The jhoadley Rock and Roll Archive
Young Brandos [1979]
I'm not going to lie. I thought this band was really good. It took off fast and then it was gone, leaving behind only a 6-song demo tape. The back story:
In the spring of '79 Shane's parents decided to move to another state. In order to keep the band together I agreed to move out of my parent's house and rent an apartment with the other guys. Shane found a rehearsal space in Broad Ripple and within a few weeks we all moved into a townhouse on the northwest side of town.
I'm not sure it entered into our decision, but we ended up rehearsing in the happening part of town. There were bars and bands and clothing stores and artists and parties. Woo hoo, youth.
One night after a rehearsal, Shane and I were stopped by a guy in a leather jacket, skinny tie and nerdy glasses (Latex Novelties manager Marvin Goldstein). He said he had heard us playing and suggested we pair up with drummer Gary Dolick and guitarist Jim Bracken -- slightly older guys who were part of Indianapolis' growing punk/new wave scene. Gary and Jim had just left two of the town's best bands (Your Parents and Race Records) and by joining up with them we got some street cred and an audience.
Shane began writing songs for this new group and things started clicking. We decided to dissolve Tongue-N-Cheek to focus on our own songs. For a while we ran 2 bands with 2 different drummers (thank you Pat Sullivan) as we played out our string of already-booked Holiday Inn and frat gigs.
We gave ourselves the brash name Young Brandos and a demo was recorded right there in our rehearsal space -- in the basement of a dentist office. The unusual room was ideal for sound -- the band played in the main room with each amp isolated in a separate 6'x8' patient room. The Novelties' Mannon recorded the sessions on a 4-track.
(Decades later I went looking for the masters and Mannon says he has no recollection of even doing this LOL)
After a couple of months rehearsing and writing we played our first show -- Halloween at the Third Base opening for Dow Jones and The Industrials. Although the YBs were garnering critical acclaim (well, kids on the scene liked the demo tape) and it seemed we might get a record deal, Gary quit. Can't blame him. Shane was hard to take.
No photos exist, but I've posted most of the songs from the demo.
The next step for Shane and me would be to leave Indianapolis to seek -- wait for it, fame and fortune on the East Coast.
Another look into this era: a short film was made in 1985 featuring the Latex Novelties performing at The Patio.
Some of the Broad Ripple scene's music was released years later on CD as "Early Indiana Punk and New Wave - The Crazy Al's Years."
