Founding members of 80's new wave/alternative band The Familiar Strangers are back at it again with only original music (of course!) after a long sabbatical. Renamed as fS2 and with their first full length release ever, the two founding members have embarked into new musical territory. fS2 is now focused on music with lyrics of a more personal level and hope that it reaches you and speaks to you directly in the same manner as a hand written letter.
From international ancestry, members Elvis Gonzalez and Lawrence Menendez either were born or lived most all their lives in Tampa, Florida - specifically "West Tampa," where talented, healthy competition was always in abundance within a few blocks of home. Out of that same competitive drive, with backgrounds of lifelong and professional careers in art, the members decided to combine their equally passionate love of music into an outlet of their own. Through a lot of experimentation, being "self taught" - The Familiar Strangers were created.
Unique to the Tampa Bay Area music scene because they played "only original" music, contrary to the standard at the time. Original members included Elvis on vocals and drum programming, Lawrence on bass guitar, Herman Dudley on guitar and the Roland Boss DR-110 as our drummer. It remained this configuration until an ill-fated Halloween show where the "Boss" was stolen in broad daylight as we unloaded our equipment. That event started a revolving position at drums filled by Shawn "Spawn" Moore of the The Impotent Sea Snakes, Darrell Wren of 360º and Larry's brother Mike Menendez as well.
The band played throughout the Tampa Bay area for about 3 years before it came to rest out of major changes to the member lineup and an exhausted effort physically for all.
Back now, after many life changing events - the founding members have a renewed zest for music and have found all the advancements digitally are a "new toy land" of possibilities and a perfect vehicle for creating music again.
"It seems like the door is wide open again - just like the emergence of all the creative sounds of the 1980's New Wave era.
We are just beginning to tap into it….."
