quickly turned into a permanent member of the band.
Around 2001, John Atkins got together with friend Joe Plummer to release songs he felt woudn't fit under the 764-Hero title, and thusly, The Magic Magicians were born. In 2001, they released their debut album "Girls".
The band moved over to Tiger Style for their latest release "Nobody Knows This is Everywhere" and they headed out on tour in March 2002.
The band broke up in 2002
The Magic Magicians have continued on, though, with the latest release being their self-titled album in 2003.
Photographic Evidence
764-HERO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your eyes wiped like the inside of the church
What are we doing?
Everything's gonna be fine
Hold on to your new frame of mind
Take a new sin from the dollarbin
With a gate-crashed sigh of relief
Everything's gonna be fine
Hold on cos it's long gone with the new heart, with the same song
And the photographic evidence takes its time
Waiting for the fox to trip the line
And you want to take a picture but you think "I'll suck it more"
Waiting for the extras at the porch
Take heed is the new breed
With the tongues tied in bows for effect
What are we doing?
Everything's gonna be fine
Hold on cos it's long gone with the new heart, with the same song
And the photographic evidence takes its time
Waiting for the fox to trip the line
And you want to take a picture but you think "I'll suck it more"
Waiting for the extras at the porch
You take the turns you wanted
And you toggle it back again
Rolled up your engagements
You take it through all the seasons
That develop in the dark
Rolled up your engagements
Hold on to the new wrong
With your eyes wiped like the inside of the hearse
What are you doing?
Everything's gonna be fine
Hold on cos it's long gone with the new heart, with the same song
And the photographic evidence takes its time
Waiting for the fox to trip the line
You want to take a picture but you think "I'll suck it more"
Waiting for the extras at the porch
The lyrics of "Photographic Evidence" by 764-HERO explore themes of confusion, uncertainty, and the passing of time. The song begins with the line "Hold on to the new wrong," indicating that the singer is acutely aware of being stuck in a situation that feels wrong, but still clings to it. The second line, "With your eyes wiped like the inside of the church," hints at the act of shedding tears or wiping away confusion, similar to how one would wipe away tears while praying in a church.
The lyrics go on to describe finding solace in simple pleasures like "taking a new sin from the dollarbin," but also acknowledges that while these small pleasures may provide temporary relief, they are not a cure. The line "waiting for the fox to trip the line" implies that the singer is waiting for something significant to happen, perhaps to give them a reason to move on from their current state.
Throughout the rest of the song, the singer speaks about taking turns and making decisions that feel right at the moment, but then doubting their choices soon after. The repeated refrain of "everything's gonna be fine" reads as a comforting affirmation, but as the song progresses, it feels more and more like an attempt to persuade oneself that everything will indeed be fine.
Overall, "Photographic Evidence" is a song about feeling lost and disoriented, but still trying to hold on to hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold on to the new wrong
Keep hold of your mistakes and bad decisions, even if they are new and unfamiliar
With your eyes wiped like the inside of the church
Wipe away any tears or doubts, like one might clean a church window
What are we doing?
Questioning our actions and decisions
Everything's gonna be fine
Trying to reassure ourselves that everything will work out in the end
Hold on to your new frame of mind
Keep your newfound perspective or mindset, even if it conflicts with previous views
Take a new sin from the dollarbin
Choosing a cheap, insignificant way to indulge in temptation or wrongdoing
With a gate-crashed sigh of relief
Feeling relief that we were able to indulge in our temptation without getting caught or punished
And the photographic evidence takes its time
The truth won't reveal itself immediately, instead it will take time to unfold
Waiting for the fox to trip the line
Waiting for the person who is deceitful or sly to slip up and reveal their true nature
And you want to take a picture but you think 'I'll suck it more'
Hesitation to expose the truth, even though we want to reveal it, because it may cause more harm
Waiting for the extras at the porch
Hoping for additional information or evidence to come to light
Take heed is the new breed
Be cautious and aware of the new generation/way of thinking
With the tongues tied in bows for effect
Speaking eloquently and purposefully to create an impact or effect
You take the turns you wanted
Making the choices and decisions that you desired
And you toggle it back again
Going back and forth between different choices, unable to make or stick to a decision
Rolled up your engagements
Ignoring or abandoning your commitments and responsibilities
You take it through all the seasons
Sustaining or confronting the consequences of your actions through different phases and challenges
That develop in the dark
The consequences of our actions may not be immediately visible or known, but they will eventually 'develop'
With your eyes wiped like the inside of the hearse
Wiping away tears or doubt, but this time in a situation of death and mourning
What are you doing?
Questioning your individual actions and decisions
Waiting for the extras at the porch
Still hoping for additional information or evidence to be revealed
Contributed by Annabelle B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.