The Smashing Pumpkins - Live At The Cabaret Metro - CD-R (1988), U.S.A.

For today's post, I have an unexpected and pleasant surprise for everyone. Coming from Chicago, IL "The City by the Lake" The Smashing Pumpkins! They are a very well known grunge/metal/prog rock band in the music world of course, but I won't post anything here that everyone has already heard. Instead, I'll stick to the original intent of this blog and share a very rare side of the band.
Led by the megalomaniacal Billy Corgan (voice and guitar), James Iha (backing vocals and guitar), D'arcy Wretsky (bass) and Jimmy Chamberlin (drums and percussion) the Smashing Pumpkins were a group that was just starting out in the late eighties and still just years away from making it big with their grunge hit album Siamese Dream.
The live bootleg I'm about to present, was taped on October 5, 1988 at the Cabaret Metro and was distributed (in limited quantities on CD-R) at what was supposed to be the last performance of the band on December 2, 2000. Upon listening to the live performance, you'll notice the band exhibits a late post-punk sound with touches of dream-pop and neo-psychedelia (minus the nauseating whiney singing from Corgan!). They would've fit in nicely alongside bands such as Abecedarians and For Against!

Details:

The Smashing Pumpkins - Live At The Cabaret Metro - CD-R (1988), U.S.A.

1. There It Goes
2. She
3. My Eternity
4. Under Your Spell
5. Bleed
6. Spite Face
7. Nothing And Everything

Review

More Information:
Official Myspace
Official Website
Band History

Room Nine - Voices ... Of A Summers Day - LP (1987), U.S.A.

Here is a discovery coming from Seattle, the most unlikely place to find a band of this kind. Whenever I listen or read about Seattle and music in the same sentence, I get instant visions of the early 90's grunge scene. Everyone wearing flannel and ripped blue denim while listening to Alice In Chains, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Oh the memories!

Formed in 1980, Room Nine's band members consisted of Ron Rudzitis (vocals and guitar), Scott Boggan (vocals and bass) and Shawn Allen (he replaced Scott Vanderpool on drums). They didn't release an album until finally in 1987 with Voices ... Of A Summers Day.

Room Nine can be easily confused as another throwaway 80's indie jangle pop band, but upon further listening sessions you'll notice the music combines intricate elements of post-punk and subdued neo-psychedelia with some catchy dream-pop melodies. It is a very interesting album with standout tracks such as 1000 Years, Mirage and Seas Without A Shore. What a nice debut album! Sadly, Voices ... Of A Summers Day and the song Angels Sing (featured in Doctor Death's Volume I: Cette Enfant me Fia Mourir) are the only recorded material they ever released. Fans of The Wild Flowers, The Icicle Works and The Waterboys should give this album a try!

Details:

Room Nine - Voices ... Of A Summers Day - LP (1987), U.S.A.

Side 1:

1. Circus Floor

2. Revolving Door

3. Don't Look Back

4. Red Dog

Side 2:

5. 1000 Years

7. Mirage

8. Seas Without A Shore

9. White Summer

Review

More Information:

Band History

Discography