Now you know Major Minus

The Major Minus started off as a fluke in May 2014, but since that time has recorded a debut album, plans to shoot a music video, and is mapping out its first tour this summer.

The five-man group, whose influences include ’70s funk like the Gap Band to pop and hard-rock acts Coldplay and Kings of Leon, formed when lead singer Britt Midgette, who also manages North Park music venue the Irenic, asked guitarist Andres Solomon to help finish two songs he had floating in his head.

Once the songs were complete, the duo decided to record them. They went to DSLR Studios to have the Album Leaf’s Brad Lee record and produce the tracks.

But Midgette decided that he needed more musicians for the short recording session. In came longtime friend Alex Garcia (who, according to Midgette, can “play nearly every instrument known to man”) to lay down bass tracks.

“When Alex heard the scratch demos, he scolded me for not inviting him into the ‘band’ earlier,” Midgette tells the Reader. “I said, ‘What band?’”

To finish the recording, Midgette asked a friend from Pismo Beach to play drums.

Several weeks later, another friend heard about Midgette’s unnamed un-band and asked if they wanted to play a gig at the Ocean Beach Playhouse.

“We took the gig, even though we only had two songs,” says Midgette. “In the three weeks leading up to the show we wrote enough songs to have at least a 25-minute set.”

Midgette, Garcia, and Salomon then recruited Omar Lopez to play rhythm guitar and John Talley to get behind the drums.

Midgette reports, “We had a really good turnout for the show and a lot of positive feedback, so we said, ‘Well, I guess this is a thing,’ and the band was officially formed.”

Since the O.B. show, and after agreeing on a name, the band got to writing new tracks. Those tracks, as well as the two that brought Salomon and Midgette to DSRL Studio, will appear on their upcoming album, Shooting Star.

“We are excited to see what unfolds after we release the EP,” says Midgette, “and can start getting even more traction.”

The Major Minus will play their second show at the Soda Bar on February 17.