Local indie rock trio Buzzkill Romantics never made much of an impact in radio, but they still attracted a devoted following. Formed in 2003 by guitarists Jason Hee and Davida Milkes, as well as drummer Charlie Brownell, they created a jagged, angular sound.
Topped by frontman Hee’s brooding vocals and frenzied performances, the band quickly began opening for touring national acts, including The Mooney Suzuki and Razorlight.
Buzzkill Romantics scored a pair of San Diego Music Award nominations, including Best Rock Album, for their 2005 release, “Cold, Cold, Cold,” and toured the East Coast. But with Hee now a respected producer with his own studio and numerous side projects, including performing bass duties with Americana favorites Billy Midnight and singer-songwriter Marie Haddad, the plug is being pulled on the band. Music fans get a chance to say goodbye on Jan. 28 when the trio performs their farewell show at The Casbah. Making the event bittersweet, the concert will double as a release party for their final CD, “Aftermath of Love.”
Although Hee, as frontman, claimed much of the spotlight, he was actually the last component of the trio to come into the picture. Milkes and Brownell had originally teamed up in a group called The San Diego Beat Organization.
Hee approached Milkes after he took part in a White Stripes tribute. The Jack White-led group’s bass-less approach appealed to him, but he opted to up the ante with an additional guitarist.
“The twin guitar and drum attack was challenging to arrange songs for at first,” admits Hee. “But there was great potential for creative interplay, and Charlie lent a solid foundation on which to build the music.”
Though the group has continued to record right up to the end, their final offering was completed in 2006.
“[There is] some new material we’ve started and shelved, but I think we’ve put our best onto the new disc,” he commented.
There are also numerous demos and rehearsal tapes, making posthumous releases a possibility.
While concertgoers are thrilled by Hee’s manic showmanship, he considers this to be part of the reason for the trio’s split.
“Putting on our high intensity shows really takes its toll, physically,” he said. His other musical projects are far less raucous than the Buzzkill Romantics.
“I really don’t expect to ever be making such intense music again.”
Hee cites receiving an award for Best Rock Moves at the 2005 San Diego Music Awards pre-party as a high point of his time in the band. His biggest disappointment came during an East Coast tour.
“CBGB’s was really underwhelming,” he remarked. “[The club] was on life support by the time we played there.”
Despite the venue’s legendary status, Milkes was also left unimpressed.
“I really didn’t feel a sense of history,” she said. “The bartender told me that next door was where the real CBGB was and that pretty much ruined it for me.”
Still, she feels the experience was worth it.
“It’s just one of those places you should have on your list of places to play. I’m glad we were there now that it’s gone,” Milkes said.
Hee is succinct.
“I’d rather play the Casbah or the Ken Club any night of the week,” he said.
Following the band’s final show, Hee will concentrate in production work at his studio. Upcoming credits include CDs from quirky rockers Static Halo, “nerdcore” rappers MC Gigamach and Ja’heez, as well as Billy Midnight.
Hee acknowledges the fans’ disappointment in Buzzkill Romantics’ split. However, he sums up the combo’s time together in unsentimental fashion, with an analogy likening their career to one of his lyrics.
“I would consider the new CD an exclamation point,” he quipped. “And it’s been one hell of a sentence.”
The Buzzkill Romantics perform at The Casbah, 2501 Kett-ner Blvd., on Monday, Jan. 28. Admission is $7, 21 and up. For more information visit www.casbahmusic.com.