Gatorface

Started as a project for proverbial “shits and giggles” Alex Goldfarb and Richard Minino (aka Horsebites) from New Mexican Disaster Squad made a valiant attempt at starting a pop-punk band. Their former band was grinding to a halt and their itch to play music together was not yet satiated, so GATORFACE was formed in an attempt to do something new and different. They enlisted the help of fellow Orlando based punks Nick Allam (of the insanely underrated Polluted Youth) and Bryan Quilty to play guitar, and once again Goldfarb and Minino found themselves holding down bass and drum duties as they had for so many years in NMDS. Their chosen genre and focus on simplicity started out because of necessity. While Goldfarb and Minino playing music together was familiar territory, the fact that Alex had never taken on full-time vocal duties in a band was a daunting challenge that took some serious convincing. In 2008 the band began practicing and quickly wrote what would become the “Sick and Stupid” EP (Paper + Plastick). Released on a one-sided 10” with an etched b-side the songs sound like a band trying to get comfortable with what they are doing. An extra song from the same recording session at Crescendo Sound Studios in Gainesville, FL ended up seeing the light of day on the “Incestival” 7” (a four way split featuring New Mexican Disaster Squad, Virgins and Polluted Youth) released on Kiss of Death Records. Refocused and brimming with renewed purpose GATORFACE began writing for a full-length. They eschewed the idea of fitting into the pop-punk genre and started writing songs that came more naturally to them. Taking pages from the books of The Ramones, Descendents, Adolescents, Bad Religion and Screeching Weasel, the new songs were more confident and aggressive. With 12 new tunes under their belt the band decided to put it to tape and hit Crescendo Sound Studios once again in May of 2009 to record their debut full-length “Wasted Monuments.” Recorded over 4 days, the songs are less traditional then their past efforts and more energetic and dynamic. However, Goldfarb’s newfound comfort writing vocals has made his voice stronger and the songs no less catchy. With lyrical themes ranging from cultural imperialism, punk being abducted by people looking to turn a quick buck, and the inability (for some) to separate religion from our public schools, Goldfarb’s words are sometimes scathing and political. However he is quick to make it personal when discussing the demise of his old band, how being a punk has hurt and helped him, and sends a quick thank you to his parents for never making him go to church when he grew up. When approached by old friends at No Idea Records about the new album, the band felt it would be the perfect fit. With only a small amount of touring under their belts and select dates on different festivals throughout the country, GATORFACE is primed to turn it up a notch once the album is made available to the public by No Idea in the fall of 2009.