Rich Restaino & The Obits, an Austin eight-piece band, plays original pop music with heavy rhythm & blues and soul influences. Restaino came to Austin from New York in 2000 and, after eight years playing in various projects, formed The Obits. Combining elements of Motown, ’60s girl-group, and UK power-pop, the band has released two records since 2009, including the new full-length, We’re in This Thing Together.
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madhouse! news
Restaino Song Wins Award
Restaino’s song “My Favorite Remedy,” featured on 2005's Revisionary Man and still currently in the Obits' setlist, was recently selected the winner in the rock category of America’s Best Songs Open Door Song Contest, 2010. It's still in the running for best overall. The prize includes pitches to artists to record the song, plus possible placement in film and TV . . . Rich is pleased yet skeptical. "I'm waiting to peruse the contract," he says.
We're in This Thing Together
AVAILABLE HERE NOW!
We're in This Thing Together, the new full-length record by Rich Restaino & The Obits, is now available here at richrestaino.com. It is also available through CD Baby, iTunes, and other online outlets in the coming weeks, but this is the best place on the web to get it! We get more of the money that way, and you'll get some extra goodies that the big outlets don't offer.
The record, produced by bassist Alex Sefchick and Rich, is a 12-track juggernaut of power-pop soul.
The songs, written by Rich and with contributions by Hunt Wellborn, Sara Shansky, and ZImmy T., are upbeat, full of aural flourishes, and designed to make you shake your ass and bang your head (or pogo, if the mood strikes).
Guest musicians include Austin horn giants Ed McNames on trumpet (Tribal Nation, the Ginerbread Men, etc.),, and Mark Wilson on saxophones and flute (Burning Spear, Killer Bees, Alejandro Escovedo, etc.). Rich and Alex helmed the recording, with Alex recording and mixing. It's being mastered by Randy Avenell at The Brain Machine Studio, who also mixed and mastered the band's debut, The C'est La Vie EP.
To sample an early mix of one of the tracks, check out "Susie" on the media player at the top of the page. More samples and info to come!
NEW ZIM & KNUX RECORD NOW AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH CD BABY!
Why or how The Late Fees earned fans around the world (according to our CD Baby sales) is anybody's guess. The band was never intended to do anything more than entertain principle songwriters, Zimmy T. & Fingers McKnuckles (AKA Neil Kaiser & Rich Restaino). The duo's new record was written, recorded, and mixed in about three weeks this July.
A departure from the raunchy doo-wop punk of the eponymous debut, the upcoming disc is sort of a concept album about a soul duo who goes through many genre changes over the years (R&B, Motown, gospel, psychadelic funk, etc.). Guest performances include Hunt Wellborn, Elzie Sweetcheeks, Lefty Grooves, Mark Ivey, and Heather Pharr. The record is available exclusively through downloads at CD Baby, but limited edition hardcopies may follow. Check out a preview track:
"Culprit in the Pulpit" is a little gospel number featuring Hunt Wellborn as the fallen preacher. Let us know what you think!
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