Tony Molina
Tony Molina | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Millbrae, California |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2001 - present |
| Labels | Slumberland, Matador |
| Member of | |
| Formerly of |
|
| Website | Bandcamp |
Tony Molina is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Millbrae, California. He began playing in hardcore punk bands as a teenager and young adult before establishing himself as a solo performer of indie rock and power pop songs.[1] He has released albums on Slumberland[2] and Matador Records.[3]
Molina's solo career began in 2008, when two friends could not show up to a recording session, and asked him to take the session for them. Molina agreed, and recorded his solo songs during that session. These recordings became his debut solo album, Embarrassing Times.[4]
Molina’s second solo album, Dissed and Dismissed, was awarded a score of 7.5 out of 10 by Pitchfork Magazine.[5] His follow-up album, Kill the Lights, was named Stereogum's album of the week in July of 2018, and received praise from Paste and Vice magazines.[6][7][8] He also recorded and toured with The Softies and released material as The Lost Days, a duo with Sarah Rose Janko of Dawn Riding.[9][10][11] Molina was previously a member of Ovens and Violent Change.[1]
Molina is married to Alicia Vanden Heuvel of the Aislers Set. The couple co-produced and recorded Molina's 2025 album On This Day in their home studio, which was co-released on Vanden Heuvel's label, Speakeasy Studios SF.[12] Vanden Heuvel also directed several music videos for In the Store, Molina and Janko's debut album as the Lost Days.[13] [14][15]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Year | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embarrassing Times | 2013 | 650 Tapes (2009), Catholic Guilt Records (2023) | Debut album. Initial release was 50 cassette copies, offered for free with mail-order copies of Ovens's self-titled record from Aquarius Records. Re-released on vinyl in 2023.[4][16] |
| Dissed and Dismissed | 2013 | Melters / Slumberland | Originally released in a limited pressing of 500 copies; reissued by Slumberland in 2014[17] |
| Kill the Lights | 2018 | Slumberland Records | Named Stereogum's Album of the Week[18] |
| Songs from San Mateo County | 2019 | Smoking Room | Rarities compilation of unreleased and unfinished material recorded 2009–2015[19] |
| In the Fade | 2022 | Summer Shade / Run for Cover Records | |
| On This Day | 2025 | Slumberland Records / Speakeasy Studios SF / Olde Fade[20] | 21 tracks in 23 minutes[21] |
EPs
[edit]| Title | Year | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Six Tracks EP | 2013 | Matador Records | Released as part of Matador's Singles Going Home Alone series; B-side features a cover of Metallica's "Orion" |
| Confront the Truth | 2016 | Slumberland Records | Eight-track acoustic EP |
| West Bay Grease | 2017 | Smoking Room | Solo live cassette recorded at 1234 Go Records, Oakland; limited to 50 copies |
| Pacific Northwest Tour | 2023 | Tour EP |
Collaborative releases
[edit]| Title | Year | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live in San Francisco | 2021 | Rose Melberg & Tony Molina | Self-released |
| Tony Molina & The Softies | 2023 | Tony Molina & The Softies | Slumberland Records |
Band discography
[edit]Molina has recorded as a member of several bands throughout his career.
Violent Change
[edit]| Title | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Suck on the Gun | 2012 | Melters |
Caged Animal
[edit]| Title | Year | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Caged Animal EP | 2013 | Melters |
Ovens
[edit]| Title | Year | Format | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ovens | 2009 | CD (44 tracks) | tUMULt | Compiled from mid-2000s sessions; first release of the recordings |
| Ovens 7" | 2011 | 7" vinyl (8 tracks) | Catholic Guilt Records | Songs from 2008 recording sessions |
| 7" | 2014 | 7" vinyl (4 tracks) | Melters (MELT004) | Recorded in 2005 by Kurt Bloch; mastered by Paul Oldham |
| Ovens | 2022 | 2×LP, 45 RPM (Tankcrimes TC131) | Tankcrimes | First vinyl pressing of the 2009 CD; first time on streaming platforms; 200 black / 1,800 white vinyl |
The Lost Days
[edit]| Title | Year | Format | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lost Demos | 2021 | Cassette, LP[22] | The Long Road Society, Mapache Records (rerelease) | First release |
| In The Store | 2023 | LP, CDr[23] | Speakeasy Studios SF |
References
[edit]- 1 2 "Meet Tony Molina: Bay Area Hardcore Veteran Unfurls Decadent Guitar Pop". SPIN. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ "Dissed and Dismissed". Slumberland Records. 2014. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ "Tony Molina drops 'Six Tracks E.P.' on Matador". The Bay Bridged. 2013-10-09. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- 1 2 "Tony Molina, "Embarrassing Times"". Thrillhouse Records. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
- ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay. "Tony Molina: Dissed and Dismissed". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
- ↑ "Tony Molina: Kill the Lights". Paste Magazine. 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ "Tony Molina's New Album Is a Low-Key Ripper, Like the Man Himself". Vice. 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (2018). "Tony Molina 'Kill The Lights' Review: A Quick Fix Of Starry-Eyed Beauty". Stereogum. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
- ↑ "Chatting with the Softies About Their New Tony Molina Collaboration". Chickfactor. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ "Tony Molina + Sarah Rose Janko Announce Debut The Lost Days Album". Stereogum. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ↑ Tony Molina discography at Discogs
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (2025-09-23). "Tony Molina Announces New Album On This Day: Hear Three Songs". Retrieved 2026-06-29.
- ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (February 6, 2023). ""In the Store" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (May 23, 2023). ""Gonna Have to Tell You" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (February 27, 2023). ""For Today" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Tony Molina — Embarrassing Times". Discogs. Retrieved May 22, 2026.>
- ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (March 25, 2014). "Tony Molina, Dissed and Dismissed". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 24, 2018). "Album of the Week: Tony Molina Kill the Lights". Stereogum. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ Berman, Stuart (July 24, 2019). "Tony Molina, Songs from San Mateo County". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ "Hooky Folk-Pop, Straight from the Source: Tony Molina's On This Day Lands Nov. 14". The Fire Note. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "On This Day". Bandcamp. November 14, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
- ↑ "The Lost Days––Lost Demos". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
- ↑ "The Lost Days––In the Store". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
External links
[edit]Tony Molina on Bandcamp