The OBGMs | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | punk rock |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Blackbox Recordings |
| Members | Densil McFarlane Colanthony Humphrey Joe Brosnan |
| Past members | Jemuel Roberts |
| Website | theobgms |
The OBGMs (The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores) are a Canadian punk rock band from Toronto, Ontario.[1] They are most noted for their 2020 album The Ends, which was a shortlisted finalist for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize.[2]
The band consists of vocalist Densil McFarlane, guitarist Joe Brosnan and drummer Colanthony Humphrey.[3] Keyboardist Jemuel Roberts was also a member of the band in the mid-2010s,[4] but is no longer with the band.[3]
The band was formed in 2007, initially as a hip hop production duo consisting of McFarlane and Humphrey.[4] Their music became more punk-oriented after they were arrested in a racial profiling incident, which interfered with McFarlane's plans to attend university in the United States.[5] They released their debut EP, Interchorus, in 2009.[4]
Because McFarlane and Humphrey are Black Canadians, in their early years the band were often booked on urban music bills, and struggled to break through in the punk scene.[5] This began to change in 2014 after the band were selected for a Budweiser ad campaign, in which they were told that they were being interviewed for a documentary film on undiscovered independent bands, but when they arrived at the interview venue they were in fact immediately offered the opportunity to play a show for a packed house comprising the largest audience they had ever performed for to that point.[6] They subsequently performed at Budweiser's Made in America Festival, and at the New York City Afropunk Festival.[7] They released their self-titled full-length debut album that year.
The Ends, produced by Dave Schiffman and recorded at Dreamhouse Studios in Toronto, was released on October 30, 2020.[8] Around the same time, they were selected alongside JJ Wilde, SonReal and Northcote as one of four musical acts to be promoted by Collective Arts Brewing's Audio/Visual Lager, which helps to promote independent musicians with special limited edition band-themed cans.[9]
In March 2021, the band also launched the Band Practice podcast.[10]
Humphrey is the older brother of rapper Clairmont the Second.[11]
References
- ↑ Imran Khan, "Punk Rabble-Rousers the OBGMs Kick Out the Jams on ‘The Ends’". PopMatters, July 7, 2021.
- ↑ David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.
- 1 2 Rob Hughes, "Introducing The OBGMs, your new Canadian punk rock overlords". Louder, November 11, 2020.
- 1 2 3 Sarah Greene, "Ooohh Baby Gimme Mores: Board games, Budweiser and busting through to the top". Now, August 7, 2014.
- 1 2 Graham Isador, "The OBGMs Need to be Toronto's Next Big Punk Band". Vice, December 8, 2020.
- ↑ "Budweiser's 'Epic Concert' Provides Canadian Band With Gig Of A Lifetime". Canada NewsWire, July 10, 2014.
- ↑ Kevin Jones, "The OBGMs Rivoli, Toronto ON, September 12". Exclaim!, September 13, 2014.
- ↑ Calum Slingerland, "The OBGMs Detail New Album 'The Ends'". Exclaim!, August 12, 2020.
- ↑ "Collective Arts Brewing Releases Black Box Music Edition of Audio/Visual Lager". Canadian Beer News, October 13, 2020.
- ↑ Elizabeth Scarlett, "The OBGMs launch hilarious new music, entertainment and comedy podcast". Louder, March 30, 2021.
- ↑ Anna Fitzpatrick, "The Smart Set". Toronto Life, April 9, 2018.