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The Abe Lincoln Story Story

The original flyer for the shows.

ONCE UPON A TIME...

It all began at a coffee shop. It was 1994, just days after the Northridge earthquake. Every Friday night, a singer/songwriter named Steve Moramarco would come into the Onyx coffee shop, near the border of Los Feliz and Silverlake, and perform.

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Steve had a lot of songs to sing. Some were the songs he used to sing way back in the late '80s/early '90s when he was in the folk/punk duo Hill of Beans. One of their songs Satan, Lend Me a Dollar, was a top-ten hit at college radio stations around the country.

The Hill of Beans CD cover

The Bean Side of the Bean/Beck 7"

Steve also had songs from his pop group Bean. In 1992, Bean put out a couple of 7"s, including a split that had two songs by Bean and two by a then-unknown artist named Beck. The Abe Lincoln Story were eventually banned from The Onyx for nudity, alcohol and playing too loudly (this was a coffee shop, after all.)

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After the Onyx, The ALS burst onto the club scene, playing shows with Beck, Weezer, and The Presidents of the USA, amongst other noteworthy acts.

When LA club Spaceland first opened their doors, they invited The ALS to be the very first house band, playing every Monday for free.

Early Abe Lincoln Story Flyer

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The Dance Party CD

In 1996, they released their first album, entitled Dance Party on Flipside records. It contained some of their more popular early tunes like Get High and Go to Work and Mathematics.

The album was got a few decent reviews around the country, was in heavy rotation on WFMU New York, and the band prospered. They released a video for Rock! Scissors! Paper! and performed dates around the West Coast. The album sold 500 copies.

In 1999 Steve put The ALS on "double secret probation" after an altercation with a couple of band members. Later that year, his dog died and a long-term relationship ended. Steve decided to move to New York to clear his head.

The Abe Lincoln Story was silent for almost six years...

In 2004, Steve moved back to Los Angeles and decided to pick up where he left off. He took The Abe Lincoln Story out of "double secret probation" and began writing new songs at a furious pace.

He called up some old members and invited some new ones to join the biggest and baddest Abe Lincoln Story yet - a ten-piece band!

In 2007, The Abe Lincoln Story released Kings of the Soul Punk Swing with 12 tracks.

In 2011, Steve reformatted the band for a tighter, funkier sound and began a monthly residency at Taix Restaurant in Eco Park. The Millionaire from Combustible Edison took over on guitar, Charlie Woodburn on the drums, Pat Hoed on bass, and Karen Zumsteg on backing vocals were added, and he was very happy.

To find out more of The 'Story, please stay on our email list!

Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more shows and music!

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