THE MORNINGSIDES
The Morningsides
defy explanation, rationalization, and justification. No musical moniker or
labeling system can accurately describe The Morningsides output. Sometimes Morningsides
are strange. Often, The Morningsides make poignant comments on the state of our
sociological establishments, be they interpersonal or national in scale. Fueled
by the massive creative forces known as El Minestrone (Dave Faque, Dave Phipps), The Policy (Gary Faque,
RM Racky), and Dr.
Pants (Raymond Faque, Tom Perona), The Morningsides have collaborated to record well over 100 songs since
the band's first session in December, 1996. Currently, the band consists of the three
original members along with Tim Rimbos (Reggie Faque) on drums, and James Scott (Bernie Faque)
on guitar, production, and engineering.
NEWS
The Morningsides
are currently working on their follow up to the ISSUE. The working title of the album
is "The Morningsides Get Sick" and is scheduled to include 13 new originals by the band.
THE ISSUE
The Morningsides went through an agonizing reappraisal before recording their latest full length effort
"The Issue." Loss of trust and innocence, loss of belief about the meaning of home, but no loss of hope mark
the troubled warmth of their sophmore release. With equal parts joyous serenading and brooding contemplation,
The Morningsides play classic country-tinged rock for the outlaw with the heart of a helpless romantic.
"The Issue" is for those who like to smile at everyday life gone wrong.
Recorded over a nine month period at Populist Recording Studio beginning in May 2007, The ISSUE is the
most ambitious recording project for The Morningsides to date. Eighteen rhythm tracks were recorded for
consideration for the album, and fifteen made the final cut. The album features several incredibly talented
musicians from the Chicago scene in addtion to core members elminstrone, RM Racky, Tom Perona, Tim Rimbos,
and James Scott. The additional musicians include Joel Cummins (Umphrey's McGee), Katie Wiegman (Algernon),
Leslie Beukelman (Information Superhighway), Gregg Barker (Fish Club, Brave New Squirrels), Kevin Smith
(the Village, Capt. Captain), and Jay Gemkow.
HEARTH
Morningsides
is a living entity, and like all living entities it needs to adapt in accordance
with its environment. Recently, Morningsides underwent such a metamorphosis
and emerged as:
Morningsides Traveling Circus and Medicine Show Featuring the Faque Bros.
The debut record from this entity is entitled Hearth.
The rhythm tracks for Hearth were recorded on July 22, October 7, 14, 15, and November 9 in the Great Room.
Overdubs took place from October through May, 2005 in the Great Room and at
the OP studios in Winfield and Oak Park, IL (respectively). Many thanks to
our good friend Chewy who created the album artwork. The album is now available online. Click HERE or on the album
cover below to purchase the disc. A few selections from the record are posted below.
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 Bad Side O' Town
Too Much Coffee
Guitar Stand That Holds Nothing
Wake with Ratty
When I Tried To Reach You
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FIBEROPTIC ROCK
Fiberoptic Rock was recorded from October 2002 through March 2003. The
sessions took place in Austin TX, Elmhurst IL, and Winfield IL. With the help
of high speed internet connections and an ftp site, Morningsides were able to record an album
together even though their respective members were 1163 miles apart. Sections or outlines of
songs would be recorded, then posted to the ftp site. Any of the Morningsides could then download
the track and record new parts, or make mixes of finished songs. The result is an interesting mix
of styles ranging from mid 60's pop to harmonized metal guitar from the mid 80's to
modern computerized rock.
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Your Rug, Lee
Goin' Overboard
Wasn't That Bad
The Bullshit Detector
Yo-Yo
Dr. Picasso
Heavy Metal Phase
3000 Days
25 thousandare
Vending Machine of Misery
Time Machine Paradox
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FIBEROPTIC ROCK 2
Fiberoptic Rock 2 is six years in the making as some of the rhythm tracks date back
2001. The songs were recorded in the backhouse, backroom, Great Room, and studio in Winfield,
in a basement and bedroom in Elmhurst, and an apartment in Austin. A handful of tracks (Potted
Plant, Made it Up, Christy) were some of the first Morningside recordings to feature Reginold
Faque behind the drum set.
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I Made It Up
Buried Alive
(Be Good To A) Potted Plant
No Sunshine
Force Field
Trampoline
Christy Doesn't Live Here (Anymore)
Superman Sleeps In
Victimless Crime
Believe It or Not
Bad Zombie Movie 1001
Hulkapheliac
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RANDOM TRACKS
The third installment of The Morningsides Random Tracks takes us back to March 1998. Recorded at the
infamous backroom studio in Winfield, IL, these four songs feature elminestrone on guitar and vocals,
The Policy on bass, and Dr. Pants on drums. The party chatter was recorded in April 1998 at a party in
Chicago. The Morningsides were playing at the apartment party and, not surprisingly, the party was busted.
The band had brought some recording gear to the show and decided to make some use out of it by keeping the
room mics rolling after the cops had left. Dr. Pants recorded the elminestrone penned vocals for "No Good"
in April 2007 since the 4-track version was vocal-less.
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No Good
Stuck at the Bottleneck
Implosion (instrumental)
High Tech Woman
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"The day that Menudo broke up, I found I forgot how to love." This is just one of the
mindblowing lyrical revelations that awaits you in the second installment
of Morningsides random tracks. Recorded on four-track in the backroom studio
in Winfield during the spring of 1998, these tracks feature the original three
piece rock lineup of the Morningsides with El Minestrone on guitar, the Policy
on bass, and Dr. Pants on drums. Enjoy.
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Soldier of Misfortune
My Invisible Friend
Pongo los Perros Calientes en el horno
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In March 2006, El Minestrone traveled to Winfield and the original Morningside trio spent
two days recording an EP in the Great Room. Recorded in a similar style as the 03.00 and
06.01 Winfield sessions, 03.06 sessions yielded four El Minestrone penned Morningside
originals.
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Everyman's Blues
Timing
I Can Still Dream
Night of the Demons
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Personnel: TP - Guitar, Bass & Vocals /
Mike Racky - Guitar, Bass, Pedal Steel & Vocals /
Dave Phips - Guitar, Vocals /
Tim Rimbos - Drums
Recordings:
The ISSUE - recorded May 2007 - January 2008 at Populist Records in Wheaton, IL and Austin, TX.
Hearth - recorded October 2004 - May 2005 in Winfield & Oak Park, IL and Austin, TX
Fiberoptic Rock - recorded October 2003 - March 2004 in Elmhurst & Winfield, IL and Austin, TX
Fiberoptic Rock 2 - recorded 2001 - 2006 in Elmhurst & Winfield, IL and Austin, TX
Elemenope - recorded the summer of 1997 in Wheaton, IL at the Fish Studio
Other Morningsides websites:
Morningsides website
Morningsides Official Facebook Fanclub
Morningsides MySpace
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Text by Tom Perona and Benji Feldheim. Musicman logo created by Al Jin. Photo and Hearth album design by Chewy Benkert.
Last updated May 2010
tom[at]tomperona[dot]com
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TOM PERONA - multidimensional music man