User:Niederbrach/sandbox

The Untold Fables were an American garage/punk band in the 1980s, notable for being a key part of the 60's Garage Punk revival scene in Southern California. The band originated in Orange County, California, and were not a psychedelic band.

Formation
The Untold Fables were formed in February 1984 by Robert Butler (bass guitar) and Paul Carey (vocals), both avid record collectors with similar tastes in music, and fixtures in the burgeoning Southern California 60’s garage punk revival scene. Jon Niederbrach (guitar), a friend of Butler’s since 7th grade with similar sensibilities, was asked to join soon after. The three began jamming and rehearsing favorite cover tunes in Carey’s family room/poolhouse at his parents’ home in Anaheim, CA. Various drummer friends sat in for rehearsals while the band searched for a permanent drummer. Butler had heard of a mod band from Lakewood, CA (The Fifth Generation) that was playing a house party in Garden Grove, CA (home to both Butler and Niederbrach). Rumor had it the drummer was good, so Butler and Niederbrach attended the party with the express purpose of checking out the drummer, Paul Sakry. After the band’s set, Butler asked Sakry if he’d “like to join a good band.” Sakry agreed, completing the band’s roster that would remain throughout its career.

Live Shows
The band’s first live performance was on Sunday, July 15, 1984, a free performance in the parking lot of Pepperland Records at their location then in Anaheim. Subsequent local Orange County shows shortly thereafter included Radio City in Anaheim, as well as various house parties throughout the county. The band frequently played Safari Sam’s in downtown Huntington Beach (near the legendary Golden Bear) throughout their career, along with Night Moves also in Huntington Beach, Mama Brown’s Back Door in Santa Ana and others in Orange County.

Opportunities opened up quickly to play Los Angeles clubs, specifically the seminal clubs PVTV03/Rave-Up on Alvarado and 7th near MacArthur Park in L.A., and Greg Shaw’s Cavern Club at the old KFWB studios in Hollywood on Hollywood Blvd. These clubs represented the epicenter of the nascent underground garage punk scene, specifically promoted by Bomp! Records founder Greg Shaw, among others. The Untold Fables played several memorable dates at the Cavern, including some songs with Sky Saxon of the Seeds on one notable occasion. Other Los Angeles venues played by the band include many dates at the Anti-Club, Madame Wong’s Chinatown, Madame Wong’s West, Raji’s, the Music Machine, and many others.

Out of the Los Angeles area, the band played in the San Diego area, another epicenter of the underground scene. Dates included DaveFests at Che’ Café and the Triton Pub on the UCSD campus with The Pandoras and The Tell-Tale Hearts.

In northern California, the band embarked on a short San Francisco tour in 1987, yet another hotbed for the growing garage punk revival. San Francisco clubs played include The Viz, with shows scheduled at Mabuhay Gardens.

Discography
Compilations

Battle of the Garages, Vol 3: The Paisley Underground (LP, Comp, Voxx, 1984, VOXX 200.020)

Sounds of Now (LP, Comp, Dionysus, 1987, ID123305)

Dimensions of Sound (LP, Comp, Mystery Scene, 1987, MS 1001)

What Stuff (LP/CD, Comp, Iloki, 1990, IL 1011)

Battle of the Garages, Part 2 (CD, Comp, Voxx, 1993, VCD 2068)

Singles/EPs

The Untold Fables EP (7”, Mystery Scene, 1987, MS 006, 65.11925)

Wendylyn (7”, Dionysus, 1987, ID073301)

LPs

Every Mother’s Nightmare (Dionysus, 1985, ID 8603)

Aesop’s Apocalypse (Dionysus, 1989, ID 123312)

Video

The Obnoxious Rock’n’Roll Video Hour (VHS, NTSC, Comp, Dionysus, 1987, IDV01)