The United States Three

United States Three
Indianapolis, 1994-1999

From the fertile grounds of Indianapolis’ 1990s indie rock scene emerged United States Three, a band that defied easy categorization and earned a cult following for their genre-blending sound and emotionally raw performances. Anchored by the talents of Vess Ruhtenberg (guitar, bass, vocals), Mark Cutsinger (drums), and a rotating cast of music legends—including Courtney Kaiser, LonPaul Ellrich, Andy Angrick, and Mark Maher, the band carved out a space where post-punk urgency met melodic experimentation.

United States Three thrived in the spaces between—between alt-rock and art-rock, between pop hooks and noise, between Midwest humility and unfiltered ambition. Their songs crackled with tension and tenderness, touching on themes of alienation, desire, and transformation. Drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Pavement and Sebadoh, the band was always more interested in forging their own path than chasing a sound.

They were a linchpin of the Indiana music underground, sharing members and stages with bands like Antenna, The Mysteries of Life, Sardina, and The Zero Boys. Their recordings, often shaped by the hand of revered producer Paul Mahern, captured a moment in time when anything felt possible in a basement, a bar, or a borrowed studio.

Though their time together was brief, United States Three’s legacy endures through bootlegs, burned CDs, and memories traded among those who were there. For fans of fiercely independent music born in the heartland, United States Three remains a symbol of what happens when creative freedom meets fearless collaboration.