Ryan Masters recalls how excited he was in 2006 when his avant-pop band the Suborbitals released its debut record, Blackout Rolling. It felt like there was some momentum behind the group, and he was ready to get in the studio and record a follow-up album.
The following year, a series of personal issues led him to Atlanta for five years. He still worked on material for his band, and when he moved back to the area, they were playing live again. But it’s at this upcoming show at the Crepe Place that the Suborbitals will finally release that follow-up, Hey Oblivion. It may have taken longer than expected, but Masters believes the album benefitted.
“It didn’t have the murky darkness of our live shows,” he says of the group’s first record. “We’ve always had a reputation as a good live band. We’ve never had any solid recordings behind us. We’d have to say, ‘come see us live.’ This album sounds like us. It’s really moody and dark. We can send people this album to see what we’re like.”
Besides vocalist Masters, the group is comprised of Heath Proskin on bass, Gordon Stokes on drums and Ben Herod on baritone sax and flute. There’s a gritty punk sound mixed with a mysterious jazzy quality, and the execution at times sounds like cabaret-pop with a dark side.
The band members have been re-energized by finally getting their sophomore album out.
“It went so well that I’m hoping we’ll make another one. Of course, I said that last time, and it took 12 years. I probably shouldn’t say that this time,” Masters says.
INFO: 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 4. Crepe Place, 1134 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz. $10. 429-6994.
