Hace Frio - The New Beat

What I remember most about The New Beat was Jim scrambling to get back to South Bend mid-Hace Frio/emiLy tour to pick up the tapes.  What struck me most about the recordings was that the first six songs or so were OK.  I was very pleased with the addition of the violin, and Rose's playing in general because it gave some depth to some of the songs, and added layers to the band's sound.  "Welcome to Semblance" and "Gray Shades" were always so much fun to perform.  We had just started to mature as a band I think, when this tape came out, and unlike the sweat-drenched summer of unbearable heat inspired songs of our first recording, The New Beat was crisper, and the recording quality better.  Most importantly, as Doug has pointed out repeatedly, we had fun.




We had played a few shows in Chicago and Michigan before we took off for the tour, and we had been lucky enough to open for some great acts, including several U. of Chicago bands such as Streganona and Toulouse, and the Chisel show at 702 W. Angela.  We even did a Michigan spot with Streg that was memorable for all the faces in the basement who had never heard us, but were into it, and the prodigious booze quaffed by both bands.

Hawking that tape on tour also was fun, I remember in Ohio hitting up every person in the club to buy them, lord knows where they are now. We seemed to keep running into straightedge folk on the tour, who Doug and Mike L. horrified by setting records for chicken wing consumption, and who Jim and I horrified by staggering around with 40s mid-day.  By the end of the Carolina leg of the tour, some of them liked us well enough to try and hitch a ride back to the Bend.  Amazing what a tour can do.



Back to the tape, Jim deserves mucho credit for his technical skill in recording this and the development of his bass lines. In listening to it 13 years later, I can recall the tour and waning days in the Bend, and also all the idealism and fun we had that year.

--Dave McMahon

listen/download:


see also:
Hace Frio on MySpace
Hace Frio - The College Years (1995-1996)

Hace Frio - The College Years (1995-1996)

Say hello again to Hace Frio, your indie pop rock friends. Hace Frio was Dave McM., James J., Vinny C., and Rose S. (though I don't believe Rose is featured on this cassette). Let's hear what a couple of these guys had to say about the band:

"Hace Frio was a band for the fun of it. None of us could play instruments except Vinny on drums, but we had loads of fun making up little pop songs. We actually played a load of shows from Michigan to Chicago, and did a mini-tour with emiLy, which was a highlight of our life as a band in the summer of '96. Over time we got a little tighter, wrote better songs, and rocked Nazz into oblivion. Our best show was playing with Chisel in the basement at 702 W. Angela Blvd, or perhaps playing University of Chicago with an audience of about 60-70.

The College Years was the first recording, with loads of songs. We were inspired by the general output of bands like Guided by Voices, although we fell short in the lyrics and music departments. What was great about Hace Frio was that even though we were short on instruments and green behind the ears, we got to listen to far superior bands like emiLy and learned to appreciate Joe's masterful guitar playing, and the general elan of the band. Plus Vinny covered up any musical lapses we had." -- Dave

"When we started, Dave and I seriously had no idea how to play. Our first show was quite awful, but we all loved music, had an idea and went with it.

So many good times! Early on we hijacked the WVFI van for a weekend, it was 107+ degrees outside and we headed to Chicago to record our first demo songs in Sweep the Leg Johnny's basement. Quite an insane experience, we probably shouldn't have made it there and back, but we survived. We had a mission, what that was is anyone's guess. Vinny's awesome drumming, and Rose's sweet violin sounds, along with sheer determination, led to much better song writing and towards the end some really amazing shows." -- James

This cassette features a diverse selection of sounds and directions, from indierock and punk to instrumental noise and poetry. Who could forget "Anne" -- a poppy toe-tapper that is sure to stick in your head all day once you give it a spin. You've gotta also love "Dyngus Day" -- an homage to the Bend and it's most beloved local holiday. And "Center Aisle" brings the rock with it's full-on Dead Kennedys-style choruses.


The College Years was recorded in 1995, and released on the eSTaTe record label (what is it with capital letters in the middle of words with this crowd?). We'll leave you with a little something from an unlisted cut at the end of the tape:

"Ahh the College Years... when old Smitty said, 'Kick back, look at the spectacle of life kid, absorb all the wonderful French minds and let it all slide down your throat like a Werther's Original,' he had it right! And this, this is our gift to you: The College Years by Hace Frio 1995-1996. Yes... and then I'm going to kill you and eat you. But that's alright. People will call me a cold-hearted fiend, but enjoy the recording."

listen/download:


see also:
Hace Frio on MySpace