Smith Westerns

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title: "Smith Westerns" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["garage-rock-groups-from-illinois", "american-glam-rock-musical-groups", "indie-rock-musical-groups-from-illinois", "musical-groups-established-in-2007", "american-musical-quartets", "musical-groups-from-chicago", "fat-possum-records-artists", "mom-+-pop-music-artists", "2007-establishments-in-illinois"] description: "American indie rock band" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Westerns" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American indie rock band ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Smith Westerns
image	Smith Westerns 2011.jpg
landscape	yes
caption	Smith Westerns performing at Belly Up Aspen in 2011.
background	group_or_band
origin	Chicago, Illinois, United States
genre
years_active	2007–2014
associated_acts	Whitney, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen
label
website
past_members	Cullen Omori
Cameron Omori
Max Kakacek
Julien Ehrlich
Hal James
::

| name = Smith Westerns | image = Smith Westerns 2011.jpg | landscape = yes | caption = Smith Westerns performing at Belly Up Aspen in 2011. | background = group_or_band | origin = Chicago, Illinois, United States | genre = | years_active = 2007–2014 | associated_acts = Whitney, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Foxygen | label = | website = | past_members = Cullen Omori Cameron Omori Max Kakacek Julien Ehrlich Hal James

Smith Westerns were an American indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois, United States, composed of brothers Cullen and Cameron Omori, Max Kakacek, Julien Ehrlich and Hal James. Their musical influences included David Bowie, T. Rex and Oasis.

History

''Smith Westerns'' (2009)

Their self-titled debut album was released on HoZac Records on June 5, 2009. Most of the album was recorded throughout the winter and early spring in Max Kakacek's basement.

''Dye It Blonde'' (2011)

They released a new single, "Weekend", on November 4, 2010, from their album Dye It Blonde, which was released on January 18, 2011.

''Soft Will'' (2013)

The band signed to Mom + Pop Music on March 5, 2013, and released Soft Will on June 25, 2013, following up from their 2011 LP, Dye It Blonde. The first single off the album, "Varsity," was released March 6, 2013. The album has received mostly positive reviews upon release.

Later work and breakup

On December 13, 2014, the band announced that they would go on an indefinite hiatus. They later confirmed that they were permanently breaking up.

Since the breakup, Cullen Omori began a solo career, signing to Sub Pop Records, while Max Kakacek, Julien Ehrlich, and touring keyboardist Ziyad Asrar formed the band Whitney.

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Title | Details | Peak chart positions | US | US Indie | US Alt | US Rock | US Heat | Smith Westerns | Dye It Blonde | Soft Will | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | 114 | 18 | 20 | 29 | 1 | | | | | | | | 194 | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | "—" denotes releases that did not chart | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Singles

::data[format=table]

Year	Single	Album	"Weekend"	"Varsity"
2010	Dye It Blonde
2013	Soft Will
::

References

References

1. Mehr, Bob. (18 June 2009). "Big Kids | Music Column". Chicago Reader.
2. (4 August 2009). "Rising: Smith Westerns". [[Pitchfork Media]].
3. (8 October 2010). "Smith Westerns Talk Their New Brit Pop Influenced LP". [[Pitchfork Media]].
4. (2009-10-16). "Smith Westerns LP Out Now on HoZac - MySpace-blog | van The Smith Westerns".
5. "Pitchfork: The Playlist: Smith Westerns - "Weekend"". [[Pitchfork Media]].
6. "Smith Westerns Sign to Mom+Pop, Announce New Album, Share First Single | Mom + Pop Music | Independent Record Label".
7. Minsker, Evan. (6 March 2013). "Smith Westerns Announce New Album Soft Will, Share New Track "Varsity"". Pitchfork Media.
8. (13 December 2014). "Smith Westerns Announce Indefinite Hiatus". Pitchfork Media.
9. (19 December 2014). "Smith Westerns Confirm Breakup - Pitchfork".
10. (7 January 2016). "Smith Westerns' Cullen Omori Details Debut Solo Album New Misery, Shares "Cinnamon" Video - Pitchfork".
11. (June 2, 2015). "Members of Smith Westerns, Touching Voids form Whitney, share 'No Matter Where You Go'".
12. "Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200".
13. "Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Independent Albums".
14. "Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Albums".
15. "Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Rock Albums".
16. "Smith Westerns Album & Song Chart History - Heatseekers Albums".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::