1313 Mockingbird Lane
Encyclopedia
1313 Mockingbird Lane is an American garage rock
band whose name was inspired by The Munsters
television mansion
address. The group formed in the late 1980s in Albany, New York
, touring extensively, and releasing at least nine different 45 rpm records, LP records, and CD
recordings. The band had a full-page narrative dedicated to them in Timothy Gassen's book The Knights of Fuzz, about the garage rock and psychedelic
music phenomenon of 1980-1995. Of thousands of bands covered in the book, Gassen listed 1313 Mockingbird Lane on his "all time Hot 100" list, which also included The Chesterfield Kings
and the Flamin' Groovies.
organ, and screaming. The original line-up featured Haunted Hausmann (guitar, vocals), Kim13 (organ), Jay "Robin Graves" Howlett (bass, vocals), and Steve E. Luv (drums). The first of several "must have 45s" was a debut single produced on Scarab Records in 1989, titled Hornets Nest b/w My Hearse Is Double Parked. With later songs like "Dig Her Up" and an anti-Beatles tune called "I Don't Wanna Hold Your Hand", the prominent lyrical themes of gloom and doom presented by the band were combined with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek garage humor.
Drummer Steve E. Luv quickly departed and was replaced by former Link Wray
Live In '85 drummer Marty Feier
. The band's second release, the four-song EP
The Second Coming Of 1313 Mockingbird Lane (Scarab Records 1989) was voted by both Schenectady Gazette and Albany's Metroland
as one of the "top local recordings of 1989" and was distributed internationally.
Shortly after the release of that EP, the band signed with Sundazed Records
. Sundazed Records releases rare and previously unreleased tracks by different garage rock and surf music
bands including The Knickerbockers
and The Five Americans. The band's first full-length LP Have Hearse Will Travel was released by Sundazed in 1990. The vinyl was pressed in a distinct slime green color. The liner notes for the 13-song album were written by Blotto
lead singer, Sergeant Blotto.
From this point, the band line-up changed again with the eventual departure of both bassist Robin Graves and drummer Marty Feier, who was replaced by Rusty "Krusty" Nales, then by drummer OP, and replaced again by Dave Pollack. As organist Kim commented, "We go through more drummers than Spinal Tap
. Feier departed the band for a full time touring gig in The Cast of Beatlemania
, which starred members of the Broadway show Beatlemania
. 1313 Mockingbird Lane would perform multiple double bills with Boston
-based garage rock legends, Lyres
. In early 1994, the band caught some media attention by issuing a simultaneous triple release of their new recordings. In September 1994, Brian Goodman of Rochester, New York
band The Projectiles replaced drummer Dave Pollack for the final two singles, released in 1996.
The band split up in 1996, playing the last show at Pauly's Hotel in their hometown of Albany. That night, Susan Yasinski from Susan and the Surftones
was in the crowd and recruited Brian Goodman to join her band, with Kim13 soon to follow.
Garage rock
Garage rock is a raw form of rock and roll that was first popular in the United States and Canada from about 1963 to 1967. During the 1960s, it was not recognized as a separate music genre and had no specific name...
band whose name was inspired by The Munsters
The Munsters
The Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
television mansion
Munster Mansion
The Munster Mansion , is a house located at Universal Studios. It is most famous for its use in the 1960s sitcom The Munsters, but has appeared in many other films...
address. The group formed in the late 1980s in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, touring extensively, and releasing at least nine different 45 rpm records, LP records, and CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
recordings. The band had a full-page narrative dedicated to them in Timothy Gassen's book The Knights of Fuzz, about the garage rock and psychedelic
Psychedelic music
Psychedelic music covers a range of popular music styles and genres, which are inspired by or influenced by psychedelic culture and which attempt to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. It emerged during the mid 1960s among folk rock and blues-rock bands in the...
music phenomenon of 1980-1995. Of thousands of bands covered in the book, Gassen listed 1313 Mockingbird Lane on his "all time Hot 100" list, which also included The Chesterfield Kings
The Chesterfield Kings
The Chesterfield Kings are a rock band from Rochester, New York, who began as a retro-1960s garage band, and who have heavily mined 1960s music, including some borrowing from the 1960s recordings of The Rolling Stones...
and the Flamin' Groovies.
History
The music of 1313 Mockingbird Lane was said to keep to the basics of fuzz guitar, FarfisaFarfisa
Farfisa is a manufacturer of electronics based in Osimo, Italy.The Farfisa brand name is commonly associated with a series of compact electronic organs, and later, a series of multi-timbral synthesizers. At the height of its production, Farfisa operated three factories to produce instruments, in...
organ, and screaming. The original line-up featured Haunted Hausmann (guitar, vocals), Kim13 (organ), Jay "Robin Graves" Howlett (bass, vocals), and Steve E. Luv (drums). The first of several "must have 45s" was a debut single produced on Scarab Records in 1989, titled Hornets Nest b/w My Hearse Is Double Parked. With later songs like "Dig Her Up" and an anti-Beatles tune called "I Don't Wanna Hold Your Hand", the prominent lyrical themes of gloom and doom presented by the band were combined with a healthy dose of tongue-in-cheek garage humor.
Drummer Steve E. Luv quickly departed and was replaced by former Link Wray
Link Wray
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer....
Live In '85 drummer Marty Feier
Marty Feier
Marty Feier is an American drummer and music producer. He is best known for his musician/producer role with 1313 Mockingbird Lane and for his work backing guitar pioneer Link Wray...
. The band's second release, the four-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
The Second Coming Of 1313 Mockingbird Lane (Scarab Records 1989) was voted by both Schenectady Gazette and Albany's Metroland
Metroland (newspaper)
Metroland is an alternative newspaper that is published weekly in Albany, New York and mainly serves the Capital District area. Distributed free of charge, the paper offers local arts and music scene coverage, news and feature articles, and political columns with a mostly liberal bent...
as one of the "top local recordings of 1989" and was distributed internationally.
Shortly after the release of that EP, the band signed with Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
. Sundazed Records releases rare and previously unreleased tracks by different garage rock and surf music
Surf music
Surf music is a genre of popular music associated with surf culture, particularly as found in Orange County and other areas of Southern California. It was particularly popular between 1961 and 1965, has subsequently been revived and was highly influential on subsequent rock music...
bands including The Knickerbockers
The Knickerbockers
The Knickerbockers were an American pop/rock music group, best remembered for their 1965 Beatles sound alike hit single, "Lies."-Formation:The band was formed in 1962 in Bergenfield, New Jersey by brothers Beau Charles and John Charles with fluctuating personnel until 1964, when they met...
and The Five Americans. The band's first full-length LP Have Hearse Will Travel was released by Sundazed in 1990. The vinyl was pressed in a distinct slime green color. The liner notes for the 13-song album were written by Blotto
Blotto (band)
Blotto was a rock band from Albany, New York which mixed music and humor. They were formed in 1979 out of the remains of the Star Spangled Washboard Band, a "post-hippie" comedy jugband. Blotto music was a sort of combination of New Wave and soul/R&B, but with comical songs. It began as basically a...
lead singer, Sergeant Blotto.
From this point, the band line-up changed again with the eventual departure of both bassist Robin Graves and drummer Marty Feier, who was replaced by Rusty "Krusty" Nales, then by drummer OP, and replaced again by Dave Pollack. As organist Kim commented, "We go through more drummers than Spinal Tap
Spinal Tap (band)
Spinal Tap is a parody heavy metal band that first appeared on a failed 1979 ABC TV sketch comedy pilot called "The T.V. Show", starring Rob Reiner...
. Feier departed the band for a full time touring gig in The Cast of Beatlemania
The Cast of Beatlemania
The Cast of Beatlemania is a U.S. Beatles' tribute band formed in 1980. The Cast is one of longest running Beatles' tribute band in the world. The group currently features Lenie Colacino, a former cast member of the 1977 Broadway musical Beatlemania. The group has performed in all contiguous U.S...
, which starred members of the Broadway show Beatlemania
Beatlemania (musical)
Beatlemania was a Broadway musical revue focused on the music of The Beatles as it related to the events and changing attitudes of the tumultuous Sixties...
. 1313 Mockingbird Lane would perform multiple double bills with Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
-based garage rock legends, Lyres
Lyres (band)
Lyres are a Boston-area garage rock band led by Jeff "Monoman" Conolly. Lyres were founded in 1979 following the breakup of DMZ. Their most popular songs included "Don't Give It Up Now," "What A Girl Can't Do" and "Help You Ann"...
. In early 1994, the band caught some media attention by issuing a simultaneous triple release of their new recordings. In September 1994, Brian Goodman of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
band The Projectiles replaced drummer Dave Pollack for the final two singles, released in 1996.
The band split up in 1996, playing the last show at Pauly's Hotel in their hometown of Albany. That night, Susan Yasinski from Susan and the Surftones
Susan and the Surftones
Susan and the Surftones is an American surf instrumental band. The band is considered part of the “third wave” of surf-revivalist bands that formed the 1990s....
was in the crowd and recruited Brian Goodman to join her band, with Kim13 soon to follow.
45 vinyl singles
- "Hornet's Nest/My Hearse (Is Double Parked)",1989 Scarab Records #S-001
- "Monkey Cage Girl/Pretty Boys", 1991 Scarab Records #S-004
- "Psychedelic Monster/Dead Mary", 1991 Scarab Records #S-005
- "Slow Death/Dirty Bitch", 1993 Scarab Records #S-006
- "Alice Dee/Spider and The Fly", 1994 Weed Records Weed 011 France
- "Devil's Weed(Haunted Hausmann)/Tamala (Searchin' For...)" (written by Brian Goodman while he was in The Projectiles), 1995 Screaming Apple Records SCAP #034 Germany
- "Naked (And Waiting)/Backwash Beach", 1995 Cacophone Records, CPR 45003
- "Problems/Drambuie", 1996 Cacophone Records, CPR 45005
Vinyl EPs
- The Second Coming Of 1313 Mockingbird Lane, 1989 Scarab Records SCARAB-002
- Froot Boots, 1993, Scarab Records #S-007
Compilations
- What’s All The Fuzz About, cassette, What Wave magazine, ww-07, 1989
- Some Kinda Weirdos In That Cave There!, cassette, Cryptic Tymes magazine, 1993
- Ultra Swank: Cacophone Sound Action Sampler 1999, CD, Cacophone Records, 1999
External links
- Knights of Fuzz documentary
- Have Hearse Will Travel documentation on iPunkRock.net
- AllMusic.com overview