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THE MORNINGSIDES


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Morningsides at The Viaduct Theater



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.


The ISSUE Album Cover

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.


Hearth Album Cover

Bad Side O' Town

Too Much Coffee

Guitar Stand That Holds Nothing

Wake with Ratty

When I Tried To Reach You




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.


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




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.


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




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.


No Good

Stuck at the Bottleneck

Implosion (instrumental)

High Tech Woman


"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.


Soldier of Misfortune

My Invisible Friend

Pongo los Perros Calientes en el horno


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.


Everyman's Blues

Timing

I Can Still Dream

Night of the Demons



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.




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
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