Biography
Danny Connors, serving as lead vocalist and guitarist for the On Offs, had already built a track record through solo work that produced an EP on Deltasonic, the British label behind the Coral and the Zutons. Bassist Andy Crofts and drummer Luke Goddard each logged nearly a decade in Circa and the High Drivers before the new group took shape. During the summer of 2005 the On Offs coalesced from the remains of a ska band Crofts had been assembling, with the initial lineup consisting of Connors, Crofts, and Mackie on drums; when Mackie exited, Goddard stepped in to handle percussion. Delivering straight-ahead indie rock marked by a punk edge and high energy, the band cultivated a devoted local following in their hometown of Northampton. Early in 2006 Label Fandango released their debut single, “This Town” b/w “Grow Your Own.” Strong press and nonstop gigs—headlining clubs while also supporting larger shows by the Kooks and the Rakes—quickly positioned the On Offs among Britain’s leading buzz acts and earned the approval of U.K. rock legend Paul Weller. A second single, “Wrong Upstairs” b/w “Your Loss,” followed in the summer of 2006, and the group announced further recordings and fresh material for 2007.