Pianosaurus

Artist: Pianosaurus

Similar Artists:

Yo La Tengo, Peter Holsapple

Influenced By:

The dB's, Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson, Alex Chilton

Performed Songs By:

Alex Garvin

Formed: 1982
Genres: Rock
Representative Albums: "Live at the Speakeasy Nyc", "Live at Folk City

Biography

A delightful curiosity during the serene '80s, Pianosaurus played juvenile pop songs on -- what else? -- rinky-dink pianos, plastic horns, and a full array of children's toys. Bandmates Alex Garvin, Bianca "Flystrip" Miller, and Steve Dansiger came together in New York State in the early '80s, and self-released their first two albums, both recorded live and issued in 1985. Two years later, Rounder Records released Pianosaurus' proper debut, Groovy Neighborhood, produced by Peter Holsapple (of the db's) and featuring covers of Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker. In 1988, the trio appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's New York Stories, guesting on the soundtrack as well, and were ready to release their second album, Back to School, when Garvin left the band (apparently under mental strain). Tragically, the LP remains unissued. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

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Discography: Pianosaurus

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Groovy Neighborhood

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Wikipedia: Pianosaurus

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This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from other articles related to it. (November 2007)

Pianosaurus was a 1980s rock and roll band from New York, formed by Alex Garvin, Steve Dansiger, and Bianca Miller. Their music was played on toy instruments, the name being taken from a child's plastic toy piano in the shape of a dinosaur with a keyboard running along the right side.

After two self-released live albums, their 'debut' album Groovy Neighborhood was released by Rounder Records in 1987. Produced by Peter Holsapple, guitarist and songwriter for The dB's, "Neighborhood" featured cover versions of Chuck Berry's "Memphis", as well as the Box Tops' 1960s hit "The Letter".

In 1989, the song "Back to School" was featured in the movie New York Stories, in Francis Ford Coppola's short "Life without Zoe", and was released on the soundtrack. Reputedly they had a cameo shot in the movie "The Freshman" with Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando.

Their second album, titled Back to School, remains unreleased.

References

AMG entry for Pianosaurus

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Learn More

	Groovy Neighborhood (1987 Album by Pianosaurus)
	All-Ears Review, Vol. 1: Hottest New Sounds from African to Jazz To Rock To Zydeco (1980 Album by Various Artists)
	The Tryfles (Rock Band, '80s)

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		Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved. Read more
		Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pianosaurus". Read more