Underground indie band makes its mark

STRFKR: The name sounds vaguely familiar, like an old acquaintance or a distant memory.

If you saw Target’s Pepto-Bismol commercial featuring the song “Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second” in 2009, then STRFKR is on your radar.

But the group, comprised of Joshua Hodges on keyboards, Shawn Glassford on bass and Keil Corcoran on drums, is more than something recognizable from entertainment’s past. Rather, it’s the underground triple threat of lighthearted, good-spirited and dance-worthy indie-pop rock.

STRFKR, however, did not always occupy such a prestigious position within the underground music scene.

The animated trio had a rough start because of its unconventional and provocative name, which led to failed licensing deals and wary industry representatives. The group even changed its name at one point but decided to remain true to its original idea.

“We kind of just decided that we didn’t really care. We eventually just gave in and accepted our fate,” said Corcoran, who is not an original member but has dealt with concerns regarding the band’s name.

With this nonchalance came an adventurous spirit. STRFKR tackled criticism from the forefront, which prepared the band to be even more daring.  For instance, STRFKR often dresses in drag for its music videos and live performances — a rarity even in the often-bold music industry.

“Sometimes when we’re in weird little cities, people are freaked out by it, so we enjoy that aspect,” Corcoran said. “I think we started out just doing it for fun and it’s been a pleasant byproduct to see people be weirded out.”

STRFKR’s music keeps with this spry and lively attitude and employs a vivacity in its tracks. This energy is inspired, in part, by the band’s particular fondness for “music that young people are making.”

“We’re all like 30 and sh-t but I have a lot of respect for kids doing rap stuff when they’re like 18,” Corcoran said.

In addition to celebrating youth culture, STRFKR is inspired by Zen philosopher Alan Watts, whom the band samples in an assortment of songs including “Florida” and “Hungry Ghost.”

STRFKR, however, doesn’t do it for the sake of jumping on the sampling bandwagon. Instead, the band uses the technique as a means to make its music more dynamic and exciting.

“It’s something Josh just does if he feels that it needs a little something, which I think is cool,” Corcoran said. “It makes it interesting.”

STRFKR’s willingness to experiment, along with the band’s longevity, has allowed the band to develop its musical complexity.

“It’s [STRFKR’s music] definitely evolving,” Corcoran said. “The songs are getting a little bit more intricate.”

This ongoing development has engendered a slew of new opportunities for the band: STRFKR’s “Bury Us Alive” from its second album Reptilian was recently featured on the Chronicle soundtrack.

Though the band is open to new artistic pursuits like film soundtracks, the group remains particular.

“We would love to have our music in more stuff, but we’re just going to take what comes to us,” Corcoran said. “I mean, we pick and choose. We wouldn’t do a commercial for Wal-Mart.”

This selectivity, however,  doesn’t apply to illegal downloading; here, the band’s signature laid-back attitude comes back into play. In fact, STRFKR owes much of its success to piracy.

“If people weren’t downloading our records illegally, I doubt we would have as many people coming to the shows,” Corcoran said. “We don’t get a lot of blog love or radio love just because of our name.”

The lack of media affection has led STRFKR to look to new outlets for its music, which exemplifies exactly what the band believes bigger music labels need to embrace: forward-thinking and a roll-with-the-punches attitude.

“[Piracy] is inevitable, and the only people that are really b-tching about it are the major labels that haven’t updated their industry,” Corcoran said.  “They’re just working on these outmoded models, and it’s just not working for them.”

Other than fighting big, bad business moguls, STRFKR has plans to work on its side project bands: Fake Drugs, Sexton Blake and Skeletron, which all serve as different artistic outlets for the band members to harness their varying creative visions.

“Some stuff just doesn’t really work for STRFKR, doesn’t sound like STRFKR. So that will go into another project,” Corcoran said.

As for future endeavors, STRFKR is happy to take whatever comes its way.

“It’s pretty much we work one record at a time,” Corcoran said. “We just focus on finishing records and booking tours. I mean that’s about as long-term as we think ahead.”

STRFKR is career-driven, but the band also has a sense of humor, which will ultimately get it places.

“We’re not like ‘Oh, we’re going to take over the world and become f-cking rock stars,’” Corcoran said. “We’re just hanging out.”

 

STRFKR is headlining KXSC Fest Saturday, Feb. 25, at Founders Park.