and Friday night (February 6, 2009) we'll be part of the fun. It's hard to overstate how important MRR is for the music scenes it covers, so we hope you'll come out for this good cause.
]]>This week--tonight, 27 Feb 2009--our Portland pals Defect Defect are playing at a house in West Oakland. Again, OFR will be there, but this time...to play!
The address? Ummmm...12th Street-ish? "Acts of Sedition House?" It's nestled among all the other houses where there've been shows over there the last few years. Pine St.? Wood St.? It's all a blur to me.
But we'll be there tonight, Fischer from Santa Cruz will be there, and you can be there, too. Just listen for the joyous noises emanating from one house or another. And come on in!
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and Friday night (February 6, 2009) we'll be part of the fun. It's hard to overstate how important MRR is for the music scenes it covers, so we hope you'll come out for this good cause.
]]>Back here in the Bay Area, OFR eagerly anticipates the next show, with old pals (Blonde Ambition), friends we haven't met yet (Landlord), and the intriguingly named Schlitz Claiborne. But why tell when you can show?
I've seen lots of bands at this place since they started up last summer, and it's always a great time. We're really excited to finally get our chance to play here, too. Not to mention playing a little ping-pong in the garage between bands.
Also...it will be show-organizer Julia's birthday. I can't promise cake and ice cream, but you never know.
]]>We still played, though, and have been working on some new songs. Don't believe it? Come hear for yourself at Gilman Street Saturday night, 10 Jan 2009. The lineup is as follows:
Trainwreck Riders
The Measure (NY/NJ)
Sourpatch
Kicked In
We're actually the top-billed band on Gilman's calendar page. This means low attendance is virtually guaranteed, and you'll be able to stand comfortably even in the middle of an almost certain to be sparse mosh pit.
It's the usual Gilman style: $7 admission, plus a $2 membership card (good for a year) if you don't already have one.
]]>Erick travelled to talk about his book On the Lower Frequencies and then toured quite a bit with Black Rainbow, who also have a new record out.
Next month we'll all be together again. Hopefully we'll be playing some shows right away, and there's a couple of new songs we want to record. Stay tuned!
]]>Probably on that same long-ago tour, we played in Bloomington, Indiana. I'm not sure when we'll get back there, but one of my favorite products of the Bloomington scene, Ghost Mice, are coming to Thrillhouse this Friday with some friends they made on a tour of Ireland, the Heathers. Also playing will be their old friends from San Francisco, Onion Flavored Rings.
This is probably going to be our last show for a while. Erick is headed off on another trip, possibly related to his book. No, definitely related: either he's promoting it, or recovering from it. And we thought putting out a record was hard!
Which reminds me, we still have newish records out: our epic 7" concept record, 5 billion years in the making, on Thrillhouse Records; and our split with Future Virgins on 1234Go Records. If you think you don't need the OFR/FV split on vinyl because there's a digital version floating around out there on the web, I beg to differ: I've heard the MP3s, and they're not only low-quality, but about 5% too fast. Fine if you're in a hurry, but not exactly what either band sounds like.
Eventually, we'll issue a proper CD version, and MP3s will be here for you. You miss out on the artwork, though. And there's nothing like colored vinyl.
]]>For the first time in several years, an intact OFR will be in New York on June 15, 2008. This presents the opportunity for a show, and it happens that our old pals Tulsa, on that very day, indeed have a show in Brooklyn. Et voila.
When the possibility first arose, we got excited. Now that it's on, we're really excited, and we hope to see you there!
]]>In fact, you can see the funyons today at Annie's Social Club. This show kind of brings it all together: the funyons is the direct progenitor of OFR, and the headlining band is The Unit Breed, featuring none other than Joe Demaree, who recorded the first OFR record in his San Jose garage. Showtime is 7pm, or possibly "7pm" (read 8:30pm…or 9pm?).
The July 11 show, if you're interested, is at Thrillhouse with our old friends Ghost Mice and their new friends from Ireland, The Heathers. We can hardly wait!
]]>As you may recall, Thrillhouse is located at Mission and 30th St. in San Francisco. There's a blue fire-breathing Tyrannosaurus (or is it Godzilla?) over the front door. The fun happens in the basement, around 6pm. Which might mean 7pm, but we hope not.
Also on the bill is the always exciting Blonde Ambition, and the more exciting possibilities of who else might be playing. They'll hit you up at the door for a donation, don't be a tightwad.
The synthetic onion-y snack loop theme continues with the funyons at Annie's Social Club on Sunday night, 7pm. This is the band featuring Robert from Kreamy 'Lectric Santa and Steve from OFR, the one that ultimately led to OFR's very existence, playing a somewhat rare indoor show. Usually we're found on random sidewalks playing to complete strangers. Perhaps even on Friday, around the Powell Street Muni station, about 2:30pm?
]]>The result? A couple hundred more records for sale, satisfying perhaps dozens of unfilled orders. We'll just bury the excess in the Thrillhouse basement.
To get your own copy of this vinyl--sorry, no CD release is currently planned--try the Thrillhouse website. Or drop in to the store at Mission and 30th in San Francisco.
Also check out some of the usual suspects, such as Little Type and No Idea.
]]>In the meantime, we've all stayed busy with other projects as well. On top of a thousand other things, Paul is often seen playing bass for Surrender. That is, when he's not singing Cheap Trick cover songs.
Erick has just published SCAM #6, while Soft Skull Press has published his book On the Lower Frequencies: A Secret History of the City. Look for him on his upcoming national book tour!
Steve can be found occasionally busking with Priya from Kreamy 'Lectric Santa and performing on random sidewalks or in random art galleries as part of the funyons. Avoid if you can!
]]>Shows at the Long Haul are all-ages, and a donation is usually requested (but not required) for admission.
]]>7:00-7:30 Audactity [sic?]
7:45-8:15 Pterodacdudes
8:30-9:00 Kreamy 'Lectric Santa
9:15-9:45 Onion Flavored Rings
We're pretty lucky to have a place like Thrillhouse in SF. Death to "punk time!"
]]>This sad state of affairs will soon be rectified by a show we're both playing at Thrillhouse Records on Saturday, February 16, 2008. We'll even somewhat uncharacteristically have some merch with us for your purchasing pleasure. Especially check out KLS's record, each one packaged with its own magnifying glass with which to read the fine print.
Thrillhouse is located on Mission St. near 30th St. in San Francisco. Thrillhouse shows start pretty early, 7pm or so for real, not just "punk time." Admission is free, but a donation would be nice, especially on behalf of touring band Pterodacdudes, up from SoCal.
]]>About the records, they're as follows:
1. "Another Chorus for the Hearts That Broke Before Us" - a split 7" with Future Virgins (ex-Sexy and Jack Palance Band) featuring two new songs from each band. The title is an excellent lyric from FV song "Fireships." The limited edition blue vinyl version is especially striking. Check it out at 1-2-3-4 Go! Records.
2. "Perfect Evolution." - Over 5 billion years in the making: our epic 7" concept record! Seven new songs served up with Mike Leslie's stunning artwork. Co-released with Thrillhouse Records, who may still have a few copies buried in the basement's mosh pit.
We're taking a little break now while Erick tours with Black Rainbow, but allegedly have a show coming up at Thrillhouse on February 16, 2008. More details as I get them.
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