Obits
are an American rock band formed in 2006 in Brooklyn, New York. The band members are veterans of other independent rock bands: Guitarist/vocalist Rick Froberg was previously a member of Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, and Hot Snakes, guitarist Sohrab Habibion was a member of Edsel, and drummer Scott Gursky plays in Shortstack. The band has released one single and one album, I Blame You
, with a second single scheduled for release on April 18, 2009 as part of Record Store Day.
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OBITS TICKETS
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History
Obits formed after
singer/
guitarist Rick Froberg returned to New York in 2005 following the breakup of the
Hot Snakes.
[1] In 2006 he began writing new material and rehearsing with
drummer Scott Gursky of Shortstack and guitarist Sohrab Habibion, formerly of Edsel.
They rehearsed with a third
guitar player, but instead added
bassist Greg Simpson.
Obits made their live debut on January 12, 2008 at club on New York's
Lower East Side called the Cake Shop.
A
bootleg recording of the show circulated on the
internet, and the band posted two of the songs from this recording on their
MySpace profile for listening.
The recordings caught the attention of
Sub Pop A&R representative Chris Jacobs, who invited them to perform at the label's twentieth anniversary festival in
Seattle that summer.
Obits signed to Sub Pop shortly after, but released their debut single
"One Cross Apiece" / "Put It in Writing" on their own Stint Records imprint.
The band's debut album
I Blame You
was released by Sub Pop on March 24, 2009.
Explaining the length of time between the band's formation and recording, Froberg explained that "We wanted to take a, not a relaxed approach, but we wanted to take our time. We weren't in a hurry. We didn't know what would be the result. We didn't know if we were going to put records out. We just wanted to make something happen. We're pleased with what's gone on so far. It's been pretty cool. We try to keep things slow-paced."
[4] Critical reception to the album was generally positive, with
Allmusic reviewer Mark Deming stating that "if
I Blame You
isn't going redefine the way we look at rock & roll, it confirms that the word on these guys wasn't wrong — the Obits are a very good band", but also noting that "the Obits might just have the stuff to save rock & roll, or at least keep it off life support for a while, but as good as
I Blame You
may be, they're going to have to get their songwriting chops in order before they can really finish the job."
Jason Crock of
Pitchfork Media compared the album to Froberg's past bands, stating that "while there's evidence of growth here, there's not enough change to alienate fans. If they can appreciate a little less mania and a little more melody,
I Blame You
will be a comfortable fit" and calling it "probably Froberg's most melodic and diverse record."
[5]
A second single,
"I Can't Lose" / "Military Madness", is scheduled to be released on April 18, 2009 in conjunction with the
Record Store Day event.
[6] Obits are scheduled to tour
North America's east coast in April and west coast in May.
[7] Froberg hopes that, unlike his previous bands, Obits will have more longevity: "Since we're getting older maybe we can grow old into this music. We'll see."
[8]
Musical style
Obits' music is a blend of
indie rock and
garage punk. Mark Deming of
Allmusic describes their sound as "taut, straightforward rock & roll with sharply interwoven guitar lines, muscular rhythms, and a melodic sense that splits the difference between indie rock and garage-influenced punk":
Froberg and Habibion make an impressive tag-team combo on guitars, and their interwoven six-string patterns crackle with energy as they bounce thick, bluesy chording off lean, angular lines like a steak meeting a sharp knife. Bassist Greg Simpson and drummer Gursky are just the right rhythm section for this band, locking the songs into place with taut efficiency while leaving room to thoughtfully fill up the spaces when need be. Put 'em together and they run like a top, laying out music with the clean lines of the Ventures and the pure mania of Radio Birdman.
Jason Crock of
Pitchfork Media describes the band's sound as "dueling guitars that have refined the echo and twang of surf and rockabilly into a sharp edge, basslines that are less walking than swaggering, drums too respectful and too evil for elaborate fills."
Members
- Rick Froberg – guitar, vocals
- Scott Gursky – drum kit
- Sohrab Habibion – guitar, vocals
- Greg Simpson – bass guitar
Discography
Albums
Singles
- "One Cross Apiece" / "Put It in Writing" (2008)
- "I Can't Lose" / "Military Madness" (2009)
References
- Obits biography
- Review: ''I Blame You''
- Obits: Cake Shop
- Pushing Forward Back
- Review: ''I Blame You''
- Record Store Day -- Sub Pop Style
- Upcoming Shows
- Obits are Reborn