Artist description 2 guitars, bass, drums and three great chords

Music Style Alternative/Punk/Rock 'n Roll

Musical Influences Everyone from James Brown to Hank Williams to Bad Brains

Similar Artists Mission of Burma beat up They Might Be Giants while Devo calls 911

Artist History "Rising from the ashes of legendary Richmondart-punks The Heretics is where the roots of The Trouble With Larry sow from.The Heretics were a real noise-fest, consisting of four people who'd barelytouched an instrument (and inspired by the No New York LP). Playing an untuned4-string guitar during the first two years with the band, Richard Sarvay(eventually the founder of The Trouble With Larry) witnessed The Hereticsbecome a five-piece funk punk group before devolving into a power trio. By thenSarvay (vocals, guitar, drum programs) and Kathy Jones (bass) decided achange of name and direction was in order. The Trouble With Larry made theirdebut in 1986 with the 3-song 7" Cold Day In Hell. Critical kudos and collegeairplay greeted the record's release, and work started on 1988's 7-songcassette No Man's Land. Cold Day In Hell was actually supposed to be a Hereticsrecord. It was recorded in 4 hours in a basement on an 8-track and receivedamazing support from fans. Meanwhile, Mark Abba (guitar) jammed around townuntil becoming a founding member of the sci-fi thrashers Thing From Venus. Sarvay: "Thing From Venus, in their original incarnation, were one of thebest Richmond bands I've seen. The frontman was totally unpredictable, neverremembering the lyrics and improvising constantly. I played bass for the lastfew months of their existence." So naturally when Thing From Venus split apart in 1989, Mark was asked tojoin The Trouble With Larry. The Otto Messmer/The Rodent Song 7" and the4-song 7" Anemone quickly followed in 1990. Songs of Romance and Intrigue, a5-song 7", was Larry's breakthrough release in 1991, bringing their music to awider audience for the first time. Larry placed one track on 1992's NewDominion compilation CD of Virginia bands from Turn of the Century Records.1992 also saw the release of The Trouble with Larry, the first full-length CDoffering from the band. It received more airplay and critical acclaim than anyprevious Larry release. The CD is easy to connect with even though it waxes and wanes with tracesof experimental-like instrumentals like "Herr Doktor" to the almost flamencoflavored "The Rodent Song," to the downright nightmarish and swelling "OttoMessmer." And don't forget that sure to be a college radio hit and crowdpleaser "Kennedy Death Car." Sadly, Kathy Jones left The Trouble With Larry in an amicable split at theend of 1993. 1994's "Cult Heroes/Is This What U Want?" 7" was Kathy'srecorded farewell. Longtime Larry friend Steve Vogt's brief tenure on bass sawthe '96 release of Live at CBGB, an 8-song cassette. This cassette is absolutely timeless. The sound quality is flawless (well, itwas recorded at CBGB) and the grouping of songs are a perfect balance."Happyland" from the debut CD is on here along with "Kennedy Death Car" and amore approachable "Otto Messmer." Who would think that "Otto Messmer" wouldactually seem less threatening live? Just like those standing stones in England,this may be something best left unexplained. A short stint by John Fronza followed, after which Mark and Richard beganto record as a duo. Mike Schumann joined in December 1996, bringing a newdrive and energy to the band immediately. The recording sessions intensified,rapidly blossoming from a demo into full-fLedged CD status. Shortly after finalmixing was completed in December 1997, David Hooke joined the band on drums.This marks the end of an era, giving Larry's much-lauded drum machine awell-deserved rest. In 1998, Karaoke Bordello was released with the most recent lineup whichproves to be the most stable. The most noticeable thing heard here on thisrelease is the undeniable development The Trouble with Larry has achieved. It isby no doubt the most commercially acceptable and alterna-rock impacted, yetflavored with Larry's familiar chaotic mark. Every song is a gem. There arebrilliant moments during this release. I bought a bunch of copies of KaraokeBordello the last time the band was in town and gave them out as gifts.Everyone (including soft-porn escorts to Financial Consultants) couldn't getenough! Hands down, everyone was dizzy-crazy into them! The Trouble WithLarry was recently contacted by NARAS, the National Academy of RecordingArts & Sciences. A member of the Academy had nominated Larry's KaraokeBordello for the Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album this year. Work is in progress for another future release. I have an advanced copy ofsome of the songs and the first noticeable thing here is the drumming work ofDavid Hooke. You have to remember that this band toured, recorded andhung-out with one less instrument: live drums. And Hooke's work blows the roofoff making these 'demo's' larger than life." - Dig This Real #1

Group Members Mark Abba - guitars, vocalsDavid Hooke - drums, percussion, vocalsRichard Sarvay - vocals, guitarsMike Shumann - bass, vocals

Instruments Vocals, guitars, bass, drums, percussion, coffee grinder

Albums The Trouble With Larry (1992) Karaoke Bordello (1998) plus assorted 7" and cassettes

Press Reviews "One of the best unknown bands in America" - Camera Obscura"The Trouble With Larry has created some of the best post-modern pop-punk ever recorded. . . .The Trouble With Larry is one of the best kept secrets in the underground." - Al Slavicsky, Geoff Wilbur's Renegade Newsletter - Industry Edition.For some shelter in the current storm of alternative elevator, seek out The Trouble with Larry. "If Hank were here, he'd kick your ass." The Larrys are already kicking and putting a lot of sore butts behind them." -- Walter Boelt, Richmond Music Journal"The sound is reminicent of bolts going through a meatgrinder. A definite pick for lovers of Jello (Biafra) and other early punk demigods" - Phil Ford, Throttle"Here is the primer for those who missed it the first time - this is punk rock, the way they did it in Detroit, or at CBGB's in 1978!" - The Swami, 9X

Additional Info T-shirts, stickers, Karaoke Bordello postcards

Location Richmond, VA - USA

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