Human Switchboard
Encyclopedia
The Human Switchboard was a rock band.
of Pere Ubu
to mix the tapes. The EP was self released during that fall.
The band next recorded their 'I Gotta Know / No!' single for Akron's Clone Records during a spring break in 1978. By this time, Pfeifer and Metz had moved to Columbus to Attend Ohio State University. Marcarian soon followed after her year at Syracuse and the band had formed as a three piece. After the school year ended, the band started playing shows, with its first in the basement of local Columbus High Street record store, Magnolia Thunderpussy.
Soon after the summer of 1978, the band moved back to Cleveland briefly and then opened a used record store in Kent, Ohio. This store was to provided support for the band, which it did for the following three years.
In the next few months, the band started playing shows in the area and gained followings in the Kent, Akron, Dayton, Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh regions. In 1979, the band recorded its next single at one of the better Cleveland studios named SUMA. With the help of Kent's famed The Numbers Band (15-60-75), they recorded their next single 'Prime of My Life / In My Room', later to be released on the band's own Square label.
After the release of the single, the band met bass player Dave Schramm who helped round out the sound. Shortly thereafter, they were invited to play at Hurrah
, the premier new wave
night club in New York City. The club was impressed enough with the sound that they invited them back to play regularly. At the same time, the band also started playing other legendary clubs such as Maxwell's
in Hoboken, NJ, The Rat in Boston and the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. They continued playing more dates in New York with a new bass player George Scott III
, formerly of the Eight Eyed Spy, James White and the Blacks and The Raybeats
. The East Coast was becoming very friendly to them, but they still lacked a major record release.
At this time, a fan recorded and released a 'bootleg' with the band's blessing and help. The rough cassette recordings captured a couple of their exciting live shows in the Akron and Kent area. The 1,000 copies pressed had sold quickly and their following was certainly established.
Later that year, an IRS label subsidiary name Faulty Products signed the Human Switchboard to what was to become their only studio LP. It was aptly named 'Who's Landing in My Hangar'. The two tracks recorded for Rough Trade were included along with eight newer tunes. The bass playing chores on the new songs was shared among two players, Paul Hamann the studio engineer and the newest band member, Steve Calabria.
The band toured briefly around the mid-west and east coast opening for Toots & the Maytals
. It was an unusual mix of sounds, but the crowds appreciated the diverse styles of the tour and paid attention to the opening band. Human Switchboard also had become a resident fixture at New York's Danceteria night club where they would remain a feature act for the next couple of years.
After the tour, the band settled into a routine of shows in friendly environments. They decided to close the store and move from Kent back to Cleveland, where they obtained an apartment in Coventry (an area made famous by Harvey Pekar
). Musically, they began to experiment with more contemporary music structures. They sought out and enlisted Jared Michael Nickerson from Dayton, Ohio to play bass and offer inspiration towards the new sound they were after. Nickerson would become the band's final and longest tenured bass player.
The beat straightened out. The bass lines became funkier and once again, the band tried to gain interest from the record companies. This is when they met John Stains from Polydor Records. Polydor was on a roll at that time with hits from bands like The Waitresses
and was looking to expand upon the 'new wave' sound. John helped finance demos that the band recorded over a two week stretch in December 1983. The Switchboard would setup up on the stage of CBGBs during the afternoons and recorded a series of a dozen songs onto the club's 16 track machine.
The recordings were fleshing out nicely when suddenly, the rug was pulled out from them as John was let go from the record company. Those were the last studio recordings the band ever made. One track from these recordings 'When Your Train Starts Slowing Down' was completed and released on a 1988 compilation named 'It's Hard to be Cool in an UnCool World' (I Wanna Records).
During the band's remaining year and a half, they played regular shows at the Peppermint Lounge and CBGBs in New York, Maxwells in Hoboken and Gilleys in Dayton, Ohio. The Human Switchboard finally broke up in the spring of 1985.
Albums:
Songs on Compilations:
1970s
The band was formed in 1977 when Bob Pfeifer met Myrna Marcarian at Syracuse University. They spent that summer back in Cleveland, where Pfeifer grew up. They, along with drummer Ron Metz, recorded an EP of four songs, enlisting David ThomasDavid Thomas (musician)
David Lynn Thomas is an American singer, songwriter, and musician.He was one of the founding members of the short-lived protopunkers Rocket From The Tombs , where he went by the name of Crocus Behemoth, and of punk group Pere Ubu . He has also released several solo albums...
of Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu
Pere Ubu is an experimental rock music group from Cleveland, Ohio.Père Ubu may also refer to:* Ubu, the enigmatic central figure of a series of French plays by Alfred Jarry, including Ubu Roi, and subsequent plays Ubu Cocu and Ubu Enchaîné...
to mix the tapes. The EP was self released during that fall.
The band next recorded their 'I Gotta Know / No!' single for Akron's Clone Records during a spring break in 1978. By this time, Pfeifer and Metz had moved to Columbus to Attend Ohio State University. Marcarian soon followed after her year at Syracuse and the band had formed as a three piece. After the school year ended, the band started playing shows, with its first in the basement of local Columbus High Street record store, Magnolia Thunderpussy.
Soon after the summer of 1978, the band moved back to Cleveland briefly and then opened a used record store in Kent, Ohio. This store was to provided support for the band, which it did for the following three years.
In the next few months, the band started playing shows in the area and gained followings in the Kent, Akron, Dayton, Columbus, Detroit and Pittsburgh regions. In 1979, the band recorded its next single at one of the better Cleveland studios named SUMA. With the help of Kent's famed The Numbers Band (15-60-75), they recorded their next single 'Prime of My Life / In My Room', later to be released on the band's own Square label.
After the release of the single, the band met bass player Dave Schramm who helped round out the sound. Shortly thereafter, they were invited to play at Hurrah
Hurrah (nightclub)
Hurrah was a nightclub located at 32 West 62nd Street in New York City from 1976 until 1980. Under the management of Jim Fouratt it became known as the first rock disco in New York, and pioneered the use of music videos in nightclubs, placing video monitors around the club, over a year before the...
, the premier new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
night club in New York City. The club was impressed enough with the sound that they invited them back to play regularly. At the same time, the band also started playing other legendary clubs such as Maxwell's
Maxwell's
Maxwell's is a music club in Hoboken, New Jersey that also has a restaurant. The intimate venue often attracts a wide variety of acts looking for a change from the New York City concert spaces across the river.-History:...
in Hoboken, NJ, The Rat in Boston and the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC. They continued playing more dates in New York with a new bass player George Scott III
George Scott III
George Scott III was a bass player for several New York City bands during the No Wave era. He was a founding member of 8-Eyed Spy and the Raybeats, and he worked with James Chance and the Contortions, James White and the Blacks, Human Switchboard, and John Cale, among others.- Biography :George...
, formerly of the Eight Eyed Spy, James White and the Blacks and The Raybeats
Raybeats
The Raybeats were an instrumental neo-surf rock combo from New York City that arose from the No Wave musical scene. The original line-up consisted of Don Christensen , Jody Harris , Pat Irwin , and George Scott III .- History :The Raybeats formed in 1979, brought together by George Scott...
. The East Coast was becoming very friendly to them, but they still lacked a major record release.
At this time, a fan recorded and released a 'bootleg' with the band's blessing and help. The rough cassette recordings captured a couple of their exciting live shows in the Akron and Kent area. The 1,000 copies pressed had sold quickly and their following was certainly established.
1980s
In 1980, Rough Trade record company out of the UK took notice of the band and commissioned them to record a three track 12 inch single. The band went back to SUMA, this time with bass player Doug Morgan, and recorded two songs 'Who's Landing in My Hangar?' and 'I Can Walk Alone'. These two songs would then be backed with a re-release of 'In My Room' from the year before. The songs were recorded, but the label inexplicably re-canted their offer at the last minute.Later that year, an IRS label subsidiary name Faulty Products signed the Human Switchboard to what was to become their only studio LP. It was aptly named 'Who's Landing in My Hangar'. The two tracks recorded for Rough Trade were included along with eight newer tunes. The bass playing chores on the new songs was shared among two players, Paul Hamann the studio engineer and the newest band member, Steve Calabria.
The band toured briefly around the mid-west and east coast opening for Toots & the Maytals
Toots & the Maytals
Toots and the Maytals, originally called simply The Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group and one of the best known ska and reggae vocal groups. According to Sandra Brennan at Allmusic, "The Maytals were key figures in reggae music...
. It was an unusual mix of sounds, but the crowds appreciated the diverse styles of the tour and paid attention to the opening band. Human Switchboard also had become a resident fixture at New York's Danceteria night club where they would remain a feature act for the next couple of years.
After the tour, the band settled into a routine of shows in friendly environments. They decided to close the store and move from Kent back to Cleveland, where they obtained an apartment in Coventry (an area made famous by Harvey Pekar
Harvey Pekar
Harvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
). Musically, they began to experiment with more contemporary music structures. They sought out and enlisted Jared Michael Nickerson from Dayton, Ohio to play bass and offer inspiration towards the new sound they were after. Nickerson would become the band's final and longest tenured bass player.
The beat straightened out. The bass lines became funkier and once again, the band tried to gain interest from the record companies. This is when they met John Stains from Polydor Records. Polydor was on a roll at that time with hits from bands like The Waitresses
The Waitresses
The Waitresses were an experimental new wave band from Akron, Ohio. The group was led by guitarist/songwriter Chris Butler with lead vocals performed by Patty Donahue.-Career:...
and was looking to expand upon the 'new wave' sound. John helped finance demos that the band recorded over a two week stretch in December 1983. The Switchboard would setup up on the stage of CBGBs during the afternoons and recorded a series of a dozen songs onto the club's 16 track machine.
The recordings were fleshing out nicely when suddenly, the rug was pulled out from them as John was let go from the record company. Those were the last studio recordings the band ever made. One track from these recordings 'When Your Train Starts Slowing Down' was completed and released on a 1988 compilation named 'It's Hard to be Cool in an UnCool World' (I Wanna Records).
During the band's remaining year and a half, they played regular shows at the Peppermint Lounge and CBGBs in New York, Maxwells in Hoboken and Gilleys in Dayton, Ohio. The Human Switchboard finally broke up in the spring of 1985.
Discography
EPs and Singles:- (1977) Human Switchboard - a four song EP that contains the songs 'Fly-In", "Distemper", "Shake It Boys" and "San Francisco Nights" (Under the Rug Records)
- (1978) I Gotta Know / No! (Clone Records)
- (1979) In My Room / Prime of My Life (Square Records)
- (1982) Who's Landing In My Hangar / Saturday's Girl (Trouser PressTrouser PressTrouser Press was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow Who fan Dave Schulps and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" ...
, issue 75, July 1982 Flexi discFlexi discThe flexi disc is a phonograph record made of a thin, flexible vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable...
#7 )
Albums:
- (1980) Human Switchboard LiveHuman Switchboard Live-Side one:#I Can Walk Alone # Believe in You#City#Sharpest Girl#No Heart#I Gotta Know-Side two:#Book on Looks#Time, Time, Time#Who's Landing in My Hangar?#Frowntown* #New Song*-Personnel:...
(Square Records) - (1981) Who's Landing in My Hangar?Who's Landing in My Hangar?-Side one:#" Saturday's Girl" – 3:50 #"Who's Landing in My Hangar?" – 2:38#"In This Town" – 3:15#"No Heart" – 3:16#"Refrigerator Door" – 7:30-Side two:#"I Can Walk Alone" – 3:02...
(Faulty Products) - (1982) Coffee Break!Coffee Break!Coffee Break! was the last album by Human Switchboard. It was recorded live at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland on November 8, 1981 and was broadcast on radio station WMMS...
(RIOR Records - cassette only)
Songs on Compilations:
- (1979) "You're Much Madder Than Me" appears on Waves An Anthology Of New Music Volume 1" (Bomp Records)
- (1988) "When Your Train Starts Slowing Down" appears on Hard To Be Cool In An Uncool World" (IWanna Records)
External links
- [ Allmusic]
- Trouser Press