Goodbye, Blue Monday was a project conceived of four of Philadelphia's finest. With member's past projects boasting likes of Frail, I Am Heaven, The Mandela Strikeforce, and True High Fidelity - it was hard to go wrong. Playing together for less than two years, the band played enough shows to gain the attention of their local scene. Brian Sokel of Franklin wrote in his blog that "They blew almost everyone out of the water when they played live."
Brian and Mike played together in I Am Heaven which unfortunately ended early due to drama with their record getting released, but conveniently at a similar time to Chris and Tim's band True High Fidelity coming to an end. They came together and recorded a demo in the summer of 1996 which would immediately grab the attention of legendary Canadian music photographer and label-owner Shawn Scallen. Scallen pushed the band to keep going, requesting that they let him release the demo's second track "The Work Of Fools" on his label Spectra Sonic Sound. In the following weeks they would record that song again in the studio with two others that would be released on Scallen's label the next year.
After recording the band kept playing shows and did a tour with Franklin before recording their eponymous 7" EP. This recording was slower than the demo; with more paced riffs and melodic sections than the fast and energetic songs on the cassette. They didn't disappoint, though, the record's closer "Summer Nights" gives a perfect conclusion with the band's energy coming to front and center.
The split 7" would be released in 1997, and soon after the band came to a quiet close. Tim and Chris kept playing together in a band called Excelsior and Brian formed a new band with his brother Todd and Dave from Elements of Need called North. Philadelphia's scene in the 90s had more amazing bands than I can count, but if there is one that I recommend listening to the most it's GBM.
Download the discography here. Ripped in the highest quality from the original cassette and vinyl.
Discogs: Demo
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