Founded in 2009, Parade of Horribles is a hard rock punk-funk duo featuring singer-bassist Jason York (Civic Unrest) and drummer Chris Mazzola.
Mazzola says he almost missed out on a music career. "I use to really be into how things worked, the mechanics and inner workings of machinery. 'Til one time when I was about 10 or 11, I had figured out how to prop up the washing machine door, to see how and what went on when it was running. I had climbed up on top of it and somehow, during the spin-dry cycle, I fell in feet first. Got spun around a few times and then shot out four or five feet across the garage. I switched to music shortly after that. Less dangerous."
Their EP One Mic Massacre: Impromptu Shenanigans, Abject Tomfoolery, and Overindulgent Hoopla was released in January 2018, promoted with a video for "Something For Someone." A new EP was released in August 2019, Perspectival.
May 2022 saw the release of their Listen In EP, which had been in progress since summer 2019, when drummer Chris Mazzola spent a couple of weeks at Yosemite State Park. According to Oceanside-based singer-bassist Jason York, "I don’t know if I got bored or lonely or what but I just started writing a song a day. After having music for three of ‘em I started to nail down a vocal theme. We were in the thick of organizing The 11th Annual Punk Rock Food Drive so I just started singing about that. Different themes around running a nonprofit, organizing annual fundraiser events for the last decade. By the time Chris came back into town the EP was complete." Tims Sams of Craft Sounds/Dead Feather Moon tracked the EP. "We live a couple blocks from each other so it makes for a pretty easy recording schedule. One day for drums, one day for bass, and I recorded the vocals at my home studio." The release party happened May 13, 2022 at the Pour House in Oceanside.
(Photo: Joel Gelin)