Karate Band

Karate band, formed in Boston in 1993, fused indie rock, emo, post-rock, and jazz fusion in groundbreaking ways. Their genre-defying sound, craftsmanship, and DIY ethos quickly solidified their reputation within the ’90s underground scene.

Founding trio Geoff Farina (vocals/guitar), Eamonn Vitt (bass/guitar), and Gavin McCarthy (drums) launched the band’s first demo tape, Sometimes You're a Radio, in 1993. Jeff Goddard joined on bass in 1995, allowing Vitt to switch to second guitar before his departure in 1997.

Between 1994 and 2004, Karate released six studio albums Karate (1995), In Place of Real Insight (1997), The Bed Is in the Ocean (1998), Unsolved (2000), Some Boots (2002), and Pockets (2004) all on Southern Records. These albums showcase their evolving blend of intricate musicianship and emotive lyricism.

Their third album, The Bed Is in the Ocean, received critical acclaim for its emotional resonance and experimental edge. Pitchfork described its dynamic shifts and jazzy arrangements as delivering “knockout punches” that split between raw emotion and textured atmosphere.

In 2003, Karate recorded In the Fishtank 12, a live-in-studio EP featuring covers of socially critical tracks by The Minutemen and Bob Dylan. The project illustrated their ability to reinterpret classics through their jazz-tinged indie lens.

Karate played nearly 700 shows across 20 countries before disbanding in July 2005 due to Geoff Farina’s hearing issues. Their final show took place in Rome on July 10, 2005, marking the end of a twelve-year, definitive era.

In 2007, the band released 595, a live album capturing their 595th performance in Leuven, Belgium. Praised for its warmth and energy, the record showcased a group whose live intensity matched and often exceeded their studio work.

After an extended hiatus, Karate reunited in 2022 under Numero Group, who reissued their catalog. A deluxe box set followed in 2023, compiling studio albums, EPs like In the Fish Tank, and rare singles

Karate band released their first new album in two decades, Make It Fit, on October 18, 2024. The record funded via Kickstarter blends elements of jazz, post-hardcore, and indie rock, demonstrating the band’s continued evolution

The band resumed touring in late 2022, playing festivals like Primavera Sound in 2023 and touring the U.K. and Europe in late 2024 confirming Karate’s enduring presence and influence in alternative music scenes