board recording at parody hall on 39th kcmo 1985

"god knows" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kp

board recording. parody hall on 39th kcmo. 

"tina's cryin" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kpjg

board recording parody hall on 39th kcmo. 1985.

"end of the trend" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kp

board recording. parody hall on 39th kcmo. 1985

"modern times" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kp

"brave rifles" charmed lives 1985 ronsB kpjghg

ron's basement board recording. phase 2.0 version

"do i love you" charmed lives 1985 ronsB 2.0 kpjg

board recording at parody hall on 39th. kcmo. 1985. *many consider this  CL's signature song. 

"with a beat" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kpjg

board recording parody hall on 39th. kcmo. 1985. *left in the heckler at the start. 

"can't refuse" charmed lives 1985 parody hall kpjg

board recording parody hall on 39th kcmo. 1985

"false alarms"  charmed lives 1985 parody hall kpjg

ron's basement board recording. phase 2.0 permitted more than 2 sequences. intro designed as all instrument soundcheck. 1985 clever. 

"hold out (for love)" charmed lives 1985 ronsB 2.0 kpjg

Archive for Charmed Lives, a Kansas City based techno band 1984-85.

In the summer of 1984, four guys were at Parody Hall on 39th watching a band - - and decided they would try to be a band again. Their prior attempts at being "a band" had suffered from not finding a reliable drummer. And possibly from always wanting to play music that few had ever heard of.

So Ronnie (bass & computer programmer) explained to the guys about the new introduction of MIDI... musical instrument digital interface. And the essence of "event" programming. He went on to purchase an Apple iiE (personal computer) - - Sequential Circuits Drumtrax (drum machine w midi) - - Sequential Circuits Six Trak (analog synthesizer w midi).

With this gear, the band was back together!

While the guys liked many 80s electronic bands, they worked to hybrid-ize Charmed Lives (CL) - - between electronic & guitar sounds. They were fans of punk, new wave, 50s doo wop, hard rock etc.. .but their own stuff was mostly about pop songs.

In the fall of 1984, CL did their first live gigs --- being the sole opening band for FOOLS FACE at Parody Hall on 39th St KCMO. A three night series of farewell shows for FF, as they were moving to Los Angeles CA. It was a successful opening for the band-without-a-human-drummer. Encores on two of the nights; graciously suggested by two of the FF players. *Even with the occasional "where's the drummer" heckler.

CL was an original song band that mixed in a few twisted cover songs.

The band went into 1985 opening (at Parody) for several (then) notable touring bands - - among them Model Citizens, the DBs and (almost) The Three O'Clock (the LA band cancelled after posters were out). Through that year, CL ended up headlining at the new Parody (River Market) several weekends with other bands opening for them. CL also played at the Hurricane, Uptown Theater, Harlings & some private functions.

The band had been contacted to play in Columbia MO & Lawrence KS - - when they broke up.

While CL was a tiny story in the local music scene, it can be said that they broke up due to the unexpected success of the band. But, at least, having learned that the most important button on a drum machine... is the "off" button. 

Kevin Pasley - - voice, keys, synth/drum programming, songwriting
HG "Rusty" Earley - - guitar, voice, keys, songwriting  *RIP 22 Sep 2011
Ron Spero  - - bass, voice, keys, computer programmer (apple iiE)
Joe Gialde - - songwriting *RIP 22 Jan 2009

charmed lives

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