new math

New Math performing at the Orange Monkey in 1977. Robert Slide - bass, Gary Trainer - guitar, Paul Dodd - drums, Kevin Patrick - vocals, Dale Mincey - guitar
New Math performing at the Orange Monkey in 1977. Robert Slide – bass, Gary Trainer – guitar, Paul Dodd – drums, Kevin Patrick – vocals, Dale Mincey – guitar

I moved back to Rochester In the mid seventies. Peggi and I had been going to school in Indiana and I was playing in a working country band there, real country, like Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Country rock was getting big here at the time, a whole other animal. Bands like Old Salt were popular. I wasn’t buying it. I placed an ad on the bulletin board at Record Archive, then located next door to Village Green Bookstore on Monroe Avenue. I was looking for something different and I found it. Kevin and Gary called and we started a band. I lasted a few years and left after we released the first single, “Die Trying.” Howard Thompson produced it at PCI Studio.

DIE TRYING VIDEO BY NEW MATH

Paul Dodd cover art and label art for New Math Die Trying 45 released on Reliable Records. Photo by Robert Slide.
Paul Dodd cover art and label art for New Math Die Trying 45 released on Reliable Records. Photo by Robert Slide.
New Math "Die Trying" 45 on CBS Records in England
New Math “Die Trying” 45 on CBS Records in England
New Math 45 coverer Reliable Records issue of New Math's "Die Trying."
New Math 45 coverer Reliable Records issue of New Math’s “Die Trying.”
New Math 45 back cover Reliable Records issue of New Math's "Die Trying."
New Math 45 back cover Reliable Records issue of New Math’s “Die Trying.”
New Math preforming at the Orange Monkey in Rochester, New York 1977

A couple of years ago Gary Trainer dropped off a cd of old New Math tracks, something labeled April 1977. It was recorded in our rehearsal space above the adult bookstore in the Cox Building, just a block from Scorgies but before he opened his doors. And I knew I had some old Super 8 footage that Peggi shot of the band from back then, dark, live footage from the Orange Monkey without sound, Kevin, Gary and I in front of the first Record Archive store on Monroe Avenue and then some goofy stuff from Mount Hope Cemetery. I put it all together with some crossfades. Duane Sherwood wasn’t doing lights yet so we’re pretty much in the dark.

There weren’t many places to play before Scorgies, the Penny Arcade up at the lake, Electric Circus on Dewey, Big Daddy’s, some place along the river that Howie from Six String Sales booked and the Orange Monkey on Henrietta Town Line Road, down the road from the Red Creek Inn. Pierre ran the Orange Monkey. It was a glam rock palace. Cheap Trick was playing downtown one night when were playing the Monkey and Rick Nielsen joined us on stage after their gig. We did Gloria and something else. He was wearing the hat.

I quit New Math shortly after the first single was released and Peggi and I formed the Hi-Techs. Our first gig was opening for New Math at Scorgies.

New Math 1977 Dale Solo, Kevin Patrick, Paul Dodd, Robert Slide and Gary Trainer
New Math 1977 Dale Solo, Kevin Patrick, Paul Dodd, Robert Slide and Gary Trainer
New Math band photo by Corine Atias 1977
New Math band photo by Corrine Atias 1977
New Math in Cox building rehearsal space. Promo photo by Corrine Cats
New Math in Cox building rehearsal space. Promo photo by Corrine Cats
Photo for New Math and John Mooney Blues Band at Electric Circus on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, New York 1977
Photo for New Math and John Mooney Blues Band at Electric Circus on Dewey Avenue in Rochester, New York 1977
New Math Record Archive Back Room 1975
New Math Record Archive Back Room 1975
Dale Mincey of New Mat playing guitar on Dartmouth Street
Dale Mincey of New Mat playing guitar on Dartmouth Street
Ticket for New Math and the debut performance of Human Swithboard
Ticket for New Math and the debut performance of Human Swithboard
3 color silkscreen poster for New Math gig at R.I.T Grace Watson Hall on October 7, 1977
3 color silkscreen poster for New Math gig at R.I.T Grace Watson Hall on October 7, 1977
Poster for New Math at Penny Arcade in Rochester, New York 03.30.1978. Poster shows Paul Dodd, Dale Mincey, Kevin Patrick, Robert Slide and Gary Trainer. New Math logo by Tim Dodd. Paul Dodd - drums, Gary Trainer - guitar, Kevin Patrick - vocals, Dale Mincey - guitar, Robert Slide - bass. Poster by Paul Dodd.
Poster for New Math at Penny Arcade in Rochester, New York 03.30.1978. Poster shows Paul Dodd, Dale Mincey, Kevin Patrick, Robert Slide and Gary Trainer. New Math logo by Tim Dodd. Paul Dodd – drums, Gary Trainer – guitar, Kevin Patrick – vocals, Dale Mincey – guitar, Robert Slide – bass. Poster by Paul Dodd.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *