NATIONAL ANTHEM (Of Portland)

National Anthem (Of Portland) ended in 2002, so does not have a Twitter or Instagram presence. To verify, contact Pete Ficht at pficht@gmail.com. Thanks!

After the break-up of the The State Flowers in 1999, Pete Ficht played some acoustic shows in Portland, opening for Calexico at Satyricon, playing with Colin Meloy (pre-The Decemberists) at the Laurelthirst (including a duet on Big Star’s “Thirteen”), and was included in a “Songwriters in the Round” performance with Luther Russell, Willy Vlautin, and Sean Croghan.

Ficht then formed the band National Anthem (Of Portland) to play quieter acoustic music, but with a very unique line-up. He sang and played acoustic guitar, with Rob Scrivner on snare drum and backing vocals. Later they added Michael Lambright on accordion and Christian Waddlington on violin. The band recorded a demo in 2002, record by Scrivner on 4-track cassette. The recordings were eventually released in 2023 as "If We're Lost Can We Follow You Home?".

Bonus tracks included an early version of "Lunchbox", which would later appear on the self-tilted Wild Bells album. "Glow" was recorded with Daniel Riddle in 2000, when Ficht was a member of his band King Black Acid.

National Anthem (Of Portland) played the inaugural MusicFestNW in Portland in 2001.