{{Short description|American indie rock band}} {{Distinguish|Karat (band)}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2021}} {{Use American English|date=July 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Karate | image = | caption = Karate | alias = | origin = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | instrument = | genre = {{hlist|Indie rock|post-rock|jazz fusion|blues rock|emo}} | occupation = | discography = Karate discography | years_active = {{hlist|1993–2005|2022–present}} | label = {{hlist|Southern|The Numero Group}} | website = [https://karateallston.bandcamp.com karateallston.bandcamp.com] | current_members = Geoff Farina<br/>Gavin McCarthy<br/>Jeff Goddard | past_members = Eamonn Vitt }} '''Karate''' is an American band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1993 by Geoff Farina, Eamonn Vitt and Gavin McCarthy, with Jeff Goddard joining in 1995. The band split up in 2005 before reuniting in 2022.<ref name="nine" />
The band is characterized by fusion of indie rock, emo, post-hardcore, post-rock and jazz, with the jazz influence becoming more dominant in later releases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Karate {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/karate-mn0000852937/biography|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref>
==History== In 1993, Karate was formed by Geoff Farina (vocals, guitar), Eamonn Vitt (bass) and Gavin McCarthy (drums). In 1995, Jeff Goddard joined the band as bass player, and Vitt moved to second guitar.
Vitt left Karate to pursue a medical career in 1997.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fiander|first=Matthew|title=Karate: Five-Ninety-Five < PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/karate-five-ninety-five|access-date=June 23, 2010|publisher=Popmatters.com}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> According to Farina, after Vitt's departure, the band's sound changed drastically. Though they initially saw themselves as "indie band, [or] a post-punk band or something," Farina, McCarthy, and Goddard began drawing on their jazz training, and the band's sound drifted away from its indie rock origins.<ref name=":1" /> Around the time of 2000's ''Unsolved'' and 2002's ''Some Boots'', Farina would adopt such influences as Elmore James, Sonny Sharrock, and Nels Cline, which the band would then "punk-ify."<ref name=":1" />
Their music during their original run was primarily released on Southern Records.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 28, 2005|title=SOUTHERN {{!}} karate|url=http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/|access-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050228084734/http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/|archive-date=February 28, 2005}}</ref>
=== Breakup and post-breakup projects === Farina developed hearing problems due to twelve years of performance with Karate and was forced to disband the group in July 2005. Disbanding with fanfare, the group had recorded six studio albums and had almost seven hundred performances in twenty countries.<ref>{{cite web |author=mark powell |url=http://www.southern.net/southern/band/KARAT/biog.php |title=karate > biography |publisher=Southern |access-date=June 23, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307192643/http://www.southern.net/southern/band/KARAT/biog.php |archive-date=March 7, 2009 }}</ref> Their final show was played in Rome, Italy, on July 10, 2005.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}
In 2007, the former band members released the live album ''595''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-10-24 |title=SOUTHERN {{!}} karate > 595 |url=http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/28124.php |access-date=2023-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024111714/http://www.southern.com/southern/band/KARAT/28124.php |archive-date=October 24, 2007 }}</ref> It is a recording of the band's 595th performance, on May 5, 2003 at Stuk, Leuven, Belgium. The recording was sent to them by a sound technician, and Karate were so astonished by the quality they decided to release it as an official live album.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 9, 2008|title=Album Reviews: Karate: 595|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10972-595/|access-date=June 23, 2010|publisher=Pitchfork}}</ref> Karate's perfectionism and attention to detail is well known among the music scene, which played a part in the naming of the album.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}} It was originally to be called ''594''. However, McCarthy discovered a flyer for a forgotten early show, so the band quickly changed the title to ''595''.
Goddard played in the band Jones Very along with Vic Bondi and Jamie Van Bramer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jeff Goddard|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/323662-Jeff-Goddard|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=Discogs|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2013|title=~~jeff goddard~~bio~~|url=http://www.jeffgoddard.org/bio/index.php|access-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321231020/http://www.jeffgoddard.org/bio/index.php|archive-date=March 21, 2013}}</ref> In 2005, Goddard played bass on the Chris Brokaw album ''Incredible Love''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=March 21, 2013|title=~~jeff goddard~~discography~~|url=http://www.jeffgoddard.org/disco/index.php|access-date=May 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130321231027/http://www.jeffgoddard.org/disco/index.php|archive-date=March 21, 2013}}</ref>
Farina developed a solo career, releasing three albums and a number of EPs.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 2021|title=Geoff Farina Discography|website=AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/geoff-farina-mn0000202377/discography}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hammer and Spade, by Geoff Farina|url=https://geofffarinasolo.bandcamp.com/|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=Geoff Farina}}</ref> He also worked with Chris Brokaw, releasing work as Geoff Farina & Chris Brokaw.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Boarder's Door, by Chris Brokaw & Geoff Farina|url=https://chrisbrokawgeofffarina.bandcamp.com/|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=Chris Brokaw & Geoff Farina}}</ref>
McCarthy has been part of a number of bands including E, which released albums in 2016 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=E {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/e-mn0003549079/biography|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=AllMusic|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home {{!}} BUSINESS NAME|url=https://www.gavinmccarthy.com/|access-date=May 8, 2021|website=gavinmccarthy|language=en}}</ref>
=== Reissues and reunion === In 2021, The Numero Group announced they would be reissuing the band's music after long periods of their music being unavailable. The first releases to be reissued was the band's first two albums.<ref name="treble">{{cite news |last1=Treble staff |title=Numero Group announces Karate vinyl reissues |url=https://www.treblezine.com/numero-group-announce-karate-vinyl-reissues/ |access-date=May 14, 2026 |work=Treble |date=2 August 2021}}</ref>
In 2022, Stereogum reported that the band would reunite for their first tour in 17 years.<ref name="nine">{{Cite web|title=Karate Announce 2022 Tour, by Chris Deville |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2178009/karate-announce-first-tour-in-17-years/news/|access-date=March 3, 2022|website=Stereogum|date=March 2022}}</ref> It was announced in November that the band would play Primavera Sound festival in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2022 |title=Primavera Sound 2023 Lineup Has Blur, Kendrick Lamar, Rosalía, & More |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2207008/primavera-sound-2023-lineup-has-blur-kendrick-lamar-rosalia-more/news/ |access-date=December 4, 2022 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>
On September 15, 2023, the Numero Group released ''Complete Studio Recordings'', compiling their six studio albums, the ''Cancel/Sing'' and ''In The Fish Tank'' EPs, singles, and split 7"s. The 69 tracks were split across eight CDs. The box set included an 80-page book by Leor Galil containing essays and photographs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=numerogroup/status/1702691238736973957|url=https://twitter.com/numerogroup/status/1702691238736973957?s=20 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}</ref>
On January 7, 2024, Numero Group posted on Twitter teasing new music for the band, featuring a short video of the members at the end of what they said was the "first Karate session in 20 years".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Group |first=Numero |date=January 7, 2023 |title=numerogroup on X: "First Karate session in 20 years is in the books." |url=https://x.com/numerogroup/status/1743753331124633824?s=20 |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=Twitter}}</ref> Numero would later mention that a "new Karate record [is] currently in the works".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/numerogroup/posts/pfbid02JbojC6cwGoVGhKvM2Sfg8cjVjGXy1SALn975DpikErtCzH3v4kyWiq8TvFB6ZhsEl?__cft__%5B0%5D=AZWqh5qXaF4Uu_BcB-CDkOLDzyTke_GWGWDhaRta7IkfjuETr1gJcx9x2Y-xvlpyYugoPQ7TnfyNFfPPXmc8dfiGhust9dumEDq59tGVOn_zkZNOFL1vRHKUCrUvHa14w7ZvdNVj9b8SK8Z-py5qEpQkAbOUuGk1UNRl2RIEuVGheIZRDQM32R_6YSfORkvdNIrFj_mrgrQgLxwsFX37mXPb&__tn__=,O,P-R |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> The album was formally announced with the name ''Make It Fit'' with a release date of October 18, along with the ''Defendants b/w Silence, Sound'' single released on July 25.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=Karate Announce First New Album In 20 Years |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2273106/karate-announce-first-new-album-in-20-years/music/ |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Stereogum |language=en}}</ref>
== Influences == The band has said in interviews that their combination of indie rock and jazz came from studying music theory in college. Farina's guitar playing was influenced by such acts as the Minutemen, Beefeater,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Gregory |date=2021-04-29 |title=Karate's Geoff Farina: "I have an ongoing identity crisis – every six months I'm enamored with some other style of guitar playing" |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/karates-geoff-farina-i-have-an-ongoing-identity-crisis-every-six-months-im-enamored-with-some-other-style-of-guitar-playing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116091159/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/karates-geoff-farina-i-have-an-ongoing-identity-crisis-every-six-months-im-enamored-with-some-other-style-of-guitar-playing |archive-date=November 16, 2025 |access-date=October 1, 2025 |website=guitarworld}}</ref> and McCoy Tyner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strano Podcast |date=November 19, 2020 |title=Strano podcast [Ep.49] - Geoff Farina (Karate, Exit Verse, Glorytellers) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sppdxSWzazA&t=169s |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=YouTube}}</ref>
==Discography== {{Main|Karate discography}} * ''Karate'' (1996, Southern Records) * ''In Place of Real Insight'' (1997, Southern) * ''The Bed is in the Ocean'' (1998, Southern) * ''Unsolved'' (October 2000/March 2001, Southern) * ''Some Boots'' (October 2002, Southern) * ''Pockets'' (August 2004, Southern) * ''Make It Fit'' (2024, Numero Group)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.geofffarina.com/ Geoff Farina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311075546/http://www.geofffarina.com/ |date=March 11, 2021 }}'s official website *[http://www.gavinmccarthy.com/ Gavin McCarthy]'s official website
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Karate}} Category:American post-rock groups Category:Indie rock musical groups from Massachusetts Category:Musical groups from Boston Category:Musical groups established in 1993 Category:1993 establishments in Massachusetts Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2022 Category:American indie rock groups Category:American jazz-rock groups Category:American emo musical groups Category:The Numero Group artists