A band that got its start in the Warwick School District reached a national audience in February 2015.
The Districts, a rock group formed by Warwick High School students, made their first U.S. television appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers” on Feb. 11, 2015. The show aired at 12:35 a.m., giving hometown fans a reason to stay up late, or to catch the performance online the next day.
The news breaks
The band shared the news with fans on Twitter while on tour in Europe.
“So excited to tell you all we will be playing on @LateNightSeth on 2/11!” the band posted.
The appearance came as the group prepared to release its second full-length album, “A Flourish and a Spoil,” in the United States on Feb. 10, 2015, through Fat Possum Records, the Mississippi-based independent label known for championing blues and indie rock artists.
A boost from Jimmy Fallon
Weeks before the Meyers appearance, The Districts got a nod from another late-night host. Jimmy Fallon of “The Tonight Show” featured the band’s single “Peaches” on his Tumblr page.
“We’re kicking off your Tuesday with an exclusive listen to a brand new track from The Districts called ‘Peaches,'” Fallon’s post read, adding that it came from the band’s upcoming album.
The album was sold through iTunes and Rough Trade, which offered a limited run of purple vinyl LPs and a version with a bonus CD of unreleased recordings.
From Lititz to the world
The Districts formed in 2009 when its members were students in Lititz. Their mix of raw, bluesy rock and heartfelt vocals quickly drew attention beyond Lancaster County. Videos of the band playing in the area spread online, and they signed with Fat Possum while still young, releasing a self-titled EP in 2014.
The band toured widely in the United States and Europe, playing major festivals and earning praise from music critics for its energetic live shows. Several members moved to Philadelphia, a city with a thriving indie music scene, as their career grew.
“A Flourish and a Spoil,” produced by John Congleton, who has worked with artists such as St. Vincent, received positive reviews and introduced the band to a wider audience.
A proud moment for Warwick
For many in Lititz, seeing local musicians on national television was a point of pride. The town has a strong music culture, from school band and choir programs to the live music industry anchored by Rock Lititz, the production campus that builds stages and equipment for some of the world’s biggest tours.
The Districts’ success showed young musicians in the area that a career in music could start in their own hometown.
Early recordings
Before signing with Fat Possum, the band self-released music, including the 2012 album “Telephone,” and built a following by playing local venues and house shows around Lancaster County and beyond.
What came next
The Districts continued to release music after the 2015 album, including “Popular Manipulations” (2017), “You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere” (2020) and “Great American Painting” (2023), and they have continued to tour internationally.
Their story remains one of the best-known examples of a band emerging from a small Pennsylvania town to the national stage.
Watching late-night
Late-night television appearances have long been an important milestone for emerging bands, often serving as their first exposure to millions of viewers. For a young group touring on its second album, a slot on “Late Night” was a sign the music industry was taking notice.
Fans who missed the broadcast could watch the performance online, where NBC posted clips the following day.
This article was originally published in February 2015 and has been updated with background on the band’s later releases.