Extra Life

Extra Life is a New York-based band led by guitarist/vocalist/composer Charlie Looker. Formed in 2007, Extra Life combines elements of medieval vocal music, aggressive math rock, dark romantic pop and modern classical composition. For years Looker was a core member of noise/chamber group Zs, and has also worked with diverse bands and artists such as Dirty Projectors, John Zorn, Glenn Branca, Period, William Parker, Christian Wolff and the S.E.M. Ensemble. Extra Life also includes various combinations of the following musicians: violinist Caley Monahon-Ward (Snowblink), bassist Tony Gedrich (Stats), drummer Nicholas Podgurski (Yukon), and saxophonist/keyboardist Travis Laplante (Little Women).

Extra Life's debut full-length CD "Secular Works" was released in 2008 on Planaria Recordings to wide critical acclaim, topping many Best and/or Strangest of ’08 lists. The band did a four-week tour of the midwest and west coast, sharing bills with artists including Carla Bozulich, the Dead Science, Excepter, Magik Markers, These Are Powers, Kyp Malone (of TVOTR), Mary Halvorson, the OhSees and Ocrilim. A vinyl-only split EP with Nat Baldwin was also released in 2008 on the Shatter Your Leaves label, followed by east and west coast tours. Plans for 2009 include U.S. and European tours.