Power-Popscurites: The Cavedogs: Joy Rides For Shut-Ins (1990)

Power-Popscurites is a series meant to bring to light power-pop bands so unknown that they've even been missed by greater minds of the blogosphere.

Well, early nineties Boston pop-nerds The Cavedogs have had some pixels spilled over them (thanks to Willfully Obscure and Little Hits) but still no one seems to have posted their prime, long out-of-print Enigma albums, like this Ed Stasium produced one from 1990, Joy Rides for Shut-Ins. So while some might say that "if you can recall a time when the search for the next Smithereens was a worthy pursuit of record label executives your musical memory is overcrowded" to which I say, "Sorry, I can't hear you above the noise:"

Joy Rides For Shut-Ins link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, Tell us your view on The Cavedogs.


The band re-united in 2002 (supposedly at the behest of former class-mate/collaborator David Cross) but there' s not been any great rush of activity since:

Amazon

MySpace

Fanpage



Update: Aaron adds:
"At one point or another each of the Cavedogs (I think) got involved with TV, writing both music and script content. Drummer Mark Rivers wrote the theme songs for Mr. Show and Moral Orel, among others. Todd Spahr has done some scores and more recently collaborated with Ilyana Douglas to create the Swedish pop band Sparhusen (iTunes link) as a tie-in with the web series Easy To Assemble. He also writes and performs with the bands Banquet Hall and Matt Bunsen & the Burners. He's a great songwriter and he just keeps going, so check it out!"

Update II Larkin Mayberry IV adds:
Todd Spahr also fronted a great Boston band in the late 90's to early 00's called The Gravy. I caught them many times and they quickly became my favorite local band.I believe they only had 3 releases. Hangman's Pop, an EP (known as the Hollywood EP), and Lollipolyp. All well worth the price of admission.
The physical copies are probably hard to find, I believe Lollypolyp wasn't even released in the US (just a small batch sold at shows). But here's a link to The Gravy on itunes:

Update III majornista adds:

Gravy video I

Gravy Video II

And don't miss this vintage news piece:

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