Biography
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Years Active
2003 – present (21 years)
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Founded In
Austin, Travis County, Texas, United States
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Members
- Kyle Robarge
The Murdocks are a three piece power-pop group that hail from Austin, Texas.
The Murdocks formed in 2001 in Austin, Texas, centering around guitarist and singer Franklin Morris. The band released their self-titled EP in 2003, and their debut LP, Surrenderender, in 2005,both on Surprise Truck. After undergoing a line-up change which introduced drummer David Jones and bassist Kyle Robarge into the mix, the band released a new EP in 2008, titled Roar. This release featured a different style than the alternative edge heard on the two previous studio efforts. This new material featured a garage sound with plenty of indie power-pop and 60s influences to boot.
The Murdocks have toured nationally several times, playing over 200 shows with an extremely varied list of artists, including a show with Cake drawing a crowd of over 3,000. They have also played at South By Southwest, the CMJ Festival, and The Warped Tour. In addition to debuting on the CMJ Charts at #80, the band has enjoyed play on local radio stations.
The Murdocks released their second LP, titled Distortionist, on September 14, 2010. The record found the band oscillating wildly from power-pop to heavy screams, a polarity which has become the band's trademark.
Following a period in which the band fell dormant, with its members moving to different parts of the United States, joining various projects, and tending to their personal lives, the band quietly spent some four years working on their third album, titled III, and released the effort in May 2020.
III picks up where Distortionist left off, delving into heavier songs while still retaining the band's signature ear for hooks and melody, thanks in large part to the primarily live-tracked production of the band in coordination with Chico Jones.
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