Photos by Falconeer Productions
The Right Offs are a New Haven, CT., USA based trio who consistently channel every ounce of joy, grit, and energy they can muster into their unique brand of rock. Fronted by the soulful and instantly memorable vocals of singer/songwriter/guitarist Maxwell Omer, the band also includes the dynamic rhythm section of Than Rolnick on bass/backing vocals and drummer Bob Rock. Of their live performances the New Haven Independent said "The Right Offs sounded tight, even tighter than the band is on its last release, and more ferocious, raging around the twists and turns in the band's clever, tightly wound material," while the NHV.org Music blog called one of their shows "one of the most high energy performances at Cafe Nine in recent memory...".
After releasing a series of critically acclaimed EPs and a live mini-album, the Right Offs have embarked on their most ambitious studio work yet: Bardo. Clocking in at 10 tracks, Bardo is a resounding reaffirmation of the band's core strengths as an explosive live band and accomplished songwriting team. In addition, the songs presented on the herein break new stylistic ground for the group, building upon their garage and blues roots but with newfound confidence, maturity, and focus on songcraft and production. With the album's release, Bardo provides a link to the band's past as well as an enticing and worthy taste of what is yet to come.
"As direct and propulsive as ever, this industrious band (who’ve released two albums and two EPs since 2016) sounds like many great acts mashed together (from Cheap Trick to Johnny Cash), yet utterly original at the same time. A lot of that singular urgency and emotional force comes from the expressive vocals of Maxwell Omer, who can make a broken relationship sound like a political upheaval." - Covid-era Connecticut Music, From Stay-at-Home Anthems to Roof-Raising Rock, January 9 2021
"Bardo lives up to the hype that the band established for themselves with previous two EPs and amazing live shows. The band works even better in long-form, so I shouldn’t be surprised that when The Right Offs rejected the idea of “less is more”, it paid off in one of the year’s coolest records." - Our 50 Favorite Albums + EPs of 2020, CT Verses, January 4 2021
"The combination of visceral playing, emotional singing, and smart songwriting is all over Bardo, the new album from the New Haven-based Right Offs that shows that the pandemic hasn’t slowed the band down. If anything, the trio — Maxwell Omer on vocals and guitar, Than Rolnick on bass, and Bob Rock, a.k.a. Robert Breychak — sounds tighter than ever, their songcraft sharper, their sound just that more expansive, reaching back to the early history of rock ‘n’ roll to make music that sounds fresh for 2020." - The Right Offs Lead The Way, New Haven Independent, October 16 2020
"With each release they’ve taken their sound and expanded it into new and intriguing territories. Their newest album, Bardo, takes their punk leanings and sends them careening into a blender filled with alt-rock, psych rock, and even some indie accoutrements. It’s a fascinating progression to listen to, and one that keeps fans on their toes enough to never even attempt to tire of this band." - 2020 Connecticut Albums of the Year, The Metal Dad, December 4 2020
"The trio’s distinct sound — Omer’s pulsating and passionate guitar, Than Rolnick’s heart restarting beat of a bassline, and Bob Rock’s lightning quick drum beats — punctuated the night time and time again, each song feeling as if it was brand new in the moment." - The Right Offs Rock the Roof, New Haven Independent, November 16 2020
"(Fire In a Theatre) People who can sing like this and who have a knack for rhyming have to be vigilant about keeping to the right side of the Huey Lewis line, but the Right Offs do a great job of being both singer-y and legit..." - Songs We Like, Holy Crap Magazine & Podcast, June 12 2019
"This listener felt something refreshing yet powerful when listening to the three songs, with “Fire in a Theatre” igniting all the air in the room right out of the box— a perfect example of how the band grabs your attention immediately and doesn’t let up..." - The Right Offs Start a “Fire In A Theatre”, New Haven Independent, December 13 2018
"Second Place - Best Overall Band or Artist" - CTNow/Hartford Courant - Best of Hartford Readers Poll 2019, July 2019
"Let’s not mince words here: The Right Offs are, depending on who you ask, perhaps the best...rock band in Connecticut. There are several must-see acts on this list, and this is one of them." - Catch all the music you can: Who’s playing the Meriden Daffodil Festival (and when), Hartford Courant, April 17 2019
In depth interview with Max about Covid times...
- Maxwell Omer Keeps The Fire Burning, New Haven Independent, May 20 2020
"The vocals are one you will never forget...There is so much strength in this band's sound."
- The Right Offs Scream “Fire In a Theatre”, BuzzMusic, March 3 2019
"The Right Offs sounded tight, even tighter than the band is on its last release...and more ferocious, raging around the twists and turns in the band’s clever, tightly wound material." - Right Offs Get Down to Business, New Haven Independent, April 7 2017
"I took a huge risk and booked these guys to play a nighttime gig in the pub at the Glastonbury (CT) Apple Harvest & Music Fest... I thought they were going to be way too loud, way too rowdy and everyone would lose their minds. They were rowdy. They were loud. And everyone loved them. Still one of the best sets from that festival over the last six years, and proof that their sound, while a punch in the face at times, is also highly accessible for anyone who likes to live life on the wild side..." - The Metal Dad: A Decade of CT Music, November 26 2019