While on the way to punk rock legend, Happybomb managed to lay down a few tracks for posterity. These recordings speak to the beating punk rock ethos that was beneath the elusive band's presence, capturing some of the fervor of their live performances and the raw, even amateurish, quality of their musicianship.

First Demo Tape

These early, lo-fi demos showcase Happybomb in its rough-hewn first incarnation, featuring Ryan Happy on drums, Bjordan's voice filtered through a megalithic microphone, and the always driving thunder of the Chick's bass. For a first taste, try "Lull", a Wes Slappy composition that may have been the best song that didn't sound like a Happybomb song. For dessert, sample a manic, angry cover of the '80s rockabilly classic, "Stray Cat Strut".

Lull [MP3]
Stray Cat Strut [MP3]

The Sugar Demos

These two tracks were recorded by a friend of Ryan's in a sweet studio somewhere in Hollywood with way more tracks than a band like Happybomb could fill. Though they parted amicably, Happybomb and the engineer's musical differences led to some strife, and you can hear on "Grandma" that Wes Slappy's guitar track has been either sweetened considerably or entirely replaced. And while the version of "World of Doubt" presented here is relatively unadorned, another recording imbues the song with a sort of Cure-like flange at desperate odds with the band's punk rock sound.

Grandma is a Punk (Sugar Mix) [MP3]
World of Doubt [MP3]

4-track Demos

These six songs were intended for a 7" record project that was abandoned when the group split in late 1996. Morgan Happy is on drums and provided the 4-track used for the recordings. The band plows through six of its best known tunes in just under 10 minutes, leaving the listener adrift in a sea of, as the lyrics go, "boredom and despair".

Stuck in the Mall [MP3]
Anything to Say [MP3]
Ennui [MP3]
Punk on Your Own [MP3]
Grandma is a Punk [MP3]
Red Hair [MP3]