Far (band)
Encyclopedia
Far is a band from Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...

, USA.

Releases (1991–1999)

After a number of local releases including their first demo tape Sweat A River, Live No Lies
Sweat A River, Live No Lies
Sweat a River, Live No Lies is the first known recording by Far.-Track listing:# "Fear" – 4:41# "No One Will Know" – 4:59# "Perfect Pair" – 3:32# "Living Brother" – 3:01# "Who Do U Hate?" – 2:47# "Remain Alive" – 5:49# "Two Lovers" – 5:29...

(1991) and two independent albums Listening Game (1992) and Quick
Quick (album)
Quick is the second album by American alternative rock band Far.-Track listing:There was also a limited edition 10 track version released, limited to 500 copies. The 2008 re-release has the same track listing as the limited edition. It also has MP3s of the songs missing from the original release on...

(1994) they signed to Epic
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

/Immortal Records
Immortal Records
Immortal Records is an independent record label out of Los Angeles, California. Founded by Happy Walters in 1994, the label had helped launched the careers of such influential acts as Korn, 30 Seconds to Mars, and Incubus over the years. The label had also released soundtracks, including Judgment...

 and released their first major record, Tin Cans With Strings To You
Tin Cans With Strings To You
-Personnel:*Jonah Matranga - vocals, guitar*Shaun Lopez - guitar*John Gutenberger - bass guitar*Chris Robyn - drums...

(1996). Their next release was an E.P. titled Soon
Soon (EP)
Soon in an EP released in 1997 by American rock band Far.It contains two songs later released on their 1998 release "Water & Solutions", an acoustic version of a song released on their earlier release "Tin Cans With Strings To You", and one song previously unreleased...

(1997), which was quickly followed up by their fourth and most popular album to date, Water & Solutions
Water & Solutions
-Personnel:*Jonah Matranga - vocals, guitar*Shaun Lopez - guitar*John Gutenberger - bass guitar*Chris Robyn - drums...

(1998). This record attracted a strong cult following in the late 90s, due mostly to the single "Mother Mary" and their touring with long time friends the Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...

, and Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...

. The more melodic sound showcased on this album is increasingly cited as an influence on present-day alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 bands by the rock press, ie: Thursday
Thursday (band)
Thursday were an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. Formed in 1997, the group has released six full-length albums, their most recent being No Devolución, which was released in April 2011 on Epitaph Records...

, Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...

, Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....

.

Break-up and post-Far activities (2000–2007)

Since their 1999 split, the former members of Far have been involved in a number of projects, often quite experimental in nature. Frontman Jonah Matranga
Jonah Matranga
Jonah Rzadzinski Matranga is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude...

 continued with his solo project Onelinedrawing
Onelinedrawing
Onelinedrawing was the solo project of Jonah Matranga, best known as the vocalist for the indie rock band Far. It traces its origins back to 1995, when Matranga began making a series of home recordings that "weren't made with the intention of anyone hearing them." Four years worth of these...

 and formed the now defunct band New End Original (an anagram of Onelinedrawing). Matranga
Jonah Matranga
Jonah Rzadzinski Matranga is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude...

 "broke up" Onelinedrawing
Onelinedrawing
Onelinedrawing was the solo project of Jonah Matranga, best known as the vocalist for the indie rock band Far. It traces its origins back to 1995, when Matranga began making a series of home recordings that "weren't made with the intention of anyone hearing them." Four years worth of these...

 in August 2004. In 2005 the singer's new band Gratitude
Gratitude (band)
Gratitude was formed in 2000 by Mark Weinberg and Thomas Becker . Initially called the Collision, the band was joined by Bob Lindsey on bass and Robby Cronholm on vocals...

 released their debut self-titled record on Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...

. Gratitude, however, called it a day towards the end of 2005, playing their last US tour before splitting in December 2005. He now plays music under his own name, with new work as well as music from his previous outings.

Guitarist and founder Shaun Lopez
Shaun Lopez
Shaun Lopez is a US musician and the guitarist for Far, a band from Sacramento, CA.After a number of local releases, including their first demo tape, Sweat A River, Live No Lies, and two independent albums Listening Game and Quick, they signed to Epic/Immortal Records and released their major label...

 went on to form The Revolution Smile
The Revolution Smile
-History:The band was formed in 2000 by former Far guitarist Shaun Lopez after he briefly played in an early version of Rival Schools headed by former Quicksand frontman, Walter Schreifels, and after he auditioned for various bands, including the Foo Fighters....

. The band has released two records and toured around the US and Europe. He also has his own studio where he has produced such bands as Trigger Point, Giant Drag
Giant Drag
Giant Drag is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formerly a duo, the band was founded in 2003 by Annie Hardy who continues to be the band's sole singer and songwriter....

, The X-Ecutioners
The X-Ecutioners
The X-Ecutioners is a group of hip hop DJs / turntablists from New York.-History:Formed as a DJ crew in the early nineties and originally including 11 members, under the name X-Men, which was chosen partly because of their rivalry between Super DJ Clark Kent's crew of DJs, known as the Supermen,...

, the Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...

 fifth record (Saturday Night Wrist
Saturday Night Wrist
Saturday Night Wrist is the fifth studio album by American metal band Deftones. It was released on Maverick Records on October 31, 2006. Despite early contributions that were later scrapped, Saturday Night Wrist marks the departure of mainstay Deftones producer Terry Date.The band's fifth album...

) released by Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...

 and most recently Will Haven
Will Haven
Will Haven is a noise metal band from Sacramento, California, USA.-History:In 1995, Will Haven, named after a fictional, self-created character, formed and released a six-track demo. The band was formed from members of Sock, a band that was formed with Shaun Lopez of Far. Will Haven's debut...

´s fourth record The Hierophant
The Hierophant (album)
The Hierophant is the fourth full length release by noise metal band Will Haven, released on June 19, 2007 on Bieler Bros. Its release was six years after Carpe Diem, their previous full-length. Vocalist Grady Avenell contributed to the writing of the album on several songs, but not to the...

.

Bassist John Gutenberger is currently playing in a band called Two Sheds (UnderAcloud Records) and a band called Jackpot.

Drummer Chris Robyn has since played several shows with Will Haven
Will Haven
Will Haven is a noise metal band from Sacramento, California, USA.-History:In 1995, Will Haven, named after a fictional, self-created character, formed and released a six-track demo. The band was formed from members of Sock, a band that was formed with Shaun Lopez of Far. Will Haven's debut...

 in 2000 when their drummer Wayne Morse left.

Reformation (2009–present)

In 2008, the band confirmed they will be reforming for a handful of US dates, and also a small UK tour. Along with the confirmed UK tour, a cover of the track "Pony
Pony (Ginuwine song)
"Pony" is the first single of American R&B singer Ginuwine, released as a single from his first LP, Ginuwine...The Bachelor, in 1996. The song was written by Ginuwine with Swing Mob associates Static Major and Timbaland, who produced the recording...

" by Ginuwine
Ginuwine
Elgin Baylor Lumpkin , better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990's...

 has been posted on the Hot Little Pony myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....

.

On October 15, 2008 the band launched the official website at thebandfar.com

On October 21, Live 105 (KITS
KITS
KITS is a San Francisco, California, USA-based radio station broadcasting at 105.3 MHz. The station is owned by CBS Radio and programs a modern rock format. The station also broadcasts on HD channel L2, locally on Comcast cable channel 986, and is streaming online.-Hot Hits:The station's...

) (San Francisco) and KWOD (Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...

) added Pony into regular rotation. On November 4, 91x (San Diego) added Pony. On December 4 KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...

 (Los Angeles) added Pony.

On March 2, Vagrant announced that they have signed FAR, and that the band are putting the finishing touches on their fifth studio album, which will be out in 2010.

On Oct 17, 2009, Far posted studio video part three, which concluded reading "At Night we Live" out in 2010 on Vagrant Records. The name is also the title of a song they wrote for Deftones bass player Chi Cheng, after his car accident last November.

On February 10, 2010 Far announced At Night We Live
At Night We Live
At Night We Live is an album recorded by the band Far released on May 25, 2010. A few different pre-order packages were available. Some of the packages included one of the 500 limited edition colored Double-LPs.-Track listing:...

will be released May 18, 2010 on Vagrant Records.

On March 16, Lead Singer Jonah Matranga announced that the album will be pushed back one week to May 25 due to artwork finalizing.

On June 27, 2011, Jonah Matranga went on theFIVE10 Radio and said that it was not likely Far would be getting back together. He cited several problems but mainly that there was just "too much drama."

Members

  • Jonah Matranga
    Jonah Matranga
    Jonah Rzadzinski Matranga is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who has released a variety of solo material under his own name and onelinedrawing, and has previously been part of the bands Far and New End Original and Gratitude...

     — vocals, guitar
  • Shaun Lopez
    Shaun Lopez
    Shaun Lopez is a US musician and the guitarist for Far, a band from Sacramento, CA.After a number of local releases, including their first demo tape, Sweat A River, Live No Lies, and two independent albums Listening Game and Quick, they signed to Epic/Immortal Records and released their major label...

     — guitar
  • John Gutenberger — bass
  • Chris Robyn — drums, percussion

Studio albums

  • Listening Game (1992)
  • Quick
    Quick (album)
    Quick is the second album by American alternative rock band Far.-Track listing:There was also a limited edition 10 track version released, limited to 500 copies. The 2008 re-release has the same track listing as the limited edition. It also has MP3s of the songs missing from the original release on...

    (1994)
  • Tin Cans with Strings to You
    Tin Cans With Strings To You
    -Personnel:*Jonah Matranga - vocals, guitar*Shaun Lopez - guitar*John Gutenberger - bass guitar*Chris Robyn - drums...

    (1996)
  • Water & Solutions
    Water & Solutions
    -Personnel:*Jonah Matranga - vocals, guitar*Shaun Lopez - guitar*John Gutenberger - bass guitar*Chris Robyn - drums...

    (1998)
  • At Night We Live
    At Night We Live
    At Night We Live is an album recorded by the band Far released on May 25, 2010. A few different pre-order packages were available. Some of the packages included one of the 500 limited edition colored Double-LPs.-Track listing:...

    (2010)

Promos

  • The System (with E-Bomb snippets) (1998)
  • Mother Mary
  • Love, American Style
  • What I've Wanted To Say
  • In The Aisle, Yelling (released on cd and cassatte)
  • Pony (1 track advance promo 4:23 on Vagrant) (2009)

7"s

  • Far Does Madonna (w/Sea Pigs)
  • Boring Life
  • Far / Incubus split w/ Water and Solutions
  • Far / Incubus / Korn / Urge Split (Far song – In the Aisle Yelling) (1997 promo immortal)
  • Far / Incubus Split (Far – mother Mary Incubus – Certain Shade of Green) (1998)
  • Pony w/ Pony acoustic (2009)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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