RIP Karate 1993-2005
Yes, it's true. One of the most innovative indie rock bands of the last decade has decided to call it quits. I was first introduced to Karate a few years ago by a friend of mine. They effectively melded indie rock with jazz, blues, and the plantive (but poetic) vocals of Geoff Farina. The following is taken from Geoff's offical website.
"Karate has disbanded after 12 wonderful years of making music together. We played our last show in Rome on July 10th, 2005. I could no longer continue with the band for a number of personal reasons, the most important of which is that I have developed hearing problems from many years of dangerously loud stage sound. After seeing a hearing specialist and attempting to continue working with Karate, it quickly became clear that I can no longer play at the high stage volume that Karate requires. Over the next year I will continue working with my other various bands and projects, and I will also start working on a new band with a different instrumentation and stage setup that allows me to continue performing the songs that I love to write and sing. Of course Gavin and Jeff will also continue to make great music, and we hope you will all continue listening!"
I am amazed that more bands don't call it quits for reasons similar to this. I only played in a loud rock band for a few years and still I notice some hearing loss. Either musicians learn to compensate and "deal" with it or they just ignore it.
So for the first time ever (or at least since the first post) in the short existence of this blog, I am actually posting a song related to what has been posted. But either way, I think Geoff Farina said it best when he sang, "If Crass called the Clash, 'the Cash', then my stash would make them laugh." So true.
MP3 | Karate - With Age Pockets
MP3 | Chin Up Chin Up - Virginia Don't Drown We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers
Thursday, July 28, 2005
4 Comments ↓
I can't believe they are splitting!
I guess all good things must come to an end.
I, too, have hearing loss. But it's not that bad.
I'm so bummed about this news. Why must you bring a brother down so?
Anyway, thanks for keeping me up to date.
I'm not familiar with the band (but will soon become so), but that sucks. That is a rough condition. I have some bad hearing from my band days, as do some other big-time musicians.
Big-shot Jazz bassist Charlie Haden has a degenerative hearing condition that affects his ability to play some concerts. He needs to put a noise-reducing plexiglass wall between him and the drummer to minimize the on-stage ambience.
Didn't Charlie Haden play extensively with Ornette Coleman? Both are amazing.
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