What's so hot about The Sofa Lords?
The Sofa Lords are a welcome departure from major label drivel. They took modern Americana song writing and transported it back twenty years for an injection of catchiness that only the 80’s could provide. They then returned it to the 21st century to be properly rendered and recorded by a mature band, relaxed enough to make it sound easy.
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Epicenter Supplies, LLC Attn: Sofa Lords 384 Wallis St #2 Eugene, OR 97402 (541)684-0717 (541)338-9050 Fax
Born in Arlington, Virginia where he was nourished on a healthy diet of rib-sticking American music. At age 8 he was blown away watching Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs on television, and he became a child acoustic guitar player.
The young man went West to play acoustic music with the Ball Taylor Band, featuring his brother Thom and musical partner Rick Taylor. At that point, he gravitated to bass guitar as his primary professional instrument. He soon hooked up with Louis Biancaniello to form Bay Area group Paris. They recorded extensively at The Record Plant in Sausalito and eventually signed to Bill Graham Management. From there, his resume swelled:
-A variety of journeyman side gigs with Marty Balin, Sylvester and Buddy Miles. - Partnered with Marty Atkinson and Scott Smith to form Cactus Choir. -Signed with and recorded for Atlantic Records, Curb/Universal Music, Curb Records and EMI Music Publishing.
"Currently," Cal says, "I am delighted to be working with The Sofa Lords. I have been fans of each member throughout most of my musical life and it is a pure pleasure interpreting these songs together."
As a side note, Chris calls Cal "golden ears", a term of endearment that is reserved for when the mix turns out "oh so good".
The Kid at Heart is a native of the S.F. Bay Area, where he studied piano since age seven. Later on, he added guitar and sax to his talents and eventually graduated from UCLA with a degree music composition.
He was a Founding Brother of the seminal LA street band, the Roto Rooter Goodtime Christmas Band. RRGSB was played extensively on Dr. Demento's syndicated radio show, and signed with Vanguard Records.
The pro credentials:
-Signed to RCA records '83-85 releasing Panorama View an Vanishing Point II. -Has songs in major motion pictures and TV. -Signed to Atlantic Records '86-88, releasing Mere Mortals. -In '94 released independent CD, Circus Maximus, under the name "The Family Pets". -Founding Father of infamous S.F. Party band, the Cheeseballs from '94 to 2000. Currently staff composer at a company specializing in sound and music for toys.
" I was coerced at gunpoint to join Sofa Lords March of 2000."
Baxter's oldest daughter Allison is the guitarist in the pretty-darn-internationally-well-known rock band, the Donnas.
(The cow says, "MOOOoooooo")
Baxter says: "Some toys I've worked on are the Pixter line and the 'Sparkling Symphony' items from Fisher-Price, 'Sleep and snore Pooh', 'Hokey Pokey Elmo,' Tummy Time Gym for Hasbro. AND I'm the new voice of Farmer Joe in the new generation of See and Say items for Fisher-Price Friends."
Baxter also invented a new term which caused quite a stir at it's first use. "I recently googled myself for the first time in a long time. If your interested, there's more stuff out there on me."
The term "googling oneself" is sure to make the new addition of Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
Q: What happened to the boys from Giraffe (that innovative mid 80’s Prog-Pop band with the late Kevin Gilbert)?
A: Well, that unmistakable rhythm section still has the chemistry. Read on:
"Since I made the decision to quit playing in bands in 1985, this is only the 4th band I have been in, yet another project that has spun out of control. Of course I held down bottom end of Giraffe with Chris B. And I formed Cactus Choir with Cal and Baxter. But Sofa Lords started out casually, as a handful of tunes to break in Chris's ADAT studio. It was quaint little home project, but at some point he went Protools on us. Then he went full blown TDM on us. Then he acquired the best mics and preamps on the planet. Then... well, it's still going on...so I'll leave it at that for now.
I knew that Chris and I could pull some things off by ourselves, but two of the most talented guys I know, Cal & Baxter, were getting married again and having kids again, and I knew they would need a way out of the house from time to time. So I made the phone calls and hooked them in.
I have enjoyed our close-quarter study in audio craftsmanship. I look forward to more of the same. I certainly hope folks enjoy the tunes as much as I do, and pass them along to their friends or other people with a lot of money who can get them heard by the rest of the world.
For my part I wish to thank Jeremy and Kelli. And I dedicate my 3 songs on here to my Mother Jean, who passed last year. (And Dad, don't worry, there is not much cussing on this record. You can even play it for your friends.)"
Scott's synopsis:
-Born in Hawaii, raised there and in S.F. Bay Area (attended the same high school as Baxter). -Began playing music when the British invasion invaded Scott in 1964 -Traveled to Europe with played music at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany. -Continued on to Eastern Europe and the Middle East and spent extensive time playing and traveling all over that part of the world. -Began writing songs and picking up other instruments in the late 70's.
-Met Stan Cotey and began recording in a small studio in Sunnyvale....1978. -Bought the studio in 1987, renaming it, "The Recording Studio". -Formed Giraffe and released 2 CD's with Stan Cotey, Kevin Gilbert, Chris Beveridge, and Michael Abowd. -Began recording with Cal Ball 1990....Cactus Choir born around that time. Marty Atkinson, Cal, Baxter, and Dave Ristrim. Recorded CC album in Nashville, early 90's. -Spent the rest of the 90's recording hundreds of records for people at TRS. -Currently writing songs for "Songfellows", a local Bay Area Consortium of writers and players. Working on second Sofa Lords CD. Waiting for baseball season to begin in April 2004.
Scott says more:
" Mary, Terry, and "Mom," thanx for all the dinners and hugs! Thanx Chris for hanging in there and believing in the project and yourself as the lead engineer!"
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Michigan born in 1961. At ten months old, Chris relocated with his family to Springfield, Oregon (which some same say is the very same Springfield that is home to The Simpsons.) His story from there:
"I started playing bass in 1972, age of 11- my brother Greg (also a bass player) sent me my first bass, a Fender Telecaster copy, which I played until it was stolen in 1979. I played bass, trombone, (and other various brass) through High School, studied composition and vocal/instrumental performance at the University Of Oregon, all the while jamming semi-pro with several college bands. I moved to Colorado and went on the road in 1982 with The Caryl Mack Band. I played every western state (except Utah) through 1988.
Then I moved to Sunnyvale, CA and joined the "almost famous" outfit Giraffe with Kevin Gilbert, Scott Smith, Stan Cotey and Michael Abowd. (Those stories are still circling the globe.) In addition to Giraffe, I played on a long list of artist projects with Kevin, Scotty and Stan at The Recording Studio.
About that time, I met my lovely wife Mary, and we married in 1990. After Giraffe split, I honed my skills as an Internetworking Engineer with Cisco Systems, while still working on various musical projects.
Mary and I moved up to Redwood City, CA in 1999, where I propositioned Scotty about a regular recording project. I invested in some sweet recording gear, and Scott brought Baxter and Cal as the ideal guys to round out the personalities and skill sets for our "music club". Stan and Michael also lent support roles. What you hear on The Sofa Lords CD is the happy result."
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