Artist description The music is angular, jagged, self-deprecating, hysterical, with a weird soft-pop side that emerges on occasion. The lyrics are emotionally distant, self-referential and often hilarious. The sound is dense, with a trebly-twang bass kick playing off two very different sounding guitars (one, a basic Fender Telecaster jangle, the other, a technically frightening and shrill Kramer), all this working hard with imaginative and rocksteady drumming. On top of this pumice-filled bed, the lead vocals are, as stated, hysterical, Irish-tenor, sometimes pretty, mixed with the throaty harmonies of the bassist.

Music Style Avant-punk-pop

Musical Influences Japan, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, Minutemen

Similar Artists none of you, all of you

Artist History Memorial Garage was a rock band that lived from 1987 until 1989. It was the brainchild of musicians Philip Price and Tony Widoff, who met and started creating music together at Bennington College in the mid 1980s (Philip is now the lead singer/guitarist for the Maggies). Before Memorial Garage was born, Philip and Tony had orbited around several musical entities with names like Fold, the Customers, Big As A Hut, and Zpam Delila, usually with Tony's younger brother Adam Widoff and a drum machine providing flesh, and playing their own songs as well as covers of songs by the Minutemen, Roxy Music and Japan. You can sort of see where their minds were going. In early 1987, Doug Ryan joined the fray and Memorial Garage was born. A friend named Lisa came up with the name by accident when Philip, describing his project with Tony, told her he wanted to make music with "more of a garage band sound." She nodded and said, "Who is Memorial Garage?" She had her answer.The band released only 2 albums on cassette in the time period they existed, consisting of 16 songs -- but much of the all-original material they played live was never well-recorded or released, comprising over 40 songs and hours of more experimental things. A lot of that material exists on rehearsal and live tapes, and an archival attempt is being made.

Group Members Philip Price: lead vocals, guitar. Tony Widoff: vocals, bass. Adam Widoff: guitar. Doug Ryan: drums

Albums "Memorial Garage", 1987; "Mootland" 1988

Press Reviews A June 16 1988 Woodstock Times article about the band said: "Memorial Garage is hard to describe. The high level of musicianship here is played down. No one takes lengthy solos. All shine through the ensemble playing. Challenging and rhythmically chaotic passages are sandwiched betwixt bozo dance sections. Price and Widoff's neurotic vocals demand your attention constantly -- yep, this has 'indie' stamped all over it. Never fey nor arty, Memorial Garage juxtapose sub-Gang of Four aggression with exceptionally beautiful moments. 'The Goriest Art' in particular is a testament to the group's sense of prudence and melody. 'My Life As A Priest is Coming Apart' displays equal skill in the jerky pop department."

Location Northampton, MA - USA

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