Offbeats (music group)
Encyclopedia
The Offbeats is an American
musical band based in the Texas
city of San Antonio
with a garage rock
or garage punk
sound. Their music has been compared to The Strokes
and The Clash
and the group has been getting positive critical attention by music critics writing in San Antonio media. Music critic Jeremy Martin described their overall sound as "early ’60s garage rock through a post-post-punk filter." They recorded several albums, and their recent CD Lights Out in the City was notable for its musical quality as well as its newspaper-themed cover art.
in San Antonio. They played various clubs in San Antonio, with musicians entering and leaving during these early years, and finally settling on a five-piece band. From 2002 to 2008, they played regularly at local clubs and honed their music. They released several EPs but the recorded sessions felt short of the group's expectations, according to lead singer
Bryan Foster, who said after making recordings that "it was never what we felt like it was when we had that live vibe."
In 2008, their full-length debut CD entitled Standards was released, which reworked many of their previous tunes. It was described by music critic Jeremy Martin as "impressively professional and mature" despite being self-recorded and self-produced. What helped, according to then-lead guitarist Eric Romasanta, was rehearsing in their own space, which gave the group an "unlimited amount of time to spend on the album" including scrapping and reworking arrangements as necessary. He said:
The group improved technically. They continued to play regularly at clubs, including doing benefit concert
s with other bands. Songwriter Bryan Foster improved during these years, according to critic Jeremy Martin. He wrote:
After releasing The Standards, the group suffered a major personnel problem when their drummer, Mike Griffin, departed without warning. Singer Bryan Foster said "our first instinct was to regroup." They decided not to replace Griffin with another drummer but instead slimmed to only four members, and the musicians switched instruments (see table.) The changes were described as "drastic" by critic Enrique Lopetegui.
In 2009, during this transition, there were some dubious performances when the group did not have its act together. Critic Jeremy Martin, hearing one of their performances live, gave them a mixed review, and described the somewhat middle-aged audience as nonplussed with the group's loudness, and criticized the band's sound mixing
as well.
music critic Enrique Lopetegui described Bryan Foster as being similar to Mick Jagger
and Julian Casablancas
. He described the Lights Out in the City album as "catchy" and wrote that it was "one of the best local albums of the year." Music critic Jim Beal Jr. wrote that the album was "smart, clever and catchy." Lopetegui agreed, and elaborated:
In 2011, the band plays venues around San Antonio, and has four musicians, including three brothers: Bryan, Colin and Sean Foster, along with guitarist Eric Romasanta.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musical band based in the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
city of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
with a garage rock
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
or garage punk
Garage punk
Garage punk is a fusion of garage rock and punk rock. It is fast-paced lo-fi music characterized by a dirty, choppy guitar sound—usually played by bands who are on independent record labels or who are unsigned...
sound. Their music has been compared to The Strokes
The Strokes
The Strokes are an American indie rock band formed in 1999 in New York City. Consisting of Julian Casablancas , Nick Valensi , Albert Hammond, Jr. , Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti ....
and The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and the group has been getting positive critical attention by music critics writing in San Antonio media. Music critic Jeremy Martin described their overall sound as "early ’60s garage rock through a post-post-punk filter." They recorded several albums, and their recent CD Lights Out in the City was notable for its musical quality as well as its newspaper-themed cover art.
Beginnings
The band started as a collaboration in 2001 between Bryan Foster and Eric Romasanta who were finishing high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in San Antonio. They played various clubs in San Antonio, with musicians entering and leaving during these early years, and finally settling on a five-piece band. From 2002 to 2008, they played regularly at local clubs and honed their music. They released several EPs but the recorded sessions felt short of the group's expectations, according to lead singer
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
Bryan Foster, who said after making recordings that "it was never what we felt like it was when we had that live vibe."
In 2008, their full-length debut CD entitled Standards was released, which reworked many of their previous tunes. It was described by music critic Jeremy Martin as "impressively professional and mature" despite being self-recorded and self-produced. What helped, according to then-lead guitarist Eric Romasanta, was rehearsing in their own space, which gave the group an "unlimited amount of time to spend on the album" including scrapping and reworking arrangements as necessary. He said:
The group improved technically. They continued to play regularly at clubs, including doing benefit concert
Benefit concert
A benefit concert or charity concert is a concert, show or gala featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. Such events raise both funds and public awareness to address the cause at...
s with other bands. Songwriter Bryan Foster improved during these years, according to critic Jeremy Martin. He wrote:
Personnel problems
| Band member | Instruments Before 2008 |
Instruments After 2008 |
| Eric Romasanta | Guitar | Bass guitar |
| Bryan Foster | Vocals | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass |
| Colin Foster | Bass guitar | Drums |
| Sean Foster | Guitar, keyboards, bass, drums |
Guitar |
| Mike Griffin | drums | |
After releasing The Standards, the group suffered a major personnel problem when their drummer, Mike Griffin, departed without warning. Singer Bryan Foster said "our first instinct was to regroup." They decided not to replace Griffin with another drummer but instead slimmed to only four members, and the musicians switched instruments (see table.) The changes were described as "drastic" by critic Enrique Lopetegui.
In 2009, during this transition, there were some dubious performances when the group did not have its act together. Critic Jeremy Martin, hearing one of their performances live, gave them a mixed review, and described the somewhat middle-aged audience as nonplussed with the group's loudness, and criticized the band's sound mixing
Live sound mixing
Live sound mixing is the art of combining and processing a number of audio signals together to create a "mix" that the audience or performers at a live show hear. There can be a variety of different mixes required, depending on the performance requirements...
as well.
Renewal
By 2011, the Offbeats recorded Lights Out In The City. Their songs described fictional but plausible "blackout stories" with thought-provoking lyrics, according to music critic Jim Beal Jr. San Antonio CurrentSan Antonio Current
The San Antonio Current is a free weekly alternative newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. The Current focuses on investigative journalism, political analysis, and critical coverage of local music and culture. It also contains extensive and up-to-date event listings for San Antonio. A member of the...
music critic Enrique Lopetegui described Bryan Foster as being similar to Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
and Julian Casablancas
Julian Casablancas
Julian Fernando Casablancas is an American singer-songwriter and musician of The Strokes. Casablancas pursued a solo career during The Strokes' hiatus, releasing the album Phrazes for the Young on November 3, 2009....
. He described the Lights Out in the City album as "catchy" and wrote that it was "one of the best local albums of the year." Music critic Jim Beal Jr. wrote that the album was "smart, clever and catchy." Lopetegui agreed, and elaborated:
In 2011, the band plays venues around San Antonio, and has four musicians, including three brothers: Bryan, Colin and Sean Foster, along with guitarist Eric Romasanta.