Necktie Killer

In the early days of Necktie Killer — 2006 or so — its MySpace profile touted the band as a “bunch of band geeks" from Redmond High School.

This was not clever marketing speak aimed at capitalizing on the increasingly cool status of nerds.

“When I say 'band geek,' that's a real thing to us," gregarious Necktie vocalist Ben Mann said in an interview earlier this week. “In seventh grade ... I'm not saying it necessarily makes you uncool, but it certainly is not something that people are like 'Right on!' when you're packing a trumpet case off the bus and stuff."

Indeed, the nascent Necktie Killer was truly a bunch of band geeks, and their catchy blend of ska and punk music was a portal from what they considered uncool instruments to the forever cool world of rock 'n' roll.

“In eighth grade, I got a copy of 'Turn the Radio Off' by Reel Big Fish, and it was my first exposure to the fact that you can play horns in a rock band," Mann said. “You can say the f-word in songs that have horn parts. That is awesome!"

Mann's longtime friend, guitarist (and former trombonist) Steve Miller, had the same feeling after hearing Big Wet, an early collaboration between Mann and former Necktie bassist Andy Freauff.

“I rewound it on the tape player over and over again," he said. “I've been a band geek and now all of a sudden I know these guys playing in bands. I didn't know people did bands. I thought people on the radio did bands."

Fast-forward nearly seven years. The band-geek thing has faded as the band's lineup has changed, leaving only Mann and Miller as remaining founding members. These days, Necktie Killer is a local powerhouse, a popular band that has no trouble booking shows in a region that isn't necessarily super ska-savvy.

And today, they're on the cusp of finally handing over to fans copies of their debut album, which has been in the works for almost five years. Tonight, Necktie Killer will play at their Bend practice space (see “If you go"), and folks who pay the $12 cover will at the same time pre-order a CD.

The album is called “Heavy & Horny," and it was recorded over two or three years, ending in 2010. Since then, Freauff mixed it when he had the time, and recently, the band paid to have it mastered. Now they need money to actually turn their master copy into CDs.

For anyone who has seen Necktie over the past several years — at a festival, one of their countless bar gigs or as they skanked their way to the title of Last Band Standing in 2011 — “Heavy & Horny" will be more of what makes the band so much fun live: memorable melodies, a crunchy twin-guitar attack, sweaty punk-rock urgency (and antiestablisment ethos), occasional forays into hip-hop, metal and straight reggae, and a horn section that provides a brassy, vibrant quality that is simply irresistible.

The current lineup includes Mann and Miller, plus guitarist Buck Shearer, drummer Karl Lindgren, bassist Keegan Leonberg, trumpeter Keemun Senff and trombonist Alex Freauff, the younger brother of Andy, who recently left the band.

Together, the septet can bounce all over the spectrum, from Mad Caddies-style ska-punk to Weezer-esque pop-rock to heavier stuff inspired by Miller's love of Tool. Heck, this is a band that covers Garth Brooks and Rancid.

It's that stylistic breadth that powers Necktie's broad appeal, according to Mann, who said the band has had elderly ladies offer positive post-show feedback and recollections of the funk and jazz of their younger years.

“I didn't anticipate being so well received by the community, because I've seen this kind of music consistently pushed out to the fringe," he said. “People do like the horns, but it's less about just that and more about what we're doing overall. We will write tunes that will give you a little of everything, (especially) some dynamic melodies and some really well-put-together stuff."

You may never know what you're getting from a Necktie Killer song, but one thing is for sure: The band's fans are loyal and supportive ... and demanding.

“So many times we've been approached by fans: 'What can I do to get an album? What do you guys need me to do?' Because it's been such a long wait," Mann said. “So now we're saying all we need you to do is come and buy (the CD) a few weeks in advance. We've got the arrangements lined up with the company that will be pressing it."

Miller jumps in: “We just need to give them thousands of pennies. Actually, it's more like thousands of dollars, really."

Mann laughs.

“It might be millions of pennies," he said.
- The Bulletin

In the early days of Necktie Killer — 2006 or so — its MySpace profile touted the band as a “bunch of band geeks" from Redmond High School.

This was not clever marketing speak aimed at capitalizing on the increasingly cool status of nerds.

“When I say 'band geek,' that's a real thing to us," gregarious Necktie vocalist Ben Mann said in an interview earlier this week. “In seventh grade ... I'm not saying it necessarily makes you uncool, but it certainly is not something that people are like 'Right on!' when you're packing a trumpet case off the bus and stuff."

Indeed, the nascent Necktie Killer was truly a bunch of band geeks, and their catchy blend of ska and punk music was a portal from what they considered uncool instruments to the forever cool world of rock 'n' roll.

“In eighth grade, I got a copy of 'Turn the Radio Off' by Reel Big Fish, and it was my first exposure to the fact that you can play horns in a rock band," Mann said. “You can say the f-word in songs that have horn parts. That is awesome!"

Mann's longtime friend, guitarist (and former trombonist) Steve Miller, had the same feeling after hearing Big Wet, an early collaboration between Mann and former Necktie bassist Andy Freauff.

“I rewound it on the tape player over and over again," he said. “I've been a band geek and now all of a sudden I know these guys playing in bands. I didn't know people did bands. I thought people on the radio did bands."

Fast-forward nearly seven years. The band-geek thing has faded as the band's lineup has changed, leaving only Mann and Miller as remaining founding members. These days, Necktie Killer is a local powerhouse, a popular band that has no trouble booking shows in a region that isn't necessarily super ska-savvy.

And today, they're on the cusp of finally handing over to fans copies of their debut album, which has been in the works for almost five years. Tonight, Necktie Killer will play at their Bend practice space (see “If you go"), and folks who pay the $12 cover will at the same time pre-order a CD.

The album is called “Heavy & Horny," and it was recorded over two or three years, ending in 2010. Since then, Freauff mixed it when he had the time, and recently, the band paid to have it mastered. Now they need money to actually turn their master copy into CDs.

For anyone who has seen Necktie over the past several years — at a festival, one of their countless bar gigs or as they skanked their way to the title of Last Band Standing in 2011 — “Heavy & Horny" will be more of what makes the band so much fun live: memorable melodies, a crunchy twin-guitar attack, sweaty punk-rock urgency (and antiestablisment ethos), occasional forays into hip-hop, metal and straight reggae, and a horn section that provides a brassy, vibrant quality that is simply irresistible.

The current lineup includes Mann and Miller, plus guitarist Buck Shearer, drummer Karl Lindgren, bassist Keegan Leonberg, trumpeter Keemun Senff and trombonist Alex Freauff, the younger brother of Andy, who recently left the band.

Together, the septet can bounce all over the spectrum, from Mad Caddies-style ska-punk to Weezer-esque pop-rock to heavier stuff inspired by Miller's love of Tool. Heck, this is a band that covers Garth Brooks and Rancid.

It's that stylistic breadth that powers Necktie's broad appeal, according to Mann, who said the band has had elderly ladies offer positive post-show feedback and recollections of the funk and jazz of their younger years.

“I didn't anticipate being so well received by the community, because I've seen this kind of music consistently pushed out to the fringe," he said. “People do like the horns, but it's less about just that and more about what we're doing overall. We will write tunes that will give you a little of everything, (especially) some dynamic melodies and some really well-put-together stuff."

You may never know what you're getting from a Necktie Killer song, but one thing is for sure: The band's fans are loyal and supportive ... and demanding.

“So many times we've been approached by fans: 'What can I do to get an album? What do you guys need me to do?' Because it's been such a long wait," Mann said. “So now we're saying all we need you to do is come and buy (the CD) a few weeks in advance. We've got the arrangements lined up with the company that will be pressing it."

Miller jumps in: “We just need to give them thousands of pennies. Actually, it's more like thousands of dollars, really."

Mann laughs.

“It might be millions of pennies," he said.
- The Bulletin

On Saturday, January 23rd Central Oregon will shake off the cold for a few hours with a three band reggae/ska show at Mountain’s Edge (formerly Timber’s South) in Bend. Local favorites Necktie Killer join Mike Pinto from San Diego and headliners The Supervillains from Orlando, Florida for what’s sure to be a sweaty, groovy mess of fun.

Those who know the jazzy/ska/reggae vibe of bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Sublime will find their groove at this show. The Supervillains have a new CD out (Massive on Law records) and are coming off a successful tour opening for the legendary Wailers so watch out! OMN will feature a full review of the Bend show soon after the dancing stops.

The tour makes three other stops in Oregon including Timbers Bar & Grill in Redmond (Sunday, Jan. 24th), the Doug Fir Lounge in Portland (Monday, Jan. 25th), and Wetlands Brew Pub in Eugene (Tuesday, Jan. 26th). All shows 21+.

Live Free Or Ska Hard!
- Oregon press news