Henning Ohlenbusch, Brian Marchese, Tony Westcott, Max Germer, Ken Maiuri
Influences
The Beatles, XTC, They Might Be Giants, Fountains of Wayne, The Kinks, Radiohead, The Zombies, Paul Simon, Jane Siberry, Harry Nilsson, REM, Elvis Costello, The Smiths, The Cure, Nick Drake
Sounds Like
The Beatles, XTC, They Might Be Giants, Fountains of Wayne, The Kinks, Radiohead, The Zombies, Paul Simon, Jane Siberry, Harry Nilsson, REM, Elvis Costello, The Smiths, The Cure, Nick Drake
A guy named Henning (that's his first name) writes and sings the songs in School for the Dead. That's primarily what one needs to know about this band. In fact, Henning, just recently won the WRSI (one of Rollingstone's Top 10 Radio Stations) Singer Songwriter Contest. Yay.
Members of School for the Dead have been in bands with and/or recorded with such luminaries as Mark Mulcahy (Miracle Legion), Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne), Lloyd Cole, Joe Pernice (Scud Mountains Boys, The Pernice Brothers) and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger.
Bands that members of SFTD have been part of include The Maggies, New Radiant Storm King, The Aloha Steamtrain, The Mammals, The Gay Potatoes, Lo Fine, The Figments, King Radio, Spanish for Hitchhiking, The Tea Lights, and Humbert.
With that information, the savvy reader will have discerned that SFTD is based in the Northeast. Yes, that is the case.
School for the Dead has shared the stage with World Party, Robyn Hitchcock, Evan Dando, Freedy Johnston, Mates of State, Of Montreal, J. Mascis, Jane Siberry (Issa), Fountains of Wayne, Martin Sexton, Harry and the Potters, Naked Eyes, and Ivy among many others.
Here's what some people have said about School for the Dead:
"For about four or five years now, I've been playing Henning's songs for people and saying they were my own. Please don't tell him that. Brief, romantic and simple, in a why-didn't-I-think-of-that way, his stories and melodies touch people without resorting to attitude or pretense. If his name weren't so hard to pronounce, he'd be Yngwie Malmsteen by now."
-- Chris Collingwood (Fountains of Wayne)
"an intriguingly bright disc...rich in verbal color...Listening to "Henning's School for the Dead," I was struck by a simple truth: I like contemporary rock a lot more than I used to....loud or not, intelligible lyrics really are art, and, by the way, there's still a lot to be said for melody."
-- John Stiffler, Daily Hampshire Gazette
***1/2 - "retro sensibilities and comfortable pop songwriting clever imagery and arrangements"
-- James Heflin, Valley Advocate
"Henning's School for the Dead" is the cleanest piece of pop music to come out of Northampton in a while. While he'd also make it in the lands of R.E.M. and Husker Dü, Ohlenbusch is a model of Western Massachusetts pop... (he) has a penchant for saying things how they really are."
-- Josh Shear, Chicopee Herald
The newest School for the Dead album is available now!
Hey Henning. I saw you at the Eleven's last Friday, and it was great. I like the new stuff, but you really need to replenish your stock at Turn it Up in Northampton cause I couldn't find any of your CD's there!
I have a radio show on 90.7 WTCC, the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 8pm. More details and my mailing address are in my blog. Please check it out. I'm seeking local music to play on the show.
You guys were awesome Saturday night! Also, the costumes were great. I put a couple of pictures from the show up in my Halloween album if you want to check them out. Thanks for being super keen!
We've almost completed our debut album, "Strange Encounters"! We want all our friends to receive a free copy of this album. To get yours, sign up for our mailing list by sending a blank email to list@opelmusic.org . We will be sending out a message soon to all mailing list members with top secret instructions on how to receive a free copy of our upcoming album, "Strange Encounters"!
Thanks for the add...and good luck with your free gucci bag or enhancement drugs or whatever other kind of spam people have left for you. I like the music.
Greetings School for the Dead,
As you are one of myfriends I have taken the diabolical liberty of thinking you might also be interested in the most excellent new Mr Bird LP, 'Know Your Rodents'. There is a few tracks up on the following myspace link from this awesome album:
http://www.myspace.com/mrbirdknowyourrodents
go and give your ears some comfort, you never know, aural pleasure might be the result.
Thanks School for the Dead for being such an awesome part of our myspace family.
I apologise whole heartedly if you think this is spam and you hate our music, let me know please.
Love and Respects . . 4Ever the Music . . KidJaM . .
Hosted By: The Flywheel When: Saturday Mar 17, 2007 at 12:00 PM Where: The Flywheel 2 Holyoke St. Easthampton, MA 01027 United States Description: This is The Flywheel's last party before the big move. Come celebrate 8 years of great music and art at The Flywheel.
Here's the line up: 12:00pm SUPER 88, 12:35 THE NOVELS, 1:10 COUNT WESTWEST, 1:45 CARLTON FAMILY FIASCO, 2:25 BUNWINKIES, 3:00 ASRA (aka Alleged Satantic Ritual Abuse), 3:25 SHANK'S PONY, 4:00 THE SHEPHERDS, 4:35 PHLOYD STARPOLI, BRUCE TODD, ANDY CRESPO TRIO, 5:00 CARRIE FERGUSON & FRIENDS, 5:35 DIANA DAVIES, 6:10 THRILLPILLOW, 6:45 BULLSEYE, 7:20 OPEL, 7:50 GREY SKULL, 8:25 GROUP HUG, 8:50 JOHN SHAW, 9:15 DINGO ROI, 9:55 VASHNI BASHERS, 10:30 FAT WORM OF ERROR, 11:15 HNATIW. See Ya There!
Hosted By: V.I.A. When: Saturday Mar 03, 2007 at 6:00 PM Where: The Flywheel 2 Holyoke St. Easthampton, MA 01027 Description: This show is a Benefit for Flwheel and features predominately female
musicians.
Hiya School for the Dead,
Just to let you know I have posted some new tunes up. So, please do come on over to the woods and have yourself some aural pleasure and a cup of tea or whatever takes your fancy. Let me know what you think of the harmonious vibrations.
Lots of love and RESPECTS to you School for the Dead
OM23 . 4Ever the Music . .Karl . .
Hosted By: Valley Independent Artists When: Monday Feb 19, 2007 at 6:30 PM Where: The Flywheel 2 Holyoke St Easthampton, MA 01027 United States Description: Two great bands from the valley (Northernly & Opel) will be performing with two great artists from Nashville.
Hosted By: V.I.A. When: Saturday Feb 10, 2007 at 8:00 PM ALL AGES!! Where: The Flywheel 2 Holyoke St Easthampton, MA 01027 United States Description: Help support Flyheel by enjoying a night of great Reggae, Ska, Rock, & Punk. Featuring: Danny Pease & The Regulators, Conduit, & jumpTHEpawn.
