1992: Ventura Highway. Group forms in Highland Park, California, as Chlamydea and other names better left buried. The group is Ed Smith on guitar, Jeff Sebelia on bass, and David Hamma on drums. The trio soon adds Jason Holley enabling David to switch to guitar. All members write and sing creating chaotic live performances which sometimes take place in unorthodox places such as the infamous "Beatles" show which finds our heroes assembled on a neighborhood apartment rooftop getting four songs off before being shut down by police absurdly outfitted in full riot gear.
1993: That's Number 10 to you. The group decides on the name The Burning Sofa No. 10 and begins releasing tape after tape with titles like The Great Blue Star Sessions (1993-1972) and Roger Keith Casualty EP; and playing shows with other L.A. noise acts such as Polar Goldie Cats and Lutefisk.
1994: Akers of Love. Jeff leaves for "greener pastures" and is replaced by Jack Aker, a longtime friend of Ed's and fan of the group. Jack brings a sweet melodic sense and a more subdued low end to the sound which becomes fuller and tighter as a result. During this time all of the music for Great West Life, the group's seventh tape and first CD, is recorded; as well as Sagittarius. Later that year, Great West Life is released on the group's own label, Krown Pocket. It is coupled with The Days Of Outdoor Haircuts, a collection of earlier songs from cassette releases.
1995: The Year The Sofa Burned. The group makes first and only foray into studio, recording several songs at Poop Alley with Chrisa Sadd, one of which - Rolling Rock (The Curse Of Van Nuys) - becomes the A-side of a 7" released later that year on Derby Records. More fruitful recordings follow with Ken Hovis and his mobile unit. "Pinafore" becomes the A-side and "Liquor Store No. 3" the B-side of a 7" on Krown Pocket, also released that year. Sagittarius Excerpt EP, a 7" containing five of the original Sagittarius cassette songs, is released on Krown Pocket. The group acquires some new recording equipment so they never have to be produced again. And oh yeah...I think that's the year we kicked out Jason. I know, it sucks. What can we say? It seemed the thing to do.
1996: The Sofa Incorporates, sort of. The group attracts a couple volunteer managers in an attempt to get whatever a group is supposed to get from a manager, and gets serious about recording at Ed's newly-christened home studio, Lufthansa Garden. They're back to being a trio with Ed and David trading off on drums. The sound becomes more punk rock. Around this time, they begin using the Burning Softies moniker when playing semi-acoustically. Lindsay Glover, friend of a friend, joins up and brings a solid if somewhat jazzy feel to the group, essentially rocking them harder than they've ever been rocked before. The managers don't really do anything so the Sofa books their own tour, playing shows in Fresno, San Francisco and Portland. Puritan forms, possibly David's backlash against the never-ending Sofa recording sessions.
1997: The Plane That Would Not Land. After about a year and a half of recording, the Sofa still does not have its record together though there is enough material for at least three. Alas, the bloat of success has descended upon our heroes! Blame it on film soundtracks (Staccato Purr of the Exhaust) or Wandering Lucy or Dan Hanken (he's usually to blame); or the revolving door policy adopted by the group which allows new members to come and go, creating a fluxlike musical atmosphere very conducive to creativity but not so conducive to getting anything done. Actually, this policy is never formally implemented; nevertheless, Corey Granet joins up, making the group an awesome and stunningly proggish ensemble. The melodies fly out of every corner, often cancelling each other before dropping out altogether into a white abyss. Spring arrives and Jack is gone. No note, not even a phone call from his other band's rehearsal space. Nothing. So the four remaining Sofa members hit the road, burning up the Southwest and rocking double-bass Dallas before deciding the time was ripe for a name change. So upon returning home, The Burning Softies is officially adopted as the new name despite concerns over the similarly-named K Records band, The Softies. The group plays KXLU's Noyz Pollution program and is later included on their Live Volume Three compilation CD. After having not practiced for a few months, the group plays a short but memorable set at Spaceland where they turn in a 15-minute version of "Eiffleberries," a live staple which has never been released; and a rollicking version of "Violet Crumble."
1998: Potzrebie. While recording new Puritan songs at the resurrected Lufthansa Garden, David surreptitiously raids the vaults and concocts the sequence of songs which will go to make up The Curtain Drawn and The Curtain Parted. He then releases the music as two CDs on Skinny Chest.
2001: Where Are They Now? Although there have been no new releases or performances since the release of The Curtain CDs, reunion rumours continue to float about. In the meantime, Lindsay plays with LA’s Wiskey Biscuit & Future Pigeon; Corey with Warlock; Ed with TSET; and David with anyone who’s left. Jason continues to get his revenge with Ukefink; and Jeff...well, you can see him in Project Runway.
