Fri 3/31 @ 8PM
Kent New Wave band the F Models were one of the area’s shiny promising bands in the early 80s when the music scene seemed ripe for rebirth. The quartet — Steve McKee on drums, Steve Richter on bass, Bill Ferrell on guitar and frontman/singer/guitarist/ songwriter Robert Morningstar aka Ig Nition — rocked area venues with their high-energy pop-inflected punk rock from 1981-83.
They released a couple of 7” singles to share their outlook and attitude with a wide audience, but sadly in late 1983 Morningstar committed suicide. So the band became a footnote, while other alternative bands in NE Ohio earned attention and acclaim.
Now some of their devotees, such as archivist jmi imig and recording engineer Jim Demain, have arranged to recover their legacy with a new two-disc CD called In Loving Memory, compiling live, rehearsal and studio recordings, mostly from imig’s collection and one disc consisting of a live show recorded at JBs in 1982.
Local music historian Marky Ray will be hosting a CD release party for the disc at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron. He’ll livestream interviews with former band members McKee and Ferrell and play the CD. There’ll also be a performance by ’Snot Rights, jimi Imif’s F Models tribute band.
Tickets are $20-$25 and include a copy of the double disc. Go here to get them.