History The Malarians

The Malarians were formed in 1984 in Amherst, Massachusetts, as a loose aggregation of musicians banging out rough versions of "1-2-5," "It's a Cryin' Shame," and "European Son to Delmore Schwartz." In the Summer of '85, the definitive line-up emerged, featuring Mal Thursday on lead vocals, organ, and harmonica, Johnny Tomorrow on guitar, Bob Medley on guitar and organ, Slater Awn on bass, and Lime Ricky on drums (a ridiculous pseudonym was a prerequisite for membership in the group).

The band honed their shamelessly derivative material in their memorably wild live shows, either headlining or opening for such divere acts as the Damned, the Ventures, the Pixies, They Might Be Giants, Phish, the Fleshtones, the Cynics, and, most often, Boston garage rock legends the Lyres. In 1986, they released their debut LP, In the Cool Room, on Chunk Records. Recorded at Trod Nossel Studios in Wallingford, Connecticut, the record failed to capture the band's live sound, but sold respectably (In 2009, it was remixed and remastered by Johnny Tomorrow, and re-released as a limited edition CD).

In 1988, the Malarians recorded a follow-up EP, Know, at Boston's Fort Apache Studio with Sean Slade (Radiohead, Dinosaur Jr., Hole) and Treat Her Right's Jim Fitting at the controls. The record authentically captured the band's onstage fury, made the CMJ top 20, getting great reviews, extensive college radio airplay, and selling out of its first pressing in a matter of months.

Shaky finances precluded either a second pressing or the release of the full-length album Malarians for Mothers and Daughters a/k/a Heavy Hits. In 1989, Johnny, Bob, and Lime quit the band simultaneously, leaving Mal and Slater to cobble together a new line-up featuring Mike Sewell of the Lonely Moans and Peter "Spec" McHugh on guitars, with Steve Healey of Wingtip Sloat on drums. This line-up recorded the shambolic live album, Finished in This Town, at their second gig at the Zone Arts Center in Springfield, Mass.

By the time of its release in early 1990, the Malarians were, indeed, finished.

Mal Thursday revived the Chunk label in 1992 for another 30 releases, including titles by Guided by Voices, New Radiant Storm King, Silver Jews, Scud Mountain Boys, the Cheetahs, DMZ, and Lyres before folding the label at the end of the decade. He currently lives in Austin, Texas and hosts "The Mal Thursday Show" and "Florida Rocks Again!" on the GaragePunk Podcast Network.

In 1994, Slater Awn (real name Kent Garver) died in Carboro, North Carolina.

Against all odds, the band will reunite in 2010 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of In the Cool Room with an ambitious program of CD reissues and a tour of the Commonwealth in June, adding bass player Les Fillin for the gigs.

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