Rob Sharp - guitars, vocals, lyrics
Max Keene - guitars
Mat Mathews - drums
Pete Colclasure - pianos & keys
Bob Hyde - bass
Others who have graced the stage with us: Doran Bastin (bass), Tom Heyman (pedal steel), Jay Kardong (pedal steel), Steve Norman (pedal steel), Heather Catalinich (vocals), and Colin McGuinness (guitars)
Also appearing on the album "Love Songs & Funeral Homes": guitars by Lord Lizzard (Velvet Dogs), guitars by Chris Gentry (Menswear), vocals by Sparklebritches (S.F.), sexy ass-shaking tambourine by Dan Hulme (Manchester UK engineer extraordinaire), and '70s rock 'n roll backup singing by members of Seattle bands Smile Brigade and Shake Some Action.
"Love Songs & Funeral Homes" was recorded at APE Studios, Little Neston, England, with additional tracking at The Playroom and London Bridge studios in Seattle, and Closer Recording in San Francisco... mixed by Tim Mooney (American Music Club, Sun Kil Moon, Portastatic).
Booking: Rob Dube/Paper Scissors (206).427.2552
PR/Publicity: Robert Vickers/Proxy Media (212).674.3541
Influences
Reindeer Section, Nick Drake, Supertramp, Syd Barrett, The Wedding Present, America, The Langley School Music Project, the Go Betweens, Low, Codeine, Talk Talk, early Bee-Gees, the Motels, Small Faces... oh, and levitation, vast empty skies, salty tears, and the soft lips of a woman in love...
Press:
"With a name like Facts About Funerals, it should be fairly obvious that this isn't party music, which isn't to say that it's not worth celebrating. Love Songs & Funeral Homes is a collection of fuzzy, cough-syrup-coated songs that will leave you feeling warm and blissed out and maybe just a tiny bit disoriented. With close ties to San Francisco, it's no wonder that there are moments that hint at American Music Club's visceral twangst; passing ghosts of Jeff Buckley's quieter moments also flutter by. The result is something wholly its own, and utterly mesmerizing." - Barbara Mitchell, THE STRANGER
“An album built around dreaminess and nostalgia… The best thing about Love Songs & Funeral Homes is that it is fully aware of its greatest assets — bittersweet melancholia, inspiring melodies, and an uncanny ability to tug at the heartstrings. An album fully-fledged and ready for glorious flight…” - Caitlin Berka, PERFORMER MAGAZINE
"Facts About Funerals are at the forefront of something unique: a hazy, slow-burning atmospheric rock band with a penchant for creating grandiose and overly nostalgic alt-country songs... At any given moment they sound similar to the alt-rock migration of late-era Sunny Day Real Estate, or the druggy confusion of any-era Sparklehorse—and it works quite well." - Ezra Ace Caraeff, PORTLAND MERCURY
"A haunting, skewed pop sound that mixes Nick Drake with the likes of the Pernice Brothers and Sparklehorse..." - Steve Leggett, ALLMUSIC/BILLBOARD.COM
"Here’s another great record from a band you’ve never heard of... The music is dense and murky but soothing and soaring... The voice and delivery bear a keen resemblance to Jake Smith, whose band Mysteries of Life released a fine record for RCA in 1998... and there’s even some potent rock ’n’ roll on the chugging Cracker-meets-Mott the Hoople 'Black Whiskey' — with seriously cool Phil Manzanera guitar sounds." - Michael Lipton, CHARLESTON GAZETTE
"There is an awful lot of musicians out there right now trying to pull off an alt-county sound, probably far more than the genre can support, but Facts About Funerals do it with so much heart that they are impossible to ignore..." - James Dufendach, 30MUSIC
"if I bash this album as being overdramatic, sappy, and - worst of all - mediocre, I'm going to look like a big dick... Thanks a lot Rob Sharp. Thanks for making me look like an asshole. Jerk." - Adam Coozer, READJUNK
"I have a little crush on (Facts About Funerals)... Maybe it's because they sing songs that are quiet and sweet and want to be played during rainstorms and leave-takings and handholdings." – Samantha Mastridge, SEATTLE METRO BLOG
"With regard to the album’s limitations, we’ll instead examine the positives and its potential... (cue the crickets)... The next break-up scene on a super popular adolescent primetime drama should feature 'Lousy Kisser,' and a portion of the royalties should be earmarked for The Goo Goo Dolls." - David Eduardo, ATHENS FLAGPOLE
Sounds Like
A rainy, windy October night, locked in a '60s convertible on a bluff somewhere, with the heater on, Etta James crackling out the AM radio, kissing someone who makes you wonder if you'll love them forever...?
A new band made up of former and current members of New West Motels, Swell, Sera Cahoone, and Smile Brigade.
Debut disc "Love Songs & Funeral Homes", mixed by Tim Mooney (of American Music Club and Sun Kil Moon), available in limited quantities now (order to the left).
PRESS/PR: Robert Vickers/Proxy Media proxymedia@frontiernet.net (212).674.3541
hey! long time, no talk. i hope you are well. LOTS of changes here that have temporarily put me on a break with music. just wanted to say hello! take it easy! - henry
hey Rob. I'm playing at the Rendezvous this sunday, so no need to go down to Tacoma unless you were planning to anyway for some reason. Come say hey if you're around. CJ
that was hands down, the best email i've ever received. tell liz thank you for me. and p.s. i am working on a new song about being married to her. a kid can dream...
