The Obvious

The Obvious
Frontwoman Surojanie "Angie" Sugrim performs at the Asbury Lanes. February 10, 2012.
Background information
Origin	Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Alternative rock, grunge, punk rock
Years active	2005 (2005)–present
Members	Surojanie Sugrim Daniel Astorri Mike Smith Rob Blake

The Obvious is an independent alternative/punk rock band that was formed in Asbury Park, New Jersey in mid-2005. The band currently consists of frontwoman Surojanie "Angie" Sugrim (guitar, lead vocals), Dan Astorri (lead guitar, vocals), Mike Smith (bass), and Rob Blake (drums). The band has shared a similar style to other punk/alt-rock bands such as early Nirvana, Hole, and the Afghan Whigs.^[1] The Obvious has developed itself to be one of the most prominent punk rock acts in the mid-2000s revival of the Asbury Park music scene.^[2]

History

Formation

The Obvious originally began as a duo founded by Angie Sugrim and Dan Astorri. The two friends had grown up in the suburbs of New Jersey and had begun playing music together around the time they were in high school. Similarly-influenced by early-nineties' alternative rock, Sugrim and Astorri began writing songs together for themselves.^[1]

The band became a serious project over the years since Sugrim and Astorri began writing songs together in high school, and in mid-2005, they chose the name "The Obvious" for their musical project. A Political Science major with a minor in Women's Studies from Rutgers University, Sugrim stated that the name came from a quote from an essay she read in school: "People like us, we fight for the obvious".^[3] The band's songs are known for their sociopolitical lyrics and content.^[1]

In 2007, the band began performing live after adding bassist Joy Bellamy and drummer Matt Guzda. Continuing to develop their sound, the Obvious had begun to carve out their own little path among the numerous Asbury Park performers. In 2008, at the 16th annual Asbury Park Music Awards, the Obvious won the award for "Top Indie Rock Band".^[4] In 2009, before the band began to record their first EP, Bringing Wreck, both Bellamy and Guzda were replace by bassist Mike Smith and drummer Kevin Conroy.^[1]

Bringing Wreck

With the new line-up, the Obvious headed into Little Eden Studios with the Bouncing Souls' Pete Steinkopf producing.^[3] Shortly thereafter, on July 23, 2010, the Obvious released their debut EP entitled Bringing Wreck.^[5] The EP was called a "precarious downhill delight filled with a savage self-awareness" by critics.^[6]

All songs written and composed by Surojanie Sugrim, Daniel Astorri, Mike Smith, Kevin Conroy. 

Through the rest of 2010 well into 2011, the Obvious continued to develop and perform their unique brand of punk rock. They continued to gain fans and receive praise from local press as one of the most tenacious and wild live bands to come out of the scene.^[2]

2011–present

In September 2011, it was announced that drummer Kevin Conroy would be leaving the band and moving to the west coast.^[7] The Obvious almost immediately recruited a replacement and named musician Rob Blake as the new drummer.

The Obvious has hinted at a new EP and/or full length to be released sometime in the near future.^[1]

Discography

EP

• Bringing Wreck (2010)
• Unreleased EP (2012?)

References

External links

• The Obvious on Facebook