FM
History
The Malarians were formed in 1984 in Amherst, Massachusetts, as a loose aggregation of musicians banging out rough versions of "1-2-5," "It's a Cryin' Shame," and "European Son to Delmore Schwartz." In the Summer of '85, the definitive line-up emerged, featuring Mal Thursday on lead vocals, organ, and harmonica, Johnny Tomorrow on guitar, Bob Medley on guitar and organ, Slater Awn on bass, and Lime Ricky on drums (a ridiculous pseudonym was a prerequisite for membership in the group).
The band honed their shamelessly derivative material in their memorably wild live shows, either headlining or opening for such divere acts as the Damned, the Ventures, the Pixies, They Might Be Giants, Phish, the Fleshtones, the Cynics, and, most often, Boston garage rock legends the Lyres. In 1986, they released their debut LP, In the Cool Room, on Chunk Records. Recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Wallingford, Connecticut, the record failed to capture the band's live sound, but sold respectably (In 2009, it was remixed and remastered by Johnny Tomorrow, and re-released as a limited edition CD).
