Geoff Farina

Geoff Farina has demonstrated equal skill as a composer, guitarist, and partner across multiple ventures in independent music. He earned his primary recognition fronting the three-piece group Karate, yet he also shares credit for establishing the elusive indie folk project the Secret Stars alongside Jodi Buonanno. During his Massachusetts high school period, Farina attended classes with several future members of the 1980s metal and glam revival bands Kix and Poison. His trajectory diverged sharply from those peers once he finished college studies in jazz guitar and launched Karate in 1992 together with drummer Gavin McCarthy and bassist Jeffrey Goddard. The trio blended progressive jazz touches with unconventional classic rock structures, issuing its earliest recording as the Death Kit 7" single through The Self-Starter Foundation. While maintaining commitments to Karate, Farina helped form the Secret Stars with Jodi Buonanno in 1993. That duo pursued a stronger folk direction, initially aimed at crafting love songs for their friends, and often featured Farina on acoustic guitar. Over time the Secret Stars expanded into a flexible ensemble of East Coast indie musicians that included Ted Leo. Farina sustained activity in both Karate and the Secret Stars, resulting in multiple albums from each, the majority appearing on Southern Records. In 1998 he issued his debut solo album, Usonian Dream Sequence, which bridged the electric rock approach of Karate with the romantic folk leanings of the Secret Stars. Subsequent solo releases followed with the Steely Dan 7" and Reverse Eclipse in 2001, both issued by Southern Records. Blobscape arrived in 2002 via Kimchee Records, while 2005 brought New Salt on Xeng Records and Already Told You on Southern Records. Almanac appeared in 2006 on Atavistic.