The Niagaras.....proto-Strokes cursed by bad timing?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Anyone remember the Niagaras?

http://www.bthere.tv/DBimages/storyPic/Frank_Whaley_at_Sundance_storyPic.jpg http://www.theniagaras.com/two1.jpg

Rewind the clock to the early 90's. Sharp-dressed gaggle of coronet-weilding hepcats play residencies at divey NYC clubs like The Continental and, later, Mondo Cane in the Village. Live performances marked by histrionic gyrations courtesy of lead singer Robert Whaley and quasi-celeb brother drummer Frank "Swimming with Sharks" Whaley (who is often absent due to Hollywood commitments). Often touted as "Next Big Thing" and beautiful people like Ethan Hawke and then-wife Uma Thurman often spotted at their shows. Promo-only CD zealously distributed to grubby rock rags like the one I worked at for a while. The album is an energetic blast of suave, nervey pop like a more polished Strokes with a horn fixation (and a little bit less louche and more libidinous).

Then......nothing! They still have a website and all that, but it seems they went fizzle before their time.

Anyone remember them? Or is it just me?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Of course! I kinda lump them together with the Lounge Lizards -- similar aesthetic, similar following, similar status as "perennial Lower East Side club staple."

― jody (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 16:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't that guy get shot in Pulp Fiction?

― billstevejim, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 16:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Yep.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

in that 2nd photo, is that the street The Smell was/is on?

― Russ, Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you have that promo disc, Alex? I wuold be so curious to hear a track or 2... maybe somebody could host an MP3?

― Ben Boyer (Ben Boyer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I got it. E-mail directly, Ben.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

n that 2nd photo, is that the street The Smell was/is on?

Very likely. That's the Meat Packing district before it became the hip, happenin' hotbed of nightclubs that it is today.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Behind them on their left would be the spot of Hogs & Heiffers, if that matters to you.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I always thought the Smoking Popes were the proto-Strokes.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 17 February 2004 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought the Velvet Underground was ?

― Sonny A. (Keiko), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 00:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Nah, it was The Modern Lovers.

― flowersdie (flowersdie), Wednesday, 18 February 2004 13:36 (twenty-two years ago)

five months pass...

fuck, THEM? i thought that lead singer died of a drug overdose years ago.

― dead hooker, Tuesday, 27 July 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

The Niagaras are still around. They are currently starring in an Off Broadway musical WRONG WAY UP through December 15, 2004 at The Belt Theater (336 West 37th Street).

Tickets are available for purchase online:

http://www.theatermania.com/ticketing/index.cfm?int_showid=107126&partner=TM

Or call 212-352-3101

Written by and starring Robert Whaley and Tony Grimaldi of the high energy performance rock NYC-based band The Niagaras (the "most entertaining cult band in the country" Michael Timm, SPIN Magazine; "Lunacy? Spectacle? And music too?" Rene Chun, New York Times; "The best rock show I've seen in months!" Dan Aquilante, New York Post), WRONG WAY UP tells the story of a small town boy navigating his way through the rough and tumble world of the big city. WRONG WAY UP combines the unique energy of a live rock n' roll show with the feel of improvisational theater, vaudeville, stand-up, and a little revival meeting thrown in for good measure.

― Still around, Sunday, 17 October 2004 14:02 (twenty-one years ago)

That's funny, I just recorded an EP with their drummer. Not Frank Whaley, obviously -- Joshua Wheeler, the guy they use on and off. I've seen one Niagaras show (out of curiosity, to see what else Joshua was up to). They played a terrible, tourist-infested Bleecker Street bar and played it like they were doing Glastonbury or something; quite a work ethic. I didn't catch any Strokes connection but the singer has an impressive Bowie/Byrne vocal.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Monday, 18 October 2004 03:59 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.