The Oprahs

From the first sounds of their latest recordings, The Oprahs jump out of the speakers and permanently imprint themselves in that portion of your mind marked “Music.” To approximate the sound, mix equal helpings of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, throw in some 80’s new wave, and get as far out of your mind as you can before you freak out, before coming down to the warm, earthy roar of the 90’s alternative rock and classic pop the band grew up listening to.
After the loss of their previous drummer, the singer and guitarist of a grungy 3-piece, Paul Trinko, along with bassist and vocalist Sanjiv Laud called on Mike McNichols to keep time and rock out behind the kit. The band was almost complete, but one piece was still missing. At this point, lead guitarist Greg Surges joined, giving the sound a psychedelic glimmer. After two weeks of furious rehearsal, the band made their debut as a 4-piece at Mad Planet in Milwaukee. The audience was delighted with the new dimension in sound, and the band released an EP, “Catholic Acid,” which earned them some local radio play and helped them get a foot in the door at many venues.
Their music continued to evolve, and with the combined ideas of four musically diverse individuals, the songs the band continued to write exhibit a twisted sense of creativity, and a level of musical innovation unseen in Milwaukee.
Since then, The Oprahs have played several shows with bands like The Violent Femmes, the Donnas, Motion City Soundtrack, Sugarcult, Mest, and The Format along with local indie shows all around Southeastern Wisconsin. The band has played venues ranging from veterans halls to one of the largest in the state of Wisconsin, The Rave.
In August of 2004, The Oprahs traveled to Port Washington to record a new demo with a local producer there, Mike Graff. After recording three new songs (Order of Importance, Mojo Kittie and Know One), the band began handing out the demo at shows, and were unable to keep up with the demand, spending hours before each show burning CDs on their home computers.
In the short term, The Oprahs continue to write for their next EP, set for release in the summer of 2005, and are planning a tour following that. Their main goal, however, is to continue to make music they love.