BAND BIO
Born out of Portland, Oregon's burgeoning indie pop scene, The Retrofits marry the instrumentation of a jazz ensemble with the catchy melodies and arrangements of a mainstream rock band.
The band was created in 2002 by high school friends and trackmates Jake Oken-Berg (lead vocals, piano) and George McCleary (lead vocals, guitar). Jake ran for Mayor of Portland at age 19, receiving 27% of the vote, and George was one of the nation's top high school runners. The Retrofits started off playing for community benefits such for youth voting, mental health treatment and environmental protection, and the band is still donating its time, money and music to civic endeavors.
Now one of Portland's most popular pop/rock bands, SPIN Magazine lists The Retrofits as one of "The best times you’ll have all month."
The Retrofits opened for national acts Everclear and Pink Martini within their first year of performing, and has added experienced musicians Brud Giles (drums) and Dusty Brooks (bass, vocals) to fill out a sound grounded in jazz piano, acoustic guitar, soulful harmonies, and vivid lyrics.
The Retrofits are "simply, a band worth catching" (The Oregonian).
The Debut Album: Away From Here
The Retrofits debut album "Away From Here" (2007) features 12 original tracks recorded at Portland, Oregon's legendary Kung Fu Bakery Studios. West Coast Performer Magazine says, "The Retrofits' debut album, Away From Here, will surely take this band wherever it wants to go."
The album was engineered by Dave Friedlander (Prince, George Clinton, Pink Martini), mixed by Friedlander and Nick Moon (Gino Vannelli. Liv Warfield), and mastered by Bernie Grundman (Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette, Jamie Cullum) in Hollywood, California.
The Oregonian says Away From Here has "all the tight hooks needed for a successful first recording" and the album includes special guests Stephanie Schneiderman (backing vocals), Brian Davis (congas) from Pink Martini, and Jean-Pierre Garau (organ).
"The entire album has enough surprises to keep it from being compartmentalized...The result is a sound that no one can touch – purely The Retrofits' own" – West Coast Performer Magazine
The band was created in 2002 by high school friends and trackmates Jake Oken-Berg (lead vocals, piano) and George McCleary (lead vocals, guitar). Jake ran for Mayor of Portland at age 19, receiving 27% of the vote, and George was one of the nation's top high school runners. The Retrofits started off playing for community benefits such for youth voting, mental health treatment and environmental protection, and the band is still donating its time, money and music to civic endeavors.
Now one of Portland's most popular pop/rock bands, SPIN Magazine lists The Retrofits as one of "The best times you’ll have all month."
The Retrofits opened for national acts Everclear and Pink Martini within their first year of performing, and has added experienced musicians Brud Giles (drums) and Dusty Brooks (bass, vocals) to fill out a sound grounded in jazz piano, acoustic guitar, soulful harmonies, and vivid lyrics.
The Retrofits are "simply, a band worth catching" (The Oregonian).
The Debut Album: Away From Here
The Retrofits debut album "Away From Here" (2007) features 12 original tracks recorded at Portland, Oregon's legendary Kung Fu Bakery Studios. West Coast Performer Magazine says, "The Retrofits' debut album, Away From Here, will surely take this band wherever it wants to go."
The album was engineered by Dave Friedlander (Prince, George Clinton, Pink Martini), mixed by Friedlander and Nick Moon (Gino Vannelli. Liv Warfield), and mastered by Bernie Grundman (Michael Jackson, Alanis Morissette, Jamie Cullum) in Hollywood, California.
The Oregonian says Away From Here has "all the tight hooks needed for a successful first recording" and the album includes special guests Stephanie Schneiderman (backing vocals), Brian Davis (congas) from Pink Martini, and Jean-Pierre Garau (organ).
"The entire album has enough surprises to keep it from being compartmentalized...The result is a sound that no one can touch – purely The Retrofits' own" – West Coast Performer Magazine
