Biography
The post-hardcore scene carries an enduring imprint from Far, even though the quartet never matched the commercial heights of the groups they helped shape. Jonah Sonz Matranga, Shaun Lopez, John Gutenberger, and Chris Robyn first assembled in Sacramento during 1991, with Matranga handling vocals, Lopez on guitar, Gutenberger on bass, and Robyn on drums.
Over the following five years the city’s natives steadily grew their following by issuing 7" singles, self-released cassettes, and two independent albums on Rusty Nail and Our Own Records while maintaining a steady touring schedule. Immortal/Epic signed the band in 1996, resulting in the release of Tin Cans with Strings to You; the record drew little attention, yet relentless road work eventually secured an opening slot with the Deftones in 1997.
Those well-received performances led directly to the 1998 arrival of Water & Solutions, Far’s second major-label album. Its emphasis on melody set the record apart from earlier material that had leaned more heavily on the band’s hardcore origins. Although the album later influenced Thursday and Jimmy Eat World, Far disbanded in 1999, freeing each member to pursue separate projects.
Matranga concentrated on his solo endeavor Onelinedrawing and briefly fronted Gratitude under a short-lived Atlantic Records contract. Lopez launched the Revolution Smile, an alternative metal band that issued four albums, including one on Geffen Records, before dissolving in 2006. Gutenberger and Robyn both played in several Sacramento-based metal groups during the same period.
Nearly a decade after the split, Far reunited in 2008 for a brief tour and issued a cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” that received airplay on multiple California stations. Vagrant signed the reactivated lineup in March 2009 and supported the recording of At Night We Live, which appeared the following year.
Over the following five years the city’s natives steadily grew their following by issuing 7" singles, self-released cassettes, and two independent albums on Rusty Nail and Our Own Records while maintaining a steady touring schedule. Immortal/Epic signed the band in 1996, resulting in the release of Tin Cans with Strings to You; the record drew little attention, yet relentless road work eventually secured an opening slot with the Deftones in 1997.
Those well-received performances led directly to the 1998 arrival of Water & Solutions, Far’s second major-label album. Its emphasis on melody set the record apart from earlier material that had leaned more heavily on the band’s hardcore origins. Although the album later influenced Thursday and Jimmy Eat World, Far disbanded in 1999, freeing each member to pursue separate projects.
Matranga concentrated on his solo endeavor Onelinedrawing and briefly fronted Gratitude under a short-lived Atlantic Records contract. Lopez launched the Revolution Smile, an alternative metal band that issued four albums, including one on Geffen Records, before dissolving in 2006. Gutenberger and Robyn both played in several Sacramento-based metal groups during the same period.
Nearly a decade after the split, Far reunited in 2008 for a brief tour and issued a cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” that received airplay on multiple California stations. Vagrant signed the reactivated lineup in March 2009 and supported the recording of At Night We Live, which appeared the following year.
Albums
