Ezra Furman

Ezra Furman
Ezra Furman (2018)
Background information
Born (1986-09-05) September 5, 1986
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres Indie rock, psychedelic rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals, harmonica
Labels Bar/None Records
Bella Union
Associated acts Ezra Furman and the Harpoons, Ezra Furman and the Boy-Friends, Krill
Website www.ezrafurman.com
Ezra Furman and The Visions
Genres Indie rock, psychedelic rock
Years active 2012–present
Labels Bar/None Records
Bella Union
Associated acts Ezra Furman
Past members Ezra Furman
Jorgen Jorgensen
Ben Joseph
Sam Durkes
Tim Sandusky

Ezra Furman (born September 5, 1986) is an American musician and songwriter. Furman currently performs solo and tours with his band The Visions.

Career

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons were a four-piece rock band active between 2006–2011. The band consisted of Ezra Furman (vocals, guitar), Job Mukkada (bass guitar), Adam Abrutyn (drums), and Andrew Langer (guitar). They formed at Tufts University in 2006. They released four albums: the self-released Beat Beat Beat (2006), followed by Banging Down the Doors (2007), Inside the Human Body (2008) and Mysterious Power (2011). The group broke up in 2011. After their contract with Minty Fresh Records expired, the band released a self-produced compilation album in 2009, Moon Face: Bootlegs and Road Recordings 2006–2009, which included live recordings and some of Furman's solo work.

The Year of No Returning

After touring in support of the album Mysterious Power, Furman recorded a solo album, entitled The Year of No Returning, without a label. Furman raised money through Kickstarter to fund the recording and self-release of the album.[1] The album was recorded at Studio Ballistico, located at the time in the attic of Furman’s house, and produced by Tim Sandusky, who lived there as well.[2] The album was released in February 2012. At the end of the year, Furman signed to Bar/None Records, who re-released The Year of No Returning in the summer of 2013.

The touring band Ezra Furman and the Boy-Friends formed in spring of 2012 and toured in support of The Year of No Returning. The band consisted of Jorgen Jorgensen (bass), Ben Joseph (keyboard, guitar), and Sam Durkes (drums). Tim Sandusky (saxophone) joined in 2013.

Day of the Dog

Furman released Day of the Dog in October 2013, also produced by Tim Sandusky, recorded at Studio Ballistico and released through Bar/None Records.[3] This album got Furman notable press in the UK, receiving a 5/5 review in The Guardian by Michael Hann: "Ezra Furman has made an album of classicist rock'n'roll that never feels like an exercise, but a living, breathing piece of self expression",[4] and an 8/10 review in NME: "A bratty, ragged take on New York Dolls, Spector-era Ramones and E Street Band carnival rock. An unexpected gem."[5]

The band toured the UK in 2014 and were met with positive press. "The punk-fired rock'n'roller isn't too cool to be touched by a richly deserved rave reception", wrote Malcolm Jack for The Guardian, giving the show a five-star review.[6] The tour finished in the autumn with a sold out gig at Scala in London on September 2014.

Perpetual Motion People

In early 2015 Furman signed to Bella Union[7] and on April 27 Furman announced that a new album, Perpetual Motion People, would be released on July 6 in the UK and Europe and on July 10 in the US.[8] Aided by positive critical reviews Perpetual Motion People peaked in the UK charts on its entry week at #23. A series of concerts in the Europe and the USA took place to co-ordinate with the release of Furman's album.

In 2016 Furman released the EP Big Fugitive Life, saying it felt like the "end of a chapter, musically" and calling the collection a "group of our favourite orphaned songs", four of which missed out on inclusion on Perpetual Motion People, and two which came from the time of The Year of No Returning.[9]

In September 2017, Furman's social media posts indicated that The Boy-Friends, active since 2012, had been renamed or reformed as The Visions.[10][11] Apparently no change was made to the line-up of Ben Joseph, Jorgen Jorgensen, Sam Durkes and Tim Sandusky.[12]

Transangelic Exodus

Transangelic Exodus, Furman's seventh album, was released 9 February 2018.[13]

Personal life

Furman is Jewish[14] and is bisexual.[15][16] In interviews, Ezra has stated that he considers himself androgynous, stating: "I am just a male. I don't... I'm not trans[gender] because that would mean I'm not male. I guess I just do being a man different than some."[17], addressing this in numerous songs in his discography. Furman's younger brother Jonah was lead singer and bassist in the Boston-based rock band Krill,[18] until their split in October 2015. Ezra and Jonah also have two more siblings.[19]

Discography

Albums

Ezra Furman and the Harpoons

Solo

Ezra Furman & The Boyfriends

Extended plays

Singles

  • "My Zero"/"Caroline Jones" (2013)
  • "Restless Year" (2015)
  • "Lousy Connection" (2015)[20]

References

  1. ↑ Kickstarter, "Ezra Furman's Kickstarter" July 11, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2015
  2. ↑ Furman, Ezra. Interview by Frances Capell "New Year", San Francisco Bay Guardian, February 9, 2012.
  3. ↑ Bar/None Records. "Ezra Furman", retrieved August 3, 2014.
  4. ↑ Michael Hann (December 5, 2013). "Ezra Furman: Day of the Dog – review". The Guardian. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  5. ↑ Dan Stubbs, "NME Day of the Dog review", NME, October 7, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2015
  6. ↑ Malcolm Jack (February 13, 2014). "Ezra Furman – review". The Guardian. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ Bella Union "Ezra Furman Signs to Bella Union" March 3, 2015. Retrieved 2015-28-04
  8. ↑ Ben Kaye "Ezra Furman announces new album Perpetual Motion People, Consequence of Sound, April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015
  9. ↑ "EZRA FURMAN announces 'Big Fugitive Life' EP". Bella Union. June 28, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ "RIP The Boy-Friends 2012–2017". 2017-09-07. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  11. ↑ "Welcome The Visions 2017–". 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  12. ↑ The 2015 line-up of The Boy-Friends seems to contain the same members – "Ezra Furman announces new album "Perpetual Motion People"". Bella Union. 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
  13. ↑ Michelle Geslani (2017-10-23). "Ezra Furman announces new album, Transangelic Exodus, unveils "Love You So Bad": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  14. ↑ "Ezra Furman on outcasts, Chuck Berry and Judaism | Music". The Guardian. September 24, 2014. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
  15. ↑ Furman, Ezra (July 3, 2015). "Pretty punk rock: how Ezra Furman found freedom in gender fluidity". The Guardian. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  16. ↑ Smith, Patrick (February 7, 2018). "Ezra Furman interview: 'I wouldn't call myself gender-fluid'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  17. ↑ Smith, Patrick (2018-02-07). "Ezra Furman interview: 'I wouldn't call myself gender-fluid'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2018-05-30.
  18. ↑ Sarah Grant (February 29, 2016). "Between Two Furmans: Indie According to Brothers Ezra and Jonah". Village Voice. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  19. ↑ Mark Redfern (February 20, 2017). "2016 Artist Survey: Ezra Furman". Under The Radar Magazine. Retrieved March 4, 2017. I was one of four kids.
  20. ↑ Cummings, Bill (May 1, 2015). "Track Of The Day #680: Ezra Furman – Lousy Connection". Retrieved July 8, 2015.
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