Killer Weekend Had
The Groundhogs played what has been widely pronounced their best show yet, at AJs on February 2nd, where they were joined by the Flailing Inhalers and a banana-distributing gorilla. The event was described by one annonymous attendee as a "decadent orgy of sin," with bananas flying through the air, hipsters from Portland running around doing snuff, and at least one quickie in the bathroom.
KBVR graphics engineer Jared Englund captured the entire concert on video. Keep an eye out for highlights from the show on this website.
Two nights later the Groundhogs played another show, this time at a house party in Corvallis. After about an hour of high-energy rock sprinkled with unexplained pauses and giggling by the band, Nate announced that he needed to go outside. The band took a break that turned out to be the end of the show, with Nate refusing to get up from an easy chair on the porch. "I don't know why he couldn't play," said one pary-goer. "He didn't look very tired to me... but they were all saying really weird stuff."
When it became clear that Nate was finished playing for the night, Josh and Chad continued to jam with other people, and the music morphed into abstract jazz. Asked to comment on the abbreviated Groundhogs set, Josh stated, "It's OK. I don't even know what's going on."Groundhog Day '06 Approaches
What was once a trivial holiday that nobody gave a shit about has now attained legendary status as a day of celebration for the Groundhogs and those dear to them. This year the tradition continues with a show at AJ's that will feature an opening set by the Flailing Inhalers and the distribution of free bananas.
The band has been preparing rigorously for this show of shows. "We've got lots of new stuff to bust out, some new covers, and other surprises," Josh told us during a break on the porch during band paractice last Thursday. "I just wrote two new songs just this week, actually, but I don't know if we're going to be able to play those yet." Josh, Chad and Nate then exchanged an awkward look, and a short pause followed.
"I think we could get them, but they just might sound a little simplified if we played them on such short notice," Chad explained.
"Yeah, we've got enough to remember for this show as it is!" Nate added.
Josh shrugged, took a large swig directly from a carton of vanilla soymilk, and concluded, "No need to rush the new songs, I guess. We'll get to 'em."New Album In Stores Now
The new Groundhogs album "Love Affair with a Hammer" is now available at Happy Trails Records and Gracewinds Music in Corvallis. The band has reached a new level of street cred by gettting their own divider at Happy Trails.
"It's in between two obscure bands I can't even remember right now," said frontman Josh Gates, "but it's a cool divider because it kind of sticks up higher than the other ones and catches your eye. Our street cred is through the roof at this juncture."
In the near future, the CD will also be available at Paradise Waits, which is a good idea, since they also sell bongs and mycology guides.
Groundhogs Know How to Party, Have Album Out
On Friday, November 18th, the boys unleashed thier new super-slick, ten song masterpiece "Love Affair with a Hammer" at a CD release party in Corvallis. Hot off the press, the CDs were transported that evening from NW Media in Portland via armored car, travelling only secondary roads in order to thwart potential saboteurs.
The Groundhogs played long into the wee hours of the morning, bringing up guest musicians and occasionally making up songs on the spot. All three band members were, as singer/guitarist Josh Gates muttered the next afternoon, "really fucked up." After the party was finally over, the band was last seen on the front porch, playing with a See-N-Say and giggling uncontrollably.
The new album will soon be available on this website, and at finer establishments in Corvallis.Debut Album Nears Completion
The Groundhogs' first full-lenghth album, entitled "Love Affair with a Hammer," is in the final manufacturing stages of production. All band members and associates in the know are very enthusiastic about the project and the upcoming CD release party at the Random House.
"The final mix really whups a horse's ass with a belt," said frontman Josh Gates. The album was mixed and mastered by former Groundhogs drummer and frequent collaborator Chris Kennedy (of Future Sunz acclaim) in Los Angeles.
Featuring such classics as "Johnny and Sally," "Blue Daquiri" and "Front Page Story," the album is scheduled for a late-November release. Groundhogs "Not That Bad," Says Listener
The music of the Groundhogs was recently described as "really not that bad" after their June 24th show at Interzone. Corvallis resident Scott Holdsworth explained that he "thought they were going to suck" but walked away relatively impressed. Particularly enamored with the first song of the set, a new surf-rock instrumental, Holdsworth spent the majority of the show outside and disappeared sometime before the end.
When asked to explain his low expectations of the band, Holdsworth credited "just hearing people say, you know, the Groundhogs, they're OK, I guess... I mean, not that they suck, but... I guess I can't really put it into words. I mean, it's not that I'm saying they have a bad reputation, but..." and eventually trailed off.
Asked to comment on the show in question, which was marred by numerous mistakes and poor attendence, bassist Chad Fell and drummer Nate Stout were enthusiastic and unfazed, but singer/guitarist Josh Gates offered that it "fucking sucked," then voiced an uncharacteristic intention to go get drunk.
Nate Replaces Josh's Brake Pads
Josh's 1983 Toyota Celica has needed new brake pads for a while now, and he got Nate to install new ones for a pretty reasonable price. Finding the right pads presented a challenge as the boys got dicked over by the local Toyota dealership and took their business to Napa instead. The car now brakes very nicely, according to sources close to the band.Dead lizard found
A small, perfectly preserved dead lizard was recently found on the ground just outside the door to The Groundhogs' rehearsal space. The lizard was found by Chad, who alerted Josh and Nate. After all three studied the find enthusiastically, Chad said that he didn't care to keep it, so Josh placed it on top of his amp, where it remained until the next band practice, when the three ended up throwing it at each other.
"It wasn't gross, or run over or anything," Josh said when asked for comment. "It apparently died of natural causes. It looked almost like a toy, with its tail neatly curved toward its body." The species of the lizard has not been confirmed.The big Groundhog Day Bash is coming!
The countdown is on. Be at AJ's on Wednesday night, February 2nd, for good times, good music, cheap beer and free bananas. See shows for details. The Groundhogs take to the airwaves!
On Friday, January 28th The Groundhogs will be performing on the KBVR program "Locals Live." This will be broadcast simultaneously on radio (88.7 FM) and television (channel 26) and begins at 6 pm. Come to the studio for free, all-ages access as part of the live audience: Snell Hall on Jefferson in campus, Studio A. Bring your friends and show up early, around 5:30.