With the release of their album “A Flourish and a Spoil” less than a month away, Lititz band The Districts got a boost in January 2015 from “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” which featured the album’s first single, “Peaches,” on its Tumblr account.
An exclusive listen
“We’re kicking off your Tuesday with an exclusive listen to a brand new track from The Districts called ‘Peaches,'” the Tonight Show post said. “It’s off their upcoming album A Flourish and a Spoil which will be releasing February 10th on Fat Possum Records!”
The post included a SoundCloud player so visitors could stream the song for free.
The band responded on Twitter: “Hey, here’s another ‘peaches’ link! Thanks @jimmyfallon and your tumblr.”
The album
“A Flourish and a Spoil” was released February 9, 2015, in the United Kingdom and February 10 in the United States on Fat Possum Records, the Mississippi-based independent label. It was the band’s first full-length album for the label, following an earlier self-released record and an EP that had drawn attention from music blogs and critics.
Pre-orders were available on iTunes and through the record shop Rough Trade, which offered a limited run of purple vinyl LPs and a version with a bonus four-track CD of exclusive recordings.
The album was produced by John Congleton, known for his work with St. Vincent and other indie artists, and was widely reviewed by national music outlets.
From Warwick to the world
The Districts formed while its members were students at Warwick High School in Lititz. The four-member band built a following through relentless touring, playing clubs and festivals across the United States and Europe.
Their February 2015 tour kicked off in New York City and included three Pennsylvania dates, among them a February 13 show at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster, before heading overseas.
Weeks later, the band made its late-night network television debut, a performance covered separately by LititzDailyNews.com.
A tough year on the road
The band’s success came after a difficult stretch. While playing in St. Louis, the van carrying their gear was stolen from a gated lot during a performance. It was later recovered, but without the equipment. During another downtown St. Louis show, the van was broken into again and belongings were taken.
“We want nothing more than to keep coming here,” the band wrote in an open letter to the city posted on its website, “but the risks posed to our gear is something no touring independent band can afford.”
Fans contributed to a crowdfunding campaign to help replace the stolen equipment.
“A good place to grow up”
In a December 2014 interview with DIY Magazine, the band members described Lititz as “a good place to grow up.” The small borough’s music scene, Second Friday events and community venues gave the young musicians early places to perform.
For a band from a borough of about 9,000 people, a shout-out from one of the biggest names in late-night television was another sign that their music was reaching a national audience.
The district playoff picture
District Three of the PIAA covers a large swath of south-central Pennsylvania, and its playoffs bring together the top teams from several leagues. Qualifying is an achievement in itself, and seeding is based on a power-rating system that rewards wins over strong opponents.
For athletes, the district tournament is often the first time they face opponents from outside their league, with unfamiliar styles and higher stakes. Coaches emphasize preparation, scouting and staying composed in that environment.
Next steps
Qualifiers typically have only a few days to prepare between the end of league play and the start of the district tournament, so practice sessions focus on rest, health and fine-tuning.
This article was originally published in January 2015.