30 Foot Fall, sometimes stylized 30footFALL, is a Houston-based punk rock band widely recognized as the most successful and enduring punk band to emerge from an unsteady Houston music scene in the 90s.
Formed in the early 90s by drummer Rubio Cisneros and Broken-Note founder/guitarist Crazy Tony Avitia, 30 Foot Fall recruited lead singer Butch Klotz and released their original demo. After Avitia left to start I-45, the group added Chris "Delron" LaForge on guitar (replacing Avitia), and Damon Delapaz on drums.
Touring Houston, Dallas, and Austin, 30 Foot Fall's popularity grew. Line-up changes were frequent. The band at this point had developed their own sound, comparable to early NOFX or based on elements developed by Minor Threat.
After several demos and 7"s, 30 Foot Fall recorded and released their first LP, Divided We Stand on Fuzzgun Records in 1995 and followed it up with the Junior High Sucked 7" in 1996. Fearless Records signed the band (along with fellow Houston staples Bickley) and produced their next record, Acme-143.
Around this time Delapaz quit the band to move to California with his other band, FenixTX and was replaced with Middlefinger drummer Brian Davis, whose brother Jason took over guitar after LaForge quit for a brief period and is currently a second guitarist in the band.
The band released the Cartoons EP in 1998 and received an off to release a full-length from Dexter Holland of The Offspring's label Nitro Records in 1999. 30 Foot Fall then released their most popular record to date, Ever Revolving, Never Evolving, followed by numerous tour dates and compilations.
After their relative success followed a period of relative silence. From 2000 to 2004, 30 Foot Fall did not tour, playing only occasionally in Houston venues such as Fitzgerald's, usually Christmas shows.
The band released a new album in 2002, titled The Doppler Effect, which was released independently and sold moderately well.
In 2005, Butch Klotz moved to Virginia, effectively ending almost 15 years in the Houston music scene. Other members of the band have been involved in new musical projects, including The Plus and Minus Show and Middlefinger. 30 Foot Fall has reunited for occasional shows in Houston, including an annual Christmas show. |
