Milwaukee

I like it

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 | musiX | No Comments

I was a full-on groupie of the band Far about 10 years ago. The Sacto four-piece is often cited, along with bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, as an influence on more than a decade’s worth of horrible music, summed up in three little letters: E-M-O. I know … kinda makes you want to get some pals together, knock down a few sixers of PBR and grab the torches and pitchforks from the closet (right next to the umbrellas and scarves) and search for their house. Ya with me?!

But the members of Far should not be held accountable, for they really are much more than a thin, and I mean thin, group of kids with funny hair who sing about their girlfriends. I first saw Far perform when they opened for Helmet at Sacramento’s El Dorado Saloon in 1996. It was right around the release of the band’s first major-label release Tin Cans With Strings to You. It blew me away. I loved the idea of being able to get aggression out, without the fear of some yolked-out speed freak breaking your collar bone just for poops and chortles. Two years later the band released Water & Solutions, which is one of those records that includes not a single dud. I saw them three or four more times that year.

Far has been inactive since 1999, while the members have gone on to various projects. Vocalist Jonah Matranga continued on in his project onelinedrawing, while guitarist Shaun Lopez fronted The Revolution Smile and bassist John Gutenberger started pop bands like Milwaukee and Two Sheds. Why in Gawd’s name, you ask, am I prattling on about a band that is long gone … and responsible for starting emo? Well, after years of teasing, the members of Far are setting off to play some UK dates starting in November, and it looks like the band will also play a couple of shows right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. in La La Land under the moniker Hot Little Pony (listen to the band’s cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” … yes, that Ginuwine). Look for more soon as the band will relaunch its Web site Oct. 14.

Needless to say I am as excited as one of those kids with the funny hair who sings about their girlfriends. And I don’t think I’m alone. Listen and love this. “I Like It” from Water & Solutions.

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