Exit Verse, the new band from Karate’s Geoff Farina

Acclaimed singer & guitarist Geoff Farina (Karate, Secret Stars, Glorytellers) teamed up with drummer John Dugan (Chisel, Edsel) and bassist Pete Croke (Brokeback, Tight Phantoms) to form Chicago’s Exit Verse early in 2013. Their eponymous debut album in released on EJRC (N.America) & Damnably (UK/Europe) with Big Hustle/Paddy Forwood working PRESS.

Karate quit in 2005 and Geoff is so happy to be back in an electric band that he belts out catchy rockers with more vigor than he has in 2 decades. The album’s concise, gutty anthems ring of the mid-90s when the guitar-driven Karate was shaking basements and DIY venues across Europe. The angular rhythms of “Seeds” and the simmering “Fiddle & Flame” evoke the Karate of In Place Of Real Insight, but the new band demonstrates stronger rock roots, and resounds the classic rock radio and 70s/80s punk vinyl of Farina’s youth. Farina still delivers his songs with the urgency of Karate’s most bellicose moments, but with less self-consciousness and more determination.

The trio tracked these 9 songs during the summer of 2013 at Minbal in Chicago. Later in the year, Farina flew to Boston to do overdubs and mix with his long-time collaborator/engineer Andy Hong (Kimchee/Tape Op), and invited Thalia Zedek (Come, Live Skull) to sing on three tracks and finally, Bob Weston (Shellac/Mission OF Burma) mastered the album at his Chicago Mastering Service. Since the recording, drummer Chris Dye (Speck Mountain, Chin Up Chin Up) replaced Dugan, who left the band to meet work and family commitments.