LYRES - Don't Give It Up Now (1984)

[@nomadictodd5951]

I just saw this band tonight at the Middle East in Boston. Was in town for work and picked this show because there were 3 bands and it started at 1830 (perfect time for us old farts). I was mesmerized. It was truly one of the greatest shows I've seen. Had no idea of their history but the front man was one of the best front men I've ever seen. Now I'm looking at this frigging 35 years later and he still has the tambourine, organ and crazy hair (albeit it's totally white/gray). I will take this music any damn day.

[@CaptainSensibleIII]

Not same band. Only the one dude is the same. And they are a pale imitation of what they were 40 years ago.

[@sandralawson4761]

Aw, I'm glad to hear MonoMan (Jeff Connolly) is still rocking. Saw them at the Inman Square Men's bar in Cambridge around 1984. One of the best shows ever!

[@joseph_johnsonherrmausmann2k]

Yes, The Lyres are / were the very best rock-n-roll bands ever in Boston or elsewhere in America. Please stay awake and focused America. Veile glucklische alles, tschüss J. Johnson

[@cylon1983]

for my fellow 80's Bostonians.....Damn that was FUN!!!!!!!

[@gangoffour6690]

Damn straight man. THE BEST 👍👍👍

[@duffy2604]

I was THERE!! So many great bands !!

[@jdel5656]

Yeah , it was the greatest ! Man on any night , live music all over. We played/worked regularly , for 💰 too. So many great clubs , venues . The Rat , The Club , Inn Square men's bar ,, Bunratty's , JJ Flash , jumbos , the Channel and more. The Rat , some nights 5 bands!

[@jdel5656]

There's still places to play n catch shows but not the same. Pandemic really crushed an already watered down music scene.

[@AndyBigDaddyWilkinson]

Saw them at the Channel countless times Fuckin A !!!!!!

[@HemiVic]

I was instrumental in getting this song played at my college radio station WIUS-FM in Macomb, IL. In 1984! This song rocks! Vic Bannon “60’s Madness” 88.3 FM WIUS-FM 1983-86! Sixties Garage Punk Forever!

[@hanskloss1331]

Jade Gurss an old friend of mine was a DJ at KJHK (KU) in Lawrence Kansas and played this randomly on his show and told me the phone rang off the HOOK with questions about the band he also was first to play Nests 😊

[@rustytuney7]

Booked this band at my club, Jacks on Mass Ave in Cambridge, I can't say there was anyone who sounded better than these guys! Wow!

[@cindywhitford702]

I can't count how many times I was blessed to see these guys perform. They NEVER disappoint. How on earth are they not more famous!?! Why are they not picking up awards. They are truly one of the best RnR bands ever. This world so screwed up. Love you Lyres.

[@lahaza6515]

Oh thank you for this! Used to go see them at maxwells & no other band could muster such unbridled excitement in me as a young girl. They just completely kicked ass in every way.

[@brettperuzzi1039]

The first band I saw at the Rat in Boston, in 1979!

[@cathyskywalker77]

Saw them eight times at The Grotto in New Haven Connecticut back in 1987 and 1988. Great band!!!!!

[@rupertbuzzcock1962]

First saw Lyres @ I-Beam, SF in 1985: stripped-down, back to basics, kick-ass garage rock!!!

[@loryspencer8215]

I was there...awesome show

[@hanskloss1331]

RIP I-Beam tons of shows 1984-1986

[@mjmcnult]

Jeff was a monster, in every way, back in these days.

[@willieluncheonette]

This is indeed one of the greatest American garage bands and live they can be awesome.Only saw them once here in Manhattan when my friend Dave Herrera of the Cheepskates said, " Come on. You gotta see this band." So I went. One of the greatest live shows I've ever seen. Remember after the show I had a very strong urge to follow them back to Boston--I was completely hypnotized by their music and so totally under their spell. This is the effect a GREAT group like the Lyres can have on someone.

[@juannadie3542]

Lyres , the best garage band

[@Bietel]

The Cheepskates! Got a couple of cool albums from that band. Run Better Run of course, and the ones on the Music Maniac label. Excellent songwriting, great recordings... fine band.

[@h.markhorton8188]

Their forerunner, DMZ were pretty amazing too!

[@riversidepete6128]

i met jeff in a record store( years ago ) in harvard square...we got in to a discussion about our favorite garage bands. cool guy!

[@redshaftedflicker]

pure badass rock n' roll. hipsters beware.

[@Nazzz65]

INDEED!!!

[@GrumpyJerk]

They have an early VIOLENT FEMMES vibe. Good video. Thanks for posting’! Cheers from H-Town!

[@lennonstarkey4150]

best 80s retro 60s band there was

[@vividsoundrecords]

I saw them in the mid 80's at the Channel with the Chesterfield Kings! Damn best live show I have ever experienced!!

[@TheVoxvixen]

There is ONE thing on my bucket list that I just have to do...cause the LYRES have always been one of my all time FAV bands...I want to do a double organ appearance with Jeff and the Lyres !! PLEASE...just once before I leave this world !!

[@willieluncheonette]

MONSTER GARAGE BAND HERE, BRO. This is indeed one of the greatest American garage bands. They formed in Boston in 1979 and that same year released their first single How Do You Know/Don't Give It Up Now. The band had six albums out in the 1980's. Their leader and singer Jeff (Monoman) Conolly is the embodiment of the garage lifestyle. Live they can be awesome. Only saw them once here in Manhattan when my friend Dave Herrera of the Cheepskates said, " Come on. You gotta see this band." So I went. I actually wound up backstage before the show and Jeff and I bonded. One of the greatest live shows I've ever seen. Remember after the show I had a very strong urge to follow them back to Boston--I was completely hypnotized by their music and so totally under their spell. This is the effect a GREAT group like the Lyres can have on someone.

[@pauldonovan5653]

If I remember correctly, saw them them back in the 80s either at Man Ray's or Jack's Place. Cambridge, MA was a great place back then!

[@rustytuney7]

Might of been Jacks, I managed there and the Lyres always packed the house! Bobby, (the other manager), you still out there, buddy?

[@Scodiddly]

Did sound for this band years ago (late 80's?) at Rick in East Lansing. Lead singer definitely a bit of a character; he was telling me before the show about how the bar was supposed to provide him with a full bottle of a specific brand of vodka. Later during the show he had an empty vodka bottle that he was banging with a huge screwdriver as a percussion instrument. And then he hit it hard enough to shatter the bottle... glass everywhere. I guess that explained why there was glass in the keyboard during load-in. Great show, though.

[@jdroid2612]

I agree saw 'em 4/5 times in '90's mesmerizing, as were DMZ.

[@jonathansteadman7935]

Remember seeing these guys at Alice in Wonderland at gossips, SoHo London. I'd just moved to London, exciting times. The DJ was the Doctor of Doctor and the Medics. Great gig 👍

[@markfarley9653]

I was at this one they were support to REM at the Lyceum in London. Have to say REM should have gone home.....

[@garageman]

Saw them at Dingwalls and Gossips on the same visit. They did not disappoint.

[@cathyskywalker77]

I went to see the Lyres every time they played The Grotto in New Haven CT...8 times !!!💚💙💜

[@DaveFurgess]

i saw them live many times, always great!

[@paulbrucker3345]

Saw this band in the early 80s at the 9:30 Club in DC. What an impressive performance. Great time and inspiring.

[@godzilla1806]

Man The Lyres,wow,what Good gigs,NY 1986,Munich 1987.......the bass player got my Bomber Squad WWII patch for a rare shirt.Yeah it was a good gig and a good time for psych bands...,

[@skelleymoran1]

THE MURPH /DRUMS GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL U.S.POSTAL DEPARTMENT!

[@oioikanone]

that made me instantly dance into the wall.

[@tuskedbeast]

Saw them at a club called Siberia in NYC in '88 or 9. I had been listening to On Fyre and I was primed. That record opens with this and the show did too. Killer!!!!!!! Oh, ha ha- The Flaming Lips opened. They were good too.

[@georgecoles7988]

Lyres!!!

[@Nazzz65]

Young and dangerous.

[@Joel.groethe]

Playing this song in our band..more to come

[@purplevoxeater]

Awaesome live performance!!!

[@johnshipley8602]

This. Is. Awesome.

[@hylen25]

Exactly.

[@lambrettist2007]

Better late than never ;-) I feel lucky that I saw them play live around this time (1985 for me). :)

[@mcwhoopee]

Loved them in 80's.Saw many times in Boston.Loved song-"I wanna help you Ann" anybody know if it is out there somewhere? Hammond Organ was very Doors like.Miss there sound along with other great 80's bands-Del Fuegos, The Atlantics, Human Sexual Response, Pastiche, etc

[@johnmillercpainc]

Great song! Check out the version by Question Mark and the Mysterians. That version is amazing as well!

[@xofpi]

johnmillercpainc So is Willie “Loco” Alexander’s.

[@allkindsamusicchick]

at 99.99 percent......a reliable source relayed....it was 'spit'..........and whoever filmed this?... did a great job capturing the wild frenzy...excellent!

[@Andolini99]

I wish I had a garage back in the day. I would have let them rehearse for free.

[@vdklippe]

Wow.

[@Go7Suarez]

This is a great recording! I’d kill to see the whole set.

[@hirepimike]

More than a feeling ….

[@allkindsamusicchick]

my latest fave band....song...vid almost 30 years too late....rockin' delicious :)

[@christopherclark564]

I saw Jeff with DMZ at the RAT.

[@oidschwabinger]

THE LYRES

[@charleshall3372]

A Subdued DMZ!

[@matthewherzog6155]

Fuck yeah.

[@beaksofeagles]

It all started with "96 Tears"......just remember that.

[@Hypnozems]

What every goddamm man should shout!

[@Davidlopezdelaflor]

Excelente. Agradecido.

[@skelleymoran1]

RICKY C THE bassman MERRY CHRISTMAS MISS YOU SHAWN MORAN 12/25 2018

[@Raalph1000]

Like thew Fleshtoners!

[@danroche7602]

Monomaaaaannnn

[@lisamartick6979]

Always fun

[@kiely]

nice

[@MrSfein1]

Regroup. Tour south Thailand.

[@caribchakita]

back at @ralphsdiner Jan. 21 in Wormtown AKA Worcester, MA B there...

[@stevelanciloti1071]

Hombre Secreto Monoman

[@michaelbeaubien6658]

boston bands dmz/lyres -Real kids/ Taxi BOYs.- Lepeste,- Nervous eaters, Unnatural AXE. WOW Did I miss any ?

[@xofpi]

Michael Beaubien Mission of Burma, V, The Stains/Ice Age, The Neighborhoods, Willie Alexander, etc, etc

[@TypeOneg]

Til Tuesday.

[@charleshall3372]

Aerosmith

[@stephencarpenter9994]

At the Channel?

[@TonyVitaleTVOD]

anyone know where this was filmed?

[@JRAFF145]

Are they both playing Daenelectros?

[@theefadedpyctures7621]

Cool, check our band out Thee Faded Pyctures, trying to capture the great sound of organ driven 60's garage punk

[@robinhoode6516]

Hi Ricky

[@tolpacourt]

What venue?

[@trace-elementz1343]

The Lyceum in London; according to (scroll up ^) comment by Mark Farley.

[@tomholihan4850]

J.C. never does ;]

[@gmar7836]

Is Jeff really tall? Because he’s towering over his keyboard and is taller than the other band mates.

[@cindywhitford702]

Jeff is medium height

[@TypeOneg]

I’m trying to click away from the page but I can’t give it up....!

[@elamordetuvida670]

A