Karate (band) explained

Karate
Origin:Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Website:karateallston.bandcamp.com
Current Members:Geoff Farina
Eamonn Vitt
Gavin McCarthy
Jeff Goddard

Karate is an American band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy, with Jeff Goddard joining in 1995. The band split up in 2005 before reuniting in 2022.

The band is characterized by fusion of indie rock, emo, post-hardcore, post-rock and jazz, with the jazz influence becoming more dominant in later releases.[1] In particular, Farina has cited Minutemen, Beefeater, and McCoy Tyner as major influences on their sound.[2]

History

In 1993, Karate was formed by Geoff Farina (vocals, guitar), Eamonn Vitt (bass) and Gavin McCarthy (drums). In 1995, Jeff Goddard joined the band as bass player, and Vitt moved to second guitar.

Vitt departed Karate to pursue a medical career in 1997.[3]

Their music during their original run was primarily released on Southern Records.[4]

Breakup and post-breakup projects

Farina developed hearing problems due to twelve years of performance with Karate and was forced to disband the group in July 2005. Disbanding with fanfare, the group had recorded six studio albums and had almost seven hundred performances in twenty countries.[5] Their final show was played in Rome, Italy, on July 10, 2005.

In 2007, the former band members released the live album 595.[6] It is a recording of the band's 595th performance, on May 5, 2003 at Stuk, Leuven, Belgium. The recording was sent to them by a sound technician, and Karate were so astonished by the quality they decided to release it as an official live album.[7] Karate's perfectionism and attention to detail is well known among the music scene, which played a part in the naming of the album. It was originally to be called 594. However, McCarthy discovered a flyer for a forgotten early show, so the band quickly changed the title to 595.

Goddard played in the band Jones Very along with Vic Bondi and Jamie Van Bramer.[8] [9] In 2005, Goddard played bass on the Chris Brokaw album Incredible Love.[10]

Farina developed a solo career, releasing three albums and a number of EPs.[11] [12] He also worked with Chris Brokaw, releasing work as Geoff Farina & Chris Brokaw.[13]

McCarthy has been part of a number of bands including E, which released albums in 2016 and 2018.[14] [15]

Reissues and reunion

In 2021, The Numero Group announced they would be reissuing the band's music after long periods of their music being unavailable due to Southern not allowing the band to. The first releases to be reissued was the band's first two albums and first single.[16]

In 2022, Stereogum reported that the band would reunite for their first tour in 17 years.[17] It was announced in November that the band would play Primavera Sound festival in 2023.[18]

On September 15, 2023, the Numero Group released Complete Studio Recordings, compiling their six studio albums, the Cancel/Sing and In The Fish Tank EPs, singles, and split 7"s. The 69 tracks were split across eight CDs. The box set included an 80-page book by Leor Galil containing essays and photographs.[19]

On January 7, 2024, Numero Group posted on Twitter teasing new music for the band, featuring a short video of the members at the end of what they said was the "first Karate session in 20 years".[20] Numero would later mention that a "new Karate record [is] currently in the works".[21] The album was formally announced with the name Make It Fit with a release date of October 18, along with the Defendants b/w Silence, Sound single released on July 25.[22]

Influences

The band has said in interviews that their combination of indie rock and jazz came from studying music theory in college. Farina's guitar playing was influenced by bands like The Minutemen and Beefeater.[23]

Discography

Albums

Live albums

Singles & EPs

Compilations

Compilation appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Karate Biography & History. May 8, 2021. AllMusic. en.
  2. Web site: Strano Podcast . November 19, 2020 . Strano podcast [Ep.49] - Geoff Farina (Karate, Exit Verse, Glorytellers) ]. August 29, 2023 . YouTube.
  3. Web site: Fiander. Matthew. Karate: Five-Ninety-Five < PopMatters. June 23, 2010. Popmatters.com.
  4. Web site: February 28, 2005. SOUTHERN karate. May 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20050228084734/http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/. February 28, 2005.
  5. Web site: mark powell . karate > biography . Southern . June 23, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090307192643/http://www.southern.net/southern/band/KARAT/biog.php . March 7, 2009 .
  6. Web site: 2007-10-24 . SOUTHERN karate > 595 . 2023-12-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071024111714/http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/28124.php . October 24, 2007 .
  7. Web site: January 9, 2008. Album Reviews: Karate: 595. June 23, 2010. Pitchfork.
  8. Web site: Jeff Goddard. May 8, 2021. Discogs. en.
  9. Web site: March 21, 2013. ~~jeff goddard~~bio~~. May 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20130321231020/http://www.jeffgoddard.org/bio/index.php. March 21, 2013.
  10. Web site: March 21, 2013. ~~jeff goddard~~discography~~. May 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20130321231027/http://www.jeffgoddard.org/disco/index.php. March 21, 2013.
  11. Web site: May 2021. Geoff Farina Discography. AllMusic.
  12. Web site: Hammer and Spade, by Geoff Farina. May 8, 2021. Geoff Farina.
  13. Web site: The Boarder's Door, by Chris Brokaw & Geoff Farina. May 8, 2021. Chris Brokaw & Geoff Farina.
  14. Web site: E Biography & History. May 8, 2021. AllMusic. en.
  15. Web site: Home BUSINESS NAME. May 8, 2021. gavinmccarthy. en.
  16. Web site: In Place Of Real Insight, by Karate. May 8, 2021. Karate.
  17. Web site: Karate Announce 2022 Tour, by Chris Deville . }
  18. Web site: November 29, 2022 . Primavera Sound 2023 Lineup Has Blur, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, & More . December 4, 2022 . Stereogum . en.
  19. Web site: https://twitter.com/numerogroup/status/1702691238736973957?s=20 . 2023-12-11 . X (formerly Twitter) . en.
  20. Web site: Group . Numero . January 7, 2023 . numerogroup on X: "First Karate session in 20 years is in the books." . January 7, 2023 . Twitter.
  21. Web site: Facebook . 2024-04-29 . www.facebook.com.
  22. Web site: 2024-07-25 . Karate Announce First New Album In 20 Years . 2024-07-26 . Stereogum . en.
  23. Web site: Adams . Gregory . 2021-04-29 . Karate's Geoff Farina: "I have an ongoing identity crisis – every six months I'm enamored with some other style of guitar playing" . 2024-02-15 . guitarworld . en . The Minutemen were a huge influence on me when I was young; I still love those records. Punk wasn’t a distinct style [to me]; it was more people who didn’t fit in anywhere because they mixed styles... the Minutemen really embodied that. There was also a band from D.C. called Beefeater that was very strange – they had a heavy metal guitar player, [and] one of my favorite bass players from D.C., Dug Birdzell, who played slap bass..

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