Heatmiser

The Profile

Heatmiser were an American indie/alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon, active from 1991 to 1996. Co-founded by Elliott Smith and Neil Gust, they released the albums Dead Air, Cop and Speeder, and the final Mic City Sons, plus the EP Yellow No. 5.

Core members included Elliott Smith (vocals, guitar), Neil Gust (vocals, guitar), Tony Lash (drums), and Brandt Peterson (bass), with Sam Coomes later taking over on bass. The band emerged from Portland’s early-90s scene and ended after three studio albums.

Two reviews trace Heatmiser’s Portland-rooted indie/alternative grit and melodic pull. Cop and Speeder (1994) gets framed as their standout burst of fuzzy, rhythmic bite. Mic City Sons (1996) is the swan song: Smith and Gust trade songs, soften edges, and let contrasts drive the record. The pieces highlight the Elliott Smith connection without calling Heatmiser a mere side project.