Even lil' ol' Providence, Rhode Island had a happening powerpop/wave scene back in the day, or so it would seem from this 13-cut compilation. Presumably released in conjunction with the Living Room nightclub in Providence, my appreciation for Mike Viola (with or without the Candy Butchers) led me to take this off the hands of an Ebay seller a few years ago. He appears here under the guise of the Mike Viola Alliance, and as superb as his singer-songwriter talents go, his crew isn't the only one to steal the show on this surprisingly consistent scene artifact. The Threats "Dream Girl" is a killer three-chord reminiscent of The Pointed Sticks. The Probers "Waste of My Time," is taught, driving power pop that fully evocative of the era, the female fronted Hi-Beams check in with one of Living Room's standout moments, "Live in Shadows, while Gary Shane and the Detour exercise their sheik, new-romantic finesse. Rash of Stabbings, whom bring The Living Room to a close, went onto greater things I believe. As for Mike Viola's scintillating contribution, "All the Time, All the While," is downright punky, and a very distant cry from his current work. Would love to hear more where that came from.
Sorry for the glare on the sleeve pic.
01. The Schemers - Streamline Heart
02. The Probers - Waste of My Time
03. Big World - Something Special
04. The Threats - Dream Girl
05. Ed Tabela - Right or Wrong
06. Mike Viola Alliance - All the Time, All the While
07. Outrage - Candy Store
08. Hi-Beams - Live in Shadows
09. The Detectives - Can't Remember Her Name
10. Some Red - She Snickers Euphoric Barf
11. Parallel 5th - Carrots and Peas
12. Gary Shane and the Detour - Middle of the Night
13. Rash of Stabbings - I Kill With Warning
Monday, October 6, 2008
V/A - The Living Room: A Compilation (1983, The Living Room)
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7 comments:
The Probers had a few hot 45s and an EP. The Schemers and The Detectives, who were the 2 most popular bands at the Living Room when it was "behind the big bubble" (hence the name of the record label), were both on the WBRU Rock Hunt ep, a 7-inch that is now very very rare. The Schemers later became The Raindogs and signed to Atlantic.
Does anyone out there have an MP3 of Big World's 45 "Big World"?
You forgot to title Gary Shane and the Detour's song. It's called "Middle Of The Night", as shown on the back image of the LP. Thanks for sharing these obscurities, though it would be nice if you could fill in the MP3 properties for each song in the future instead of leaving them blank. Thanks.
Hello,
can you please repost this LP?
Thank you very much
Stathis
Just updated the link.
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hi again, would it be possible to re-up this one, please?
regards
I spent many a night at the living room back in the day. It was an absolute dive that brought in some amazing acts. It could be a dangerous place, i never went unarmed. I was good friends with the owner who didn't particularly like any of the acts he brought in, but liked the crowds those acts brought in. Almost got into a fist-fight with the drummer from Stiff Little Fingers once cuz i wouldn't buy him a drink, lol.
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