This must have been a response to the 1983 release of their first single 'Zero Mental Activity,' which continues to sell locally.
The Denver based band plays regularly throughout the region and the personnel consists of band members Tammy Lucero on vocals, Roger Packer on bass, Lonnie Ray on drums, and guitarist Ronnie Cramer.
Produced by Ronnie Cramer, the album was engineered by Paul Winger. Look for it at Wax Trax.
The band has plans for a video - they already have one which receives local airplay. We expect a lot out of this band and we are sure we will see it.
Last spring I reviewed a record by two University of Denver students and a Denver native. The single 'Zero Mental Activity' was inspiring to say the least and held great promise for the band Alarming Trends. Now as this spring rolls around the band has finally released their first album, 'Alarming Trends.' Mind you, though, this is not the same band I heard a year ago.
Two new members have joined the band, and one member has left. That one member, Madge, was what made Alarming Trends unique. Her voice was captivating, with its soothing presence layered upon the driving guitar and drums. When I interviewed her last year she had already left the band but was helping to promote the record. So in came her replacement Tammy Lucero to record the band's first album. Lucero doesn't have quite the same presence as Madge, but definitely is able to stand on her own. She sounds like a mixture of Deborah Harry of Blondie and Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders. She seems suited well for what Alarming Trends calls 'post-punk' music. Her voice is very clear and easy to understand. She gives the band the extra edge to make them special.
'Alarming Trends' has energy. The standout cut seems to be 'Echoes in the Dark.' There is a definite movement in the song that pulls you along with it. It has the same effect that a horror movie would.
The band plays regularly throughout the area at places such as Pearl Street Music Hall, the Mercury Cafe and the Blue Note. The band is also completing a promotional film featuring five songs from the current LP. The film will run about 20 minutes and will include 'Mangled Nerve Center,' 'I Walk Alone,' 'Echoes in the Dark,' 'Oh Jim Jones' and 'White Cross.'
The album is available at many Colorado record outlets, and Wax Trax in Denver. - Michael Henry
March 15, 1985
Denver Post
Alarming Trends (cassette)
From the standpoint of marketing, Alarming Trends is way up on the competition. With it's clean graphic design and four-color sleeve, the packaging could pass as a major label release. Group mastermind Ronnie Cramer has developed a better-crafted vision than the jumble that marred the band's first release, a 45. Vocalist Tammy Lucero has improved, but her limited range still puts the band squarely in the bimbo-rock category - her talk/sing style is passable on slower material (I Walk Alone), but quickly becomes boring on Cramer's rockers. With the current emphasis in the national record industry toward female singers who can really belt it (Fiona, Katrina and the Waves, etc.), she's still the band's biggest liability.
March 27, 1985
Westword
Alarming Trends follows the release of its recent album with work on a five-song, 20-minute music video. Leader Ronnie Cramer is editing down the video footage at Media Productions, USA into a 'thematic and surrealistic piece.' - Gil Asakawa
April 1, 1985
Freereelin' Studio
1175 S. Lincoln, Denver, CO
Eight-track recording session:
Alone With You
All the Same
Rude Seduction
Z-M-A
Martian Sunrise
Fabrications
The Ruin (Benson)
Valium Holiday (Benson)
Jailbait
Lon's Deal
Viet Nam
Engineer: Jeff Franek
April 3, 1985
Blue Note
1116 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: The Yanks from San Francisco
April 12-13, 1985
Jeepers Creepers
2211 E. Platte Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
All-ages show
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: Mementomori
April 24, 1985
Westword
Rockers Alarming Trends, the most completely (and professionally, if that matters) packaged local band, airs its feature-length five-song video on the 'Rick Rock Show.' Mile Hi Channel 3, 5pm tonight and May 1. The film is conceived, directed, edited, filmed, etc., etc. by the band's guitarist/bassist Ronnie Cramer, who has an amazing facility for mass media. - Gil Asakawa
April 26, 1985
Media Memo
Production Notes
A multi-talented new face on the music scene belongs to Ronnie Cramer, the driving force behind the local band Alarming Trends. Cramer, filmmaker and musician, has just finished production of an 18-minute music video to accompany the release of Alarming Trends' new album. Shot on film and full of interesting and unusual animation, the video covers five Alarming Trends songs. Post production was completed at Media Productions. - Christine Purse
May 1, 1985
Mile High Cablevision
Alarming Trends video compilation airs on the 'Rick Rock Show'
May 1, 1985
Westword
The 'Rick Rock Show,' Denver's funky local music showcase video show on cable, recently won an honorable mention in a local cable programmer's competition, and has moved its production facilities to Mile Hi Cable. It's good to see that despite a weak club scene (which also seems to be getting brighter), a show like 'Rick Rock' can thrive, helping local bands along the way. The show has featured repeats of clips with the Bedouins and Alarming Trends. - Gil Asakawa
May 2, 1985
Jones Intercable
Alarming Trends video compilation airs on the 'Rick Rock Show'
May 7 - 8, 1985
New Community Theatre
423 Park Ave.
Huntington, NY 11743
Screening of Ronnie Cramer's film Alarming Trends
May 9, 1985
Union Station
1701 Wynkoop
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
May 10, 1985
Colorado Springs Sun
Backstage
Alarming Trends, a new wave band from Denver, will headline Fri.-Sat. at Jeepers Creepers, a no-booze, all-ages nightclub. The band writes all its own material and recently released a tape of their work accompanied by a video. The tape is available at Strawberry Fields and the store plans to carry the LP when it is released June 1. The fast-paced music was recorded at the 24-track Boulder studio, Mountain Ears. - Judy L. Stewart
May 10-11, 1985
Jeepers Creepers
2211 E. Platte Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
Screening of Alarming Trends video compilation
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: New World
May 15, 1985
Westword
The Aviators have lost their drummer - Dave Thomas, the human drum machine (probably the steadiest rock drummer in the area) has left for New York. He'll join ex-Denverites Lin Esser and Steve Knutson as a permanent member of CrankCall LoveAffair. The Aviators already have a replacement: Nate Winger, formerly of Alarming Trends. The band's been working on a video shoot, paid for by some UCD students as a class project. - Gil Asakawa
May 21, 1985
Pearl Street Music Hall
1308 Pearl St.
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: New World or Urban Leash
May 24, 1985
Union Station
1701 Wynkoop
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: Mechanix and Computer Class
May 26, 1985
Westword
The 'Rick Rock Show' benefits from a two-day, six-band concert organized by our very own Robin Chotzinoff. Rick Rock has been a showcase for local bands on cable, and has even produced video segments for bands so they could be shown elsewhere (like KBDI). The bands slated for the benefit: Tony Roam, Computer Class, Alarming Trends, Beat Dudes, Chelsea Girls and Chotzinoff's own band, the Bedouins. - Gil Asakawa
May 30, 1985
Pearl Street Music Hall
1308 Pearl St.
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
May 30, 1985
Parrish Art Museum
25 Job's Ln.
Southampton, NY 11968
Screening of Ronnie Cramer's film Alarming Trends
June 1985
Alarming Trends
Alarming Trends
LP 20-84703
Oh Jim Jones
Mangled Nerve Center
I Walk Alone (Cramer/Staff)
Without You Fine
No Cause for Alarm
White Cross
Echoes in the Dark (Cramer/Staff)
You're Always Crying
So Long Zsa Zsa
Dancing at Gunpoint
Music and Lyrics by Ronnie Cramer except as noted.
Produced by Ronnie Cramer and featuring Tammy Lucero on vocals, Pete Staff on bass and Nate Winger on drums.
June 17-23, 1985
Denver Post
The Denver Post's 1985 Music Poll
Best Local Rock Group: Alarming Trends
June 19-25, 1985
Westword
The Best of Denver 1985
Best Packaging of a Local band: Alarming Trends
From the crack graphics on the posters and recording projects to the sophisticated five-song video promoting the band's recent album, Alarming Trends covered all the bases in great music-industry style - and with local talent, too (all graphics and video work were done by Trends guitarist Ronnie Cramer).
June 21-22, 1985
Jeepers Creepers
2311 E. Platte Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
July 10, 1985
The Grove
1618 E. 17th Ave.
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: Human Therapy (from L.A.) and Think Sync
July 12-13, 1985
Rosie's Cafe
23rd & Curtis
Denver, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: Tony Roam
July 21, 1985
Aspen City Limits
4501 E. Virginia
Glendale, CO
Musical performance by Alarming Trends
Also on the bill: XEQ
July 24, 1985
Westword
The impressively-produced Alarming Trends five-song video airs July 26 and Aug. 2 8:30pm on United Cable's Channel 26 for you 'burb bound rock fans. - Gil Asakawa
July 26, 1985
Jones Intercable
Alarming Trends video compilation airs on the 'Rick Rock Show'
July 26, 1985
United Cable
Alarming Trends airs at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 26
August 2, 1985
United Cable
Alarming Trends airs at 8:30 p.m. on Channel 26
August 27 , 1985
Hands-On Recording
530 E. Alameda, Denver, CO
Eight-track recording session:
Fabrications
My America (Von Feldt)
Fever Dreams
Section Six (Benson)
Rude Seduction
I Wonder Why
Time Is Gone
Producer: Ronnie Cramer, Engineer: John Burris, Additional Personnel: John Von Feldt: Bass and Vocals, Nate Winger: Drums
October 8, 1985
Freereelin' Studio
1175 S. Lincoln, Denver, CO
Eight-track recording session :
Mangled Nerve Center (Cramer)
White Cross (Cramer)
I Walk Alone (Cramer)
Oh Jim Jones (Cramer)
My America (Von Feldt)
Beginnings (Von Feldt)
You Never (Von Feldt)
Blow Here (Von Feldt)
Ronnie Cramer: Guitar, John Von Feldt: Bass, Nate Winger: Drums
Jeff Franek: Engineer
October 18, 1985
Freereelin' Studio
1175 S. Lincoln, Denver, CO
Eight-track recording session :
My America (Von Feldt)
Beginnings (Von Feldt)
You Never (Von Feldt)
My America (Von Feldt)
Fever Dreams (Cramer)
Ronnie Cramer: Guitar, John Von Feldt: Bass and Vocals
Jeff Franek: Engineer
December 1985
Front Row
Alarming Trends have an 18 minute video which made its Colorado debut November 20th on KBDI's Rick Rock Show. The video was shot in black and white and features 5 songs: 'Mangled Nerve Center,' 'I Walk Alone,' 'Echoes in the Dark,' 'Oh Jim Jones' and 'White Cross.'