Playlist:
1) Lady Luck
2) Reaching Back
3) Jack and Jill (Darker Side of Me)
About the stiffness
THE STIFFNESS
-In the Beginning
It all began with two rambunctious teenagers and nothing to do. Joey Centofanti, a “punk-rock” influenced kid from Jefferson Middle School, who picked up the guitar in the likes of Sid Viscous and Johnny Rotten, and Mike Martinez, a timid private-school student of St. James Catholic School, who learned to play guitar in the midst of his father’s CD collection, of which varied from Iron Butterfly, Chicago, and Earth Wind and Fire, to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles.
The two clashed in early September of freshman year, ’04. While attending a West Torrance football game, Mike happened to sit next to none other than Joey Centofanti. Mike took notice of the air-horn in Joey’s jacket pocket and asked what it was for. Without saying a word, Joey lifted the horn out of his jacket and blew it into the crowd in front of him. Security soon found Joey and his horn. When the woman asked him to hand over the horn, Joey had no other option than to cooperate, for he had nothing better to do if he was to get kicked out of the game. Laughing, Mike looked at him and said, “Well there goes six bucks down the drain.” Joey then looked at him again, smiling, and lifted out yet another, smaller air-horn immediately, the two bonded into a partnership which would bare the likes of THE STIFFNESS.
As the school year went by, and with Mike not knowing many people at West Torrance because he had attended a private-school, the two spent a lot of time together. On Friday nights before football games, Joey would go over to Mikes and hangout. It wasn’t very long before the two started jamming together. With Joey’s punk-influenced, modern guitar style, and Mike’s classic rock/blues solos, and jazz chords, the two created somewhat of a unique and catchy sound.
Having fun, the two started creating lyrics for the riffs they were playing. With no need for a serious tone, they began writing about people at school, certain events, and partying. The idea was to make you laugh, and bob your head. As time went by, and more and more riffs were born and modified, the idea of creating a full-functioning band began to solidify. The two began taking to the music in a more stern approach and writing any ideas they had on paper.
-And Then There Were Three
As summer approached with nothing to do, the yearning for a drummer began to grow. Reluctantly, Joey had stumbled upon a skinny white-kid named Kurt Walcher. The two would talk in their P.E. class and soon became friends. To Joey’s surprise, Kurt just happened to play the drums, and play them well. However, Kurt was playing in a band at the time known as the Advocates. With no one else to look to with a drum set, the idea of creating a serious band began to dwindle. Yet, Joey continued to hangout with Kurt over the summer to help pass the time.
Towards the end of summer, and the beginning of sophomore year the three began to mold. Skating around West and getting something to eat here and there became a daily lifestyle. Then, the news over the split of the Advocates gave birth to images of a full-functioning band, yet again. As Joey and Mike began discussing the likelihood of creating a band, they proposed their idea to Kurt. With the love for drumming in his blood, Kurt agreed immediately, and gave birth to THE STIFFNESS. The three began practicing everyday of every weekend they had. Soon, Joey and Mike had taught Kurt all the songs they had created, and thus created a fuel for the band to run on. With Mike now on bass to build a funky-jazz backbone for bridges, Joey on rhythm guitar to dowse the songs in distorted grunge power chords, and Kurt to double kick the baddest beats for their catchy riffs, THE STIFFNESS now had a new stern musical face.
-That Was Then, This Is Now
As THE STIFFNESS continues on their journey to “rock-dom,” and pick up fans along the way, their unique sound of a remolded punk genre grows larger and larger. The trio has been capable of creating a fairly large fan basis that stretches from metal-heads, to punkers, and even to Christian rock followers, all of whom range from eleven to fifty- three. Some have said their unique style, stage presence, and sound reminds them of a scha-less Sublime.
Sublime-esque or not, the band continues to pursue their dream of putting on a good show anywhere they can, and have fun at the same time. From backyard shows, to family barbecue’s THE STIFFNESS’s range is interminable. Wherever there is a show to be played and an audible lonely ear, THE STIFFNESS will be there, rocked on and ready to jam. As they continue to play in front of an ever-growing crowd, THE STIFFNESS doesn’t cease to catch the attention of music lovers from all over. Their catchy riffs and lyrics make it easy for the listener to relate to the music and enjoy the show even more. In a time of conflicting musical genre’s and talents, THE STIFFNESS weaves a variety of styles together to form a well-loved, full sound that you cant help but sing along with.
-In the Beginning
It all began with two rambunctious teenagers and nothing to do. Joey Centofanti, a “punk-rock” influenced kid from Jefferson Middle School, who picked up the guitar in the likes of Sid Viscous and Johnny Rotten, and Mike Martinez, a timid private-school student of St. James Catholic School, who learned to play guitar in the midst of his father’s CD collection, of which varied from Iron Butterfly, Chicago, and Earth Wind and Fire, to Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and the Beatles.
The two clashed in early September of freshman year, ’04. While attending a West Torrance football game, Mike happened to sit next to none other than Joey Centofanti. Mike took notice of the air-horn in Joey’s jacket pocket and asked what it was for. Without saying a word, Joey lifted the horn out of his jacket and blew it into the crowd in front of him. Security soon found Joey and his horn. When the woman asked him to hand over the horn, Joey had no other option than to cooperate, for he had nothing better to do if he was to get kicked out of the game. Laughing, Mike looked at him and said, “Well there goes six bucks down the drain.” Joey then looked at him again, smiling, and lifted out yet another, smaller air-horn immediately, the two bonded into a partnership which would bare the likes of THE STIFFNESS.
As the school year went by, and with Mike not knowing many people at West Torrance because he had attended a private-school, the two spent a lot of time together. On Friday nights before football games, Joey would go over to Mikes and hangout. It wasn’t very long before the two started jamming together. With Joey’s punk-influenced, modern guitar style, and Mike’s classic rock/blues solos, and jazz chords, the two created somewhat of a unique and catchy sound.
Having fun, the two started creating lyrics for the riffs they were playing. With no need for a serious tone, they began writing about people at school, certain events, and partying. The idea was to make you laugh, and bob your head. As time went by, and more and more riffs were born and modified, the idea of creating a full-functioning band began to solidify. The two began taking to the music in a more stern approach and writing any ideas they had on paper.
-And Then There Were Three
As summer approached with nothing to do, the yearning for a drummer began to grow. Reluctantly, Joey had stumbled upon a skinny white-kid named Kurt Walcher. The two would talk in their P.E. class and soon became friends. To Joey’s surprise, Kurt just happened to play the drums, and play them well. However, Kurt was playing in a band at the time known as the Advocates. With no one else to look to with a drum set, the idea of creating a serious band began to dwindle. Yet, Joey continued to hangout with Kurt over the summer to help pass the time.
Towards the end of summer, and the beginning of sophomore year the three began to mold. Skating around West and getting something to eat here and there became a daily lifestyle. Then, the news over the split of the Advocates gave birth to images of a full-functioning band, yet again. As Joey and Mike began discussing the likelihood of creating a band, they proposed their idea to Kurt. With the love for drumming in his blood, Kurt agreed immediately, and gave birth to THE STIFFNESS. The three began practicing everyday of every weekend they had. Soon, Joey and Mike had taught Kurt all the songs they had created, and thus created a fuel for the band to run on. With Mike now on bass to build a funky-jazz backbone for bridges, Joey on rhythm guitar to dowse the songs in distorted grunge power chords, and Kurt to double kick the baddest beats for their catchy riffs, THE STIFFNESS now had a new stern musical face.
-That Was Then, This Is Now
As THE STIFFNESS continues on their journey to “rock-dom,” and pick up fans along the way, their unique sound of a remolded punk genre grows larger and larger. The trio has been capable of creating a fairly large fan basis that stretches from metal-heads, to punkers, and even to Christian rock followers, all of whom range from eleven to fifty- three. Some have said their unique style, stage presence, and sound reminds them of a scha-less Sublime.
Sublime-esque or not, the band continues to pursue their dream of putting on a good show anywhere they can, and have fun at the same time. From backyard shows, to family barbecue’s THE STIFFNESS’s range is interminable. Wherever there is a show to be played and an audible lonely ear, THE STIFFNESS will be there, rocked on and ready to jam. As they continue to play in front of an ever-growing crowd, THE STIFFNESS doesn’t cease to catch the attention of music lovers from all over. Their catchy riffs and lyrics make it easy for the listener to relate to the music and enjoy the show even more. In a time of conflicting musical genre’s and talents, THE STIFFNESS weaves a variety of styles together to form a well-loved, full sound that you cant help but sing along with.
COMMENTS view all comments leave a comment
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- expanding man said... on Sun Nov 13th 2005
the stiffness at a Glance
- Name: the stiffness
- Genre: Punk
- Location: , California
Tour Dates:
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07/07/2005 04:00 PM - Amy\'s BackYard [Edit] [Delete]
5613 Konya Dr., Torrance, CA 90503,US - $4
other bands: the sun also rises, the mistake tree, denounce his name, torch the day, and my passion...your pain
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07/20/2005 07:00 PM - The Roxy Theater [Edit] [Delete]
9009 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069,US - $8
only got 50 tickets. reserve one fast.
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10/17/2005 05:00 PM - Auditions For Battle of the Bands [Edit] [Delete]
West High School ( pavilion stage), Torrance, CA 90503,US -
ok. so come cheer us on.
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10/31/2005 05:00 PM - Nick B\'s Haunted Halloween Show [Edit] [Delete]
5223 halison street, Torrance , CA 90503,US - $1 w/ costume, $3 w/o
Other Bands: My Demise, Failed Experiment, Repent or Perish, and Vivi-Skum
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11/04/2005 07:00 PM - West Torrance Battle of the Bands [Edit] [Delete]
West High School, Torrance, CA 90503,US - $5...?
ok. so we made it in. we need u guys to come out nd support us, the more people, the better. If you want, u culd/shuld make a sign/shirt to disctract us when were playing. i highly recommend it. it wuld be pretty sweet if we won this thing, that way we culd play again in the band shell later on, so come and cheer for us. thanks -mike
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11/11/2005 08:00 PM - Steven Brewis\'s Backyard Show [Edit] [Delete]
...? ask evan or my demise, torrance, CA 90503,US - free
show starts at 2:00. we open, check it out. Mydemise is playing too, nd some other bands.
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11/12/2005 02:00 PM - STEVEN B\"S backyard [Edit] [Delete]
4745 191st., torrance, CA 90503,US - FREE
NO DRUGS OR ALCHOL Playing: My Demise Mile High Club The Stiffness ( we play first so get there early, like 1.30) Ellora Incarnation GO!!!!
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11/18/2005 06:00 PM - Bacon\'s Back Yard Show (the sequel) [Edit] [Delete]
Lee St., Torrance, CA 90503,US -
this is still up in the air, but we are planning a show with WHR soon. it will either be on the 18th or 19th. (the stiffness, within human reach, my demise, the mistake tree, ...more? i ono) we\'ll keep it updated when we know more.
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