House of Freaks- Flood Zone, Richmond Va 2/10/95 xfer from DAT Clone Soundboard

I spent quite a bit of time making sure that today’s “on this day in history” post sounded good. The mix goes from all guitar, no vocals; to all drums, no guitar about 20min in. I had to split the show in 2 and perform 2 different rebalances in order to make it sound somewhat consistent.

It was the least I could do. This was House of Freaks’ last show ever. If you have never heard them, you are in for a treat. They were really great. Actually, this discogs overview sums it up well: “House of Freaks was a two-man band formed in Richmond, Virginia in the mid 1980s. Bryan Harvey played guitar and sang, and Johnny Hott played percussion. The band managed to achieve a remarkably full sound, mostly because of Hott’s inventive drumming and Harvey’s confident vocals and knack of playing bass lines on his guitar (cribbed from his many years as a bass player) while simultaneously playing a melody.” They also teamed up with Steve Wynn as part of a band called Gutterball.

I have tried to write something about Bryan and Kathryn and family regarding the tragedy in 2006, and I can’t do it. Rest in peace.

Recorded by: Marcus Winfree
DAT Transfer by: Shayne Stacy
Equipment used: Sony PCM-R500 and M-Audio Audiophile 2496 card
Rebalance in Izotope Rx8:
1st 22min: Vocal +8.5, Drums +3, Guitar -2.
Rest of show: Vocal +4, Guitar +9

Audio Live Concert

House of Freaks- Texas Records, Santa Monica Ca. 1987/8 Bryan Harvey Johnny Hott

Here’s another uncirculated House of Freaks video from the 80s. This is an in-store at a record store, and they must have been playing LOUD for the camera audio to distort like that. Damn.
If you have never heard the band, I encourage you to check out their second album called Tantilla on Rhino Records.
Received in trade from mysterious “Josh” without a last name when I lived in L.A.

Recorded by: ?
Transfer by: Shayne Stacy
Transfer Equipment: JVC HR-S9900U and Canopus ADVC300

Live Concert Video

House of Freaks- The Cooperage, UCLA, Los Angeles Ca. 1987? Live Bryan Harvey First show?

I had a bunch of boxes of CD’s fall down in the studio, so I had to do some repacking and stacking last weekend. My old VHS tapes were right next to my work area and I just happened to find a few things that were sitting up front that I thought people might like. Here’s a House of Freaks vid- man, I loved this band. Their Tantilla album still sounds great to me, 30 years later- you should check it out. They were one of the original 2 man bands. I wonder if this could be one of their first shows- it has all early songs, and Bryan mentions something about this being the first time they played for money…

I checked YT for House of Freaks videos and I was surprised to find that there are hardly any out there. I got a few in trade from this mystery guy named Josh- just Josh, no last name or anything. I can’t even remember how I met him, but he had a bunch of stuff from L.A./Santa Monica that has (and still is) uncirculated.

Video overexposes when panned back, adjusts to look good when zoomed in. Go figure.

It’s really a shame that Bryan passed the way he did- it seems that over time that news/crime has overshadowed his musical accomplishments unfortunately.

Recorded by: ?
Transfer by: Shayne Stacy
Equipment used: JVC HRS8900U and Canopus ADVC300

Live Concert Video