Obits

{{short description|American rock band}} {{About|the band|records of death|obituary|the 2015 short story by Stephen King|Obits (short story)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Obits | image = Obits 9.jpg | caption = Obits performing at the 2009 [[South by Southwest]] festival. Left to right: Gursky, Froberg, Simpson, and Habibion. | image_size = | background = group_or_band | origin = [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City|New York]], United States | genre = [[Indie rock]], [[garage rock]], [[Garage punk (fusion genre)|garage punk]] | years_active = 2006–2015 | label = Stint, [[Sub Pop Records|Sub Pop]] | associated_acts = [[Pitchfork (band)|Pitchfork]], [[Drive Like Jehu]], [[Hot Snakes]], [[Edsel (band)|Edsel]], Shortstack | website = [http://www.obitsurl.com/ Obitsurl.com] | current_members = [[Rick Froberg]]<br/>Sohrab Habibion<br />Greg Simpson<br />[[Alexis Fleisig]] | past_members = Scott Gursky }}

'''Obits''' was an American [[Rock music|rock]] band formed in 2006 in [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City|New York]]. The band members were veterans of other independent rock bands: [[Guitarist]]/[[singing|vocalist]] [[Rick Froberg]] was previously a member of [[Pitchfork (band)|Pitchfork]], [[Drive Like Jehu]], and [[Hot Snakes]], and guitarist Sohrab Habibion was a member of [[Edsel (band)|Edsel]]. The band released five [[single (music)|single]]s and three albums, ''[[I Blame You]]'' (2009), ''[[Moody, Standard and Poor]]'' (2011) and ''Bed and Bugs'' (2013).

==History== Obits formed after [[singing|singer]]/[[guitarist]] [[Rick Froberg]] returned to New York in 2005 following the breakup of the [[Hot Snakes]].<ref name="allmusic bio">{{cite web|last = Deming|first = Mark|title = Obits biography|website = [[Allmusic]]|url = {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1116324/biography|pure_url=yes}}|access-date = 2009-03-29}}</ref> In 2006 he began writing new material and rehearsing with [[drummer]] Scott Gursky of Shortstack and guitarist Sohrab Habibion, formerly of [[Edsel (band)|Edsel]].<ref name="allmusic bio"/><ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review">{{cite web|last = Deming|first = Mark|title = Review: ''I Blame You''|website = [[Allmusic]]|url = {{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1484585|pure_url=yes}}|access-date = 2009-03-29}}</ref> They rehearsed with a third [[guitar]] player, but instead added [[bassist]] Greg Simpson.<ref name="allmusic bio"/> Obits made their live debut on January 12, 2008 at a club on New York's [[Lower East Side]] called the Cake Shop.<ref name="allmusic bio"/><ref name="1st show review">{{cite web|last = Strickler|first = Yancey|title = Obits: Cake Shop|publisher = 17 Dots|url = http://17dots.com/2008/01/13/obits-cake-shop/|access-date = 2009-03-29|archive-date = March 14, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090314172040/http://17dots.com/2008/01/13/obits-cake-shop/|url-status = dead}}</ref> A [[bootleg recording]] of the show circulated on the [[internet]], and the band posted two of the songs from this recording on their [[MySpace]] profile for listening.<ref name="allmusic bio"/><ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review"/> The recordings caught the attention of [[Sub Pop]] [[A&R]] representative Chris Jacobs, who invited them to perform at the label's twentieth anniversary festival in [[Seattle]] that summer.<ref name="allmusic bio"/> Obits signed to Sub Pop shortly after, but released their debut single "One Cross Apiece" / "Put It in Writing" on their own Stint Records imprint.<ref name="allmusic bio"/><ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review"/>

The band's debut album ''[[I Blame You]]'' was released by Sub Pop on March 24, 2009.<ref name="allmusic bio"/><ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review"/> Explaining the length of time between the band's formation and recording, Froberg explained that "We wanted to take a, not a relaxed approach, but we wanted to take our time. We weren't in a hurry. We didn't know what would be the result. We didn't know if we were going to put records out. We just wanted to make something happen. We're pleased with what's gone on so far. It's been pretty cool. We try to keep things slow-paced."<ref name="schild">{{cite web|last = Schild|first = Matt|title = Pushing Forward Back|publisher = Aversion.com|date = 2009-03-23|url = http://www.aversion.com/bands/interviews.cfm?interview=439|access-date = 2009-04-03}}</ref> Critical reception to the album was generally positive, with [[Allmusic]] reviewer Mark Deming stating that "if ''I Blame You'' isn't going redefine the way we look at rock & roll, it confirms that the word on these guys wasn't wrong — the Obits are a very good band", but also noting that "the Obits might just have the stuff to save rock & roll, or at least keep it off life support for a while, but as good as ''I Blame You'' may be, they're going to have to get their songwriting chops in order before they can really finish the job."<ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review"/> Jason Crock of [[Pitchfork Media]] compared the album to Froberg's past bands, stating that "while there's evidence of growth here, there's not enough change to alienate fans. If they can appreciate a little less mania and a little more melody, ''I Blame You'' will be a comfortable fit" and calling it "probably Froberg's most melodic and diverse record."<ref name="crock">{{cite web|last = Crock|first = Jason|title = Review: ''I Blame You''|publisher = [[Pitchfork Media]]|url = http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12829-i-blame-you/|access-date = 2009-03-29}}</ref>

A second single, "I Can't Lose" / "Military Madness", was released April 18, 2009 in conjunction with the [[Record Store Day]] event.<ref name="sub pop record store day">{{cite web|last = Swain|first = L|title = Record Store Day -- Sub Pop Style|publisher = [[Sub Pop]]|url = http://www.subpop.com/channel/news/record_store_day_sub_pop_style|access-date = 2009-03-29|archive-date = March 27, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090327202207/http://subpop.com/channel/news/record_store_day_sub_pop_style|url-status = dead}}</ref> Obits toured [[North America]]'s east coast in April and west coast in May of that year.<ref name="tour dates">{{cite web|title = Upcoming Shows|publisher = Obitsurl.com|url = http://www.obitsurl.com/|access-date = 2009-03-29}}</ref> Obits' second album, ''[[Moody, Standard and Poor]]'', was released March 29, 2011, and the band toured the United States' [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] and [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]], including playing the 2011 [[South by Southwest]] festival.<ref name="Sub Pop">{{cite web |title=Obits: ''Moody, Standard and Poor'' |publisher=[[Sub Pop]] |url=http://www.subpop.com/releases/obits/full_lengths/moody_standard_and_poor |access-date=2011-02-15 |archive-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209090759/http://www.subpop.com/releases/obits/full_lengths/moody_standard_and_poor |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Yancey">{{cite web |last=Yancey |first=Bryne |title=Obits announce ''Moody, Standard and Poor'' |publisher=Punknews.org |date=2011-02-15 |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/41627 |access-date=2011-02-15}}</ref> Froberg hopes that, unlike his previous bands, Obits will have more longevity: "Since we're getting older maybe we can grow old into this music. We'll see."<ref name="khanna">{{cite magazine|last = Khanna|first = Vish|title = Obits are Reborn|magazine = [[Exclaim!]]|date = April 2009|url = http://www.exclaim.ca/articles/multiarticlesub.aspx?csid1=131&csid2=4&fid1=37463|access-date = 2009-03-29}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Scott Gursky left Obits in May 2011 and was replaced by [[Girls Against Boys]] drummer Alexis Fleisig.<ref>{{cite web| last=Yancey |first=Bryne |title=Scott Gursky leaves Obits |date=2011-05-30 |publisher=Punknews.org |url=http://www.punknews.org/article/42818 |access-date=2011-05-30}}</ref>

The third Obits album, ''Bed and Bugs'', was released on September 10, 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.subpop.com/releases/obits/full_lengths/bed_and_bugs |title=Sub Pop Records : Obits : Bed & Bugs |publisher=Subpop.com |date=2010-04-17 |access-date=2013-11-24 |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929151239/http://www.subpop.com/releases/obits/full_lengths/bed_and_bugs |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On April 1, 2015, the band announced they were splitting up on their Instagram account, later confirming this was not an April Fools' Day joke.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/073FxJCqpc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/obits/953598035039529564 |archive-date=2021-12-25 |url-access=registration|title=Instagram photo by @obits • Apr 1, 2015 at 2:16pm UTC|website=Instagram|access-date=2016-04-16}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vishkhanna.com/2015/04/02/ep-177-sohrab-habibion-on-obits-calling-it-quits/|title=Ep. #177: Sohrab Habibion on Obits calling it quits {{!}} Kreative Kontrol|last=vish|date=2 April 2015 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/59090-obits-break-up/|title=Obits Break Up {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|date=2 April 2015 |access-date=2016-04-16}}</ref>

Later that year, Habibion and Simpson joined a new band, [[Savak (band)|SAVAK]].<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016-12-07|title=Comedy Minus One website|url=http://www.comedyminusone.com/bands/savak/|language=en}}</ref> Froberg designed their debut album's artwork.

Rick Froberg died on June 30, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Rick Froberg, Frontman of Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu, Dead at 55 |url=https://consequence.net/2023/07/rick-froberg-frontman-of-hot-snakes-and-drive-like-jehu-dead-at-55/ |website=Consequence |access-date=2 July 2023 |date=2 July 2023}}</ref>

==Musical style== Obits' music is a blend of [[indie rock]] and [[Garage punk (fusion genre)|garage punk]]. Mark Deming of [[Allmusic]] describes their sound as "taut, straightforward rock & roll with sharply interwoven guitar lines, muscular rhythms, and a melodic sense that splits the difference between indie rock and garage-influenced punk":<ref name="allmusic bio"/>

<blockquote> Froberg and Habibion make an impressive tag-team combo on guitars, and their interwoven six-string patterns crackle with energy as they bounce thick, bluesy chording off lean, angular lines like a steak meeting a sharp knife. Bassist Greg Simpson and drummer Gursky are just the right rhythm section for this band, locking the songs into place with taut efficiency while leaving room to thoughtfully fill up the spaces when need be. Put 'em together and they run like a top, laying out music with the clean lines of [[the Ventures]] and the pure mania of [[Radio Birdman]].<ref name="I Blame You Allmusic review"/> </blockquote>

Jason Crock of [[Pitchfork Media]] describes the band's sound as "dueling guitars that have refined the echo and twang of surf and rockabilly into a sharp edge, basslines that are less walking than swaggering, drums too respectful and too evil for elaborate fills."<ref name="crock"/>

==Members==

*[[Rick Froberg]] – [[guitar]], [[singing|vocals]] (2006–2015) *Greg Simpson – [[bass guitar]] (2006–2015) *Sohrab Habibion – guitar, vocals (2006–2015) *Scott Gursky – drums (2006–2011) *[[Alexis Fleisig]] – drums (2011–2015)

==Discography==

===Albums=== * ''[[I Blame You]]'' (2009) * ''[[Moody, Standard and Poor]]'' (2011) * ''Bed and Bugs'' (2013)

===Singles=== * "One Cross Apiece" / "Put It in Writing" (2008) * "I Can't Lose" / "Military Madness" (2009) * "[[Let Me Dream If I Want To]]" / "The City Is Dead" (2012) * "Refund" / "Suez Canal" (2012) * "Refund (Live)" / "Talking to the Dog (Live)" / "New August (Live)" (2013, 7" vinyl)

=== Compilations === * ''L.E.G.I.T.'' (2014) [Japanese limited edition singles compilation]

=== Live albums === * ''Die at the Zoo'' (2021) [Recorded 2012 in Brisbane, Australia]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.obitsurl.com/}}

[[Category:Indie rock musical groups from New York (state)]] [[Category:American garage punk groups]] [[Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 2006]] [[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2015]] [[Category:Sub Pop artists]]