ABSOLUTE ZERO: THE HISTORY
Absolute Zero was formed at Brown University in 1985. The founding members were Brian Strope '89 (guitar), Ed Hartman '89 (bass), Gavriel Rosenfeld '89 (vocals), Josh Nowlis '88 (drums). The four members all lived on the same hallway in the Quad (specifically Mead and Jameson, both of which were part of Unit 9) and quickly became friends after discovering their mutual interest in the band Rush. After repeatedly hearing roommates Strope and Hartman repeatedly playing high decibel renditions of "Red Barchetta" from far down the hallway, Rosenfeld resolved to introduce himself and was soon sitting in on impromptu jam sessions, offering his best Geddy Lee impression.
In the weeks that followed, the three musicians claimed practice space in a forlorn fourth floor ventilation space in the Quad, where they were able to perform covers not only of Rush songs, but tunes by the Police, U2, REM, Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, The Clash and other classic 70s and 80s bands. What was lacking at this point in time was a drummer. Waiting in the wings, however, was Josh Nowlis, RC of Unit 9 and percussionist for the well-known campus band, The Rage. By January of 1986, Nowlis left The Rage (which by then had descended into fratricidal dysfunction) and began practicing with Strope, Hartman, and Rosenfeld in their 4th floor Quad rehearsal space.
It was shortly thereafter, over dinner at The Ratty, that the name Absolute Zero was conceived. It easily beat out the runner-up, Loose Change. (The decision was made after Ed disclosed that Loose Change was "Menudo" in Spanish. Not wanting to be confused with Ricky Martin's famous boy band of the same name, Absolute Zero was selected instead).
Having acquired a name, the band now went out in search of an identity. At first, AZ played only covers. When the band performed for the first time in public in April of 1986 at Sigma Chi (incidentally, for free -- the gig having been arranged by fellow Unit 9 member and fraternity pledge, Rob Morales), it played around thirty covers of well-known rock tunes for inebriated and not particularly discerning party-goers. (In a mind-bending twist to rock convention, AZ began the gig -- and many subsequent ones -- by opening with U2's anthem, "40," which was usually played at the end of the Irish group's concerts). By the fall of 1986, AZ began writing the first of its many original songs to go along with its covers. The band never aspired to perform only originals, as it wanted to keep performing on campus, where the average gig entailed around three hours worth of songs. At the same time, the band also wanted to branch out into its own creative territory, like many of the other musical groups on campus.
In the second half of the 1980s, Brown boasted many talented bands. They included A Boy and His Dog, The Rage, The Action Verbs, The Casuals, The Eyes, The Round Band, SBD Street Gang, The Young Hegelians, Dolores, Liz and Lisa, and Myklos Factor. All of these bands wrote and performed their own original tunes, most of which reflected the influence of 1980s acts, such as Elvis Costello, REM, The English Beat, and The Police. (As a side note: some of these campus bands' members went on to distinguished careers in the world of music. Tim Thomas and Rose Thompson of the Brooklyn-based band, Babe the Blue Ox, played in The Action Verbs (together with drummer Scott Johnston, who later became AZ's drummer in 1988-89). Thomas later played in Dolores, one of whose bassists, Sasha Frere-Jones, went on to become the music critic for The New Yorker. Lisa Loeb became nationally recognized as a solo performer after her stint with Liz and Lisa. Dan Mackenzie (The Casuals and Myklos Factor) and Chad Fischer (who briefly jammed with AZ while playing with The Eyes) have also remained active as songwriters).
Absolute Zero sought to find its place in this vibrant campus musical culture by developing its own slate of originals while regularly adding new covers. The band's creative heyday was from the fall of 1986 to the spring of 1988. During this time, AZ produced around a dozen original songs and performed them at several dozen gigs at various campus venues, including The Underground, Alumni Hall, Hillel House, Pembroke Green, Wriston Quad, the Grad Center, and many dorms and fraternities. The well-connected Josh Nowlis was the driving force behind the vast majority of these gigs. When he graduated in 1988, the well began to run dry and AZ performed only once in public that year (with its new drummer, Scott Johnston '88). After its Halloween gig at Milhouse, AZ's playing days were over. Its members began to devote themselves to their post-college plans (grad school, med school, real life).
Apart from entertaining countless college students (hundreds? thousands? who was keeping track?) for nearly four years, Absolute Zero did not leave any tangible legacy on the world of music. It did not leave nothing, however. First and foremost, it left around a dozen dusty cassette tapes of practice sessions and performances, containing many original songs and song fragments (many of which were recorded over multiple times). The most important tape was the band's only album, Frequency Division Multiplexing. Most of the songs on this site are taken from that album. Some of the others were recorded in Harkness practice sessions, while "Oak Tree" -- the highest quality recording -- was recorded at Brown's music studio, which the band had access to, courtesy of Strope's electronic music course).
Besides the musical recordings, there are the song lyrics, which make no pretense of rising to the level of poetry, but they are posted anyway for anyone who is interested. There is also the poster art, which was created to advertise the band's gigs, and which may have reached some level of modest artistic triviality.
It is doubtful that there are many AZ groupies still around (though there were a handful back in the day). But for anyone that has any vestigial memories of the band's existence over two decades ago, this site is meant to revive them and confirm that they were not all part of an elaborate hallucination.
Gavriel Rosenfeld
It was shortly thereafter, over dinner at The Ratty, that the name Absolute Zero was conceived. It easily beat out the runner-up, Loose Change. (The decision was made after Ed disclosed that Loose Change was "Menudo" in Spanish. Not wanting to be confused with Ricky Martin's famous boy band of the same name, Absolute Zero was selected instead).
Having acquired a name, the band now went out in search of an identity. At first, AZ played only covers. When the band performed for the first time in public in April of 1986 at Sigma Chi (incidentally, for free -- the gig having been arranged by fellow Unit 9 member and fraternity pledge, Rob Morales), it played around thirty covers of well-known rock tunes for inebriated and not particularly discerning party-goers. (In a mind-bending twist to rock convention, AZ began the gig -- and many subsequent ones -- by opening with U2's anthem, "40," which was usually played at the end of the Irish group's concerts). By the fall of 1986, AZ began writing the first of its many original songs to go along with its covers. The band never aspired to perform only originals, as it wanted to keep performing on campus, where the average gig entailed around three hours worth of songs. At the same time, the band also wanted to branch out into its own creative territory, like many of the other musical groups on campus.
In the second half of the 1980s, Brown boasted many talented bands. They included A Boy and His Dog, The Rage, The Action Verbs, The Casuals, The Eyes, The Round Band, SBD Street Gang, The Young Hegelians, Dolores, Liz and Lisa, and Myklos Factor. All of these bands wrote and performed their own original tunes, most of which reflected the influence of 1980s acts, such as Elvis Costello, REM, The English Beat, and The Police. (As a side note: some of these campus bands' members went on to distinguished careers in the world of music. Tim Thomas and Rose Thompson of the Brooklyn-based band, Babe the Blue Ox, played in The Action Verbs (together with drummer Scott Johnston, who later became AZ's drummer in 1988-89). Thomas later played in Dolores, one of whose bassists, Sasha Frere-Jones, went on to become the music critic for The New Yorker. Lisa Loeb became nationally recognized as a solo performer after her stint with Liz and Lisa. Dan Mackenzie (The Casuals and Myklos Factor) and Chad Fischer (who briefly jammed with AZ while playing with The Eyes) have also remained active as songwriters).
Absolute Zero sought to find its place in this vibrant campus musical culture by developing its own slate of originals while regularly adding new covers. The band's creative heyday was from the fall of 1986 to the spring of 1988. During this time, AZ produced around a dozen original songs and performed them at several dozen gigs at various campus venues, including The Underground, Alumni Hall, Hillel House, Pembroke Green, Wriston Quad, the Grad Center, and many dorms and fraternities. The well-connected Josh Nowlis was the driving force behind the vast majority of these gigs. When he graduated in 1988, the well began to run dry and AZ performed only once in public that year (with its new drummer, Scott Johnston '88). After its Halloween gig at Milhouse, AZ's playing days were over. Its members began to devote themselves to their post-college plans (grad school, med school, real life).
Apart from entertaining countless college students (hundreds? thousands? who was keeping track?) for nearly four years, Absolute Zero did not leave any tangible legacy on the world of music. It did not leave nothing, however. First and foremost, it left around a dozen dusty cassette tapes of practice sessions and performances, containing many original songs and song fragments (many of which were recorded over multiple times). The most important tape was the band's only album, Frequency Division Multiplexing. Most of the songs on this site are taken from that album. Some of the others were recorded in Harkness practice sessions, while "Oak Tree" -- the highest quality recording -- was recorded at Brown's music studio, which the band had access to, courtesy of Strope's electronic music course).
Besides the musical recordings, there are the song lyrics, which make no pretense of rising to the level of poetry, but they are posted anyway for anyone who is interested. There is also the poster art, which was created to advertise the band's gigs, and which may have reached some level of modest artistic triviality.
It is doubtful that there are many AZ groupies still around (though there were a handful back in the day). But for anyone that has any vestigial memories of the band's existence over two decades ago, this site is meant to revive them and confirm that they were not all part of an elaborate hallucination.
Gavriel Rosenfeld
Absolute Zero: The original liner notes
(What follows are the original liner notes from the album
Frequency Division Multiplexing (1988)
_____________
Absolute Zero (the band) is:
Brodsky Strope -- Guitar, vocals, Boogie-man
Joshmo Nowlis -- Drums, no vocals, PA-owner, face-maker
Edmo "Steven" Hartman -- Bass, vocals, poster-stapler
Gavmo Rosenfeld -- Lead vocals, poster-guy, PR-man
Music: by Absolute Zero -- all rights reserved, ok?
Lyrics: G. D. Rosenfeld (except "Today's Gift" -- Stropester; and "Another Time Another Day," Strope and Rosie)
Recorded at: Harkness Mounds O' Sound Studio, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912
* mixed and engineered by Strope in Richardson Hall with John "Admo" Adcock's 4-Track
Produced and directed by Brian Strope
Assisted by Ed, Josh, and Gav
Absolute Zero was formed in late 1985 on the third floor of Mead-Jameson overlooking downtown Providence with "La Villa Strangiato" playing in the background. The band would like to thank all of the people who made our musical venture the rewarding experience it has been: Joshmo Nowlis: for helping The Rage break up and making himself available as a drummer. We also'd like to thank him for owning a PA system which we've put through hell and having access to a practice room without a working fan but with funky blue party lights. Sigma Chi: for letting us play for free in the spring of 1986 (our first gig), but not for much else. Unit 9: for attending in force and relieving the band's nervousness. Dougie Suna: for taking many photos. No thanks to The Underground for getting closed by the University the day before our supposed first gig. Thanks to Heidi, Jennifer, Jamie, Susie, Sherry, Manny, Janice, Mary, Jennifer's sister Sarah "Ms. Universe" Gregory (who effortlessly carried one PA speaker on each shoulder), Laurie (who lent Gav her shirt), Jamie Gorenberg, for much musical inspiration. The Ventilation Room: for supplying a bone-chilling (but friendly) atmosphere in which to jam.
1986-87
Round Band: for warming up for us in our Underground debut. Thanks to Pete n' John for befriending us. Without their help our arms would be tired. Pete Beeman: fer taking photos all the time at many gigs (2) and giving us free prints. Admo: for lending us cords and helping us set up. Milhouse: for paying us 50 dollars for a job well done. Erika: for carrying equipment. Underground, Psi U, Sigma Chi, Mitch Baker, Financial Aid, Hegeman Caswell: for fun gigs (despite Joshmo's bagging Wriston for a triathlon in Illinois). Alumni Hall: for nobody coming to see us except B-TV (two wearying gigs that night!!). Brodsky: for puking at Psi U. Deborah: for coming to every gig and carrying stuff.
1987-88
Weather: for raining out our "Be Seen on the Green" gig. Richard Spahr: for giving us a band room which we already deserved. Underground (2), Sigma Chi, Hillel: gigs. Renée Booth "pola" royd: for forgiving Ed for breaking her toes (3). Bitchy PC girls: for making us play "Allison" and tossing each other in trash cans in a festive mood. Weird RISD people at Hillel: for dancing like meshugganahs. Gav: for making the speaker shriek during the quietest part of "Running to Stand Still." WBRU: for not picking us in the Rock Hunt. Good Clean Fun: For not writing an article 'bout us. Psi U's Mardi Gras: Brian puked again but we rocked anyways. Unknown Asian Guy: for ogling Brian's guitar solos. Underground: our best gig (after following Two Bad). We wailed. Perkins: for paying us. Wriston Bash: lots of coldness. Brian's puke froze, Miltonite townies cheered, and we rocked as usual. Kristan Cardoza House: for lugging equipment. Jay n' Russ: for coming anonymously to every gig. East Campus Barbecue: for the great soundman and food. Brodsky: for agreeing to make this tape.
Miscellaneous: 1985-88
Rush guy at Psi U: for screaming at us to play Rush. Rush guys at Sigma Chi (1986): for screaming at us to play Rush. Landing Party hippy with the high voice: for loitering at our rockin' gigs. Erika and Jennifer: for throwing lingerie at us at The Underground. Hegeman 101 and 103A: for being our home. Paul the Janitor: for singing in our band. Cars that we borrowed: from Dan Mackenzie, Patty, Joshmo's friend's truck. Rob Gill's friend's Volvo from the AC. Nate: for kinda being our part-time manager. Rocko: for commenting that Brian played fuckin' beautiful. The Underground: It was good to us (we'll miss you -- sob!).
JOSH: for having gotten us pretty much all of our gigs including the ones we didn't want like Campus Dance. Because of Josh, we've kept the earplug cartel in business and we've seen many great facial expressions. Boy, and those solos during "Pass Funk" sure had our heads a shakin'! His train whistle in the old "Hook Line n' Sinker" really kept it rockin' and he 'em rollin' in the aisles. Good luck at Cornell and come visit us on your own Joshmo Standard Time (15 minutes late). It's mellow (after all). P. S. -- will Deborah still help us carry stuff?
For those of you whom we forgot to thank: whoopsie!
What will 1988-89 have in store for Absolute Zero? No one really knows....
Absolute Zero Fan Club: Do you want posters, photos, old bass strings, used ear plugs, or song lists? Locks of hair, used Kleenexes of any band members? Just write to "That Awesomeband" Absolute Zero. P. O. Box 4059, 0073, or 0031. Or come by 320 Young Orchard A. Or call toll-free (x4455) and bring $20.00 to bargain fer just about anything.
NOTE: we do not autograph parts of living human beings.
Gavriel Rosenfeld (May, 1988)
Brodsky Strope -- Guitar, vocals, Boogie-man
Joshmo Nowlis -- Drums, no vocals, PA-owner, face-maker
Edmo "Steven" Hartman -- Bass, vocals, poster-stapler
Gavmo Rosenfeld -- Lead vocals, poster-guy, PR-man
Music: by Absolute Zero -- all rights reserved, ok?
Lyrics: G. D. Rosenfeld (except "Today's Gift" -- Stropester; and "Another Time Another Day," Strope and Rosie)
Recorded at: Harkness Mounds O' Sound Studio, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912
* mixed and engineered by Strope in Richardson Hall with John "Admo" Adcock's 4-Track
Produced and directed by Brian Strope
Assisted by Ed, Josh, and Gav
Absolute Zero was formed in late 1985 on the third floor of Mead-Jameson overlooking downtown Providence with "La Villa Strangiato" playing in the background. The band would like to thank all of the people who made our musical venture the rewarding experience it has been: Joshmo Nowlis: for helping The Rage break up and making himself available as a drummer. We also'd like to thank him for owning a PA system which we've put through hell and having access to a practice room without a working fan but with funky blue party lights. Sigma Chi: for letting us play for free in the spring of 1986 (our first gig), but not for much else. Unit 9: for attending in force and relieving the band's nervousness. Dougie Suna: for taking many photos. No thanks to The Underground for getting closed by the University the day before our supposed first gig. Thanks to Heidi, Jennifer, Jamie, Susie, Sherry, Manny, Janice, Mary, Jennifer's sister Sarah "Ms. Universe" Gregory (who effortlessly carried one PA speaker on each shoulder), Laurie (who lent Gav her shirt), Jamie Gorenberg, for much musical inspiration. The Ventilation Room: for supplying a bone-chilling (but friendly) atmosphere in which to jam.
1986-87
Round Band: for warming up for us in our Underground debut. Thanks to Pete n' John for befriending us. Without their help our arms would be tired. Pete Beeman: fer taking photos all the time at many gigs (2) and giving us free prints. Admo: for lending us cords and helping us set up. Milhouse: for paying us 50 dollars for a job well done. Erika: for carrying equipment. Underground, Psi U, Sigma Chi, Mitch Baker, Financial Aid, Hegeman Caswell: for fun gigs (despite Joshmo's bagging Wriston for a triathlon in Illinois). Alumni Hall: for nobody coming to see us except B-TV (two wearying gigs that night!!). Brodsky: for puking at Psi U. Deborah: for coming to every gig and carrying stuff.
1987-88
Weather: for raining out our "Be Seen on the Green" gig. Richard Spahr: for giving us a band room which we already deserved. Underground (2), Sigma Chi, Hillel: gigs. Renée Booth "pola" royd: for forgiving Ed for breaking her toes (3). Bitchy PC girls: for making us play "Allison" and tossing each other in trash cans in a festive mood. Weird RISD people at Hillel: for dancing like meshugganahs. Gav: for making the speaker shriek during the quietest part of "Running to Stand Still." WBRU: for not picking us in the Rock Hunt. Good Clean Fun: For not writing an article 'bout us. Psi U's Mardi Gras: Brian puked again but we rocked anyways. Unknown Asian Guy: for ogling Brian's guitar solos. Underground: our best gig (after following Two Bad). We wailed. Perkins: for paying us. Wriston Bash: lots of coldness. Brian's puke froze, Miltonite townies cheered, and we rocked as usual. Kristan Cardoza House: for lugging equipment. Jay n' Russ: for coming anonymously to every gig. East Campus Barbecue: for the great soundman and food. Brodsky: for agreeing to make this tape.
Miscellaneous: 1985-88
Rush guy at Psi U: for screaming at us to play Rush. Rush guys at Sigma Chi (1986): for screaming at us to play Rush. Landing Party hippy with the high voice: for loitering at our rockin' gigs. Erika and Jennifer: for throwing lingerie at us at The Underground. Hegeman 101 and 103A: for being our home. Paul the Janitor: for singing in our band. Cars that we borrowed: from Dan Mackenzie, Patty, Joshmo's friend's truck. Rob Gill's friend's Volvo from the AC. Nate: for kinda being our part-time manager. Rocko: for commenting that Brian played fuckin' beautiful. The Underground: It was good to us (we'll miss you -- sob!).
JOSH: for having gotten us pretty much all of our gigs including the ones we didn't want like Campus Dance. Because of Josh, we've kept the earplug cartel in business and we've seen many great facial expressions. Boy, and those solos during "Pass Funk" sure had our heads a shakin'! His train whistle in the old "Hook Line n' Sinker" really kept it rockin' and he 'em rollin' in the aisles. Good luck at Cornell and come visit us on your own Joshmo Standard Time (15 minutes late). It's mellow (after all). P. S. -- will Deborah still help us carry stuff?
For those of you whom we forgot to thank: whoopsie!
What will 1988-89 have in store for Absolute Zero? No one really knows....
Absolute Zero Fan Club: Do you want posters, photos, old bass strings, used ear plugs, or song lists? Locks of hair, used Kleenexes of any band members? Just write to "That Awesomeband" Absolute Zero. P. O. Box 4059, 0073, or 0031. Or come by 320 Young Orchard A. Or call toll-free (x4455) and bring $20.00 to bargain fer just about anything.
NOTE: we do not autograph parts of living human beings.
Gavriel Rosenfeld (May, 1988)