Military spouse and world-class acoustic rock musician are not usually used to describe the same person. But if you're talking about Sarah Hockridge, frontwoman of Ophir Drive, you've nailed it. Currently based at Fort Bragg, NC, Sarah has performed at legendary venues like CBGBs, BB King's Blues Club and Grille, and the Knitting Factory. She's opened for the Bouncing Souls, Coheed and Cambria, and was booked with singer/songwriter Lennon. John Galgano, of progressive rock band IZZ, played bass for Ophir Drive for over a year. Her song "Write Me Off" made it into Billboard Magazine's year-end top 10 list.
Breaking into New York City's music scene is tough, especially for a small-town girl who grew up in Maine and started playing acoustic music at beach bars on Cape Cod when she was 19. Knowing nobody, Sarah got her first few gigs through booking agents who found her Myspace page. She made friends as she went along and recorded a few albums - most recently "Harmonic Half Life." Recorded and produced by Building Robot Records in California, "Harmonic Half Life" was released in Brooklyn, NY, in April 2007, a week before Sarah moved to Fort Bragg.
Military spouses will understand the frustration at being separated from loved ones in the track "Troubled Girl" and the peaceful happiness at having them home with "Lullaby," the album's bonus track. Anyone can understand the unpredictability of a new relationship in "Can There Be Love" and baggage from old ones in "Leave Me Alone." "Write Me Off," a pop song written about a well-known pianist who's worked with Rufus Wainwright, is about being rejected before you even decide whether to make a move.
Ophir Drive has involved many different musicians, everywhere Sarah goes, and will continue to evolve with each PCS move. Song matter has slowly changed from messy breakups to the rollercoaster of emotions that come with deployments. What will not change is the soulful acoustic rock and Sarah's captivating classically-trained voice.
Ophir Drive performing "Til You Come Back" at the Java Bean, Fayetteville, NC June 2008
