Urban Verbs -

The Urban Verbs were an American new wave band from Washington, DC, that released the 1980/81 Warner albums Urban Verbs and Early Damage. Singer Roddy Frantz is the brother of Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz.

Members: Roddy Frantz (vocals), Robert Goldstein (guitar), Linda France (piano, bass), Robin Rose (synthesizer), Danny Frankel (drums, percussion)

Background

Urban Verbs formed in Washington, D.C., in mid-1977 when vocalist and lyricist Roddy Frantz teamed with guitarist Robert Goldstein after local stints in the Controls and the Look. The pair recruited drummer Danny Frankel and an initial bassist for an early lineup that dissolved as the group prepared a demo. Frankel soon returned, while synthesizer player Robin Rose and bassist Linda France completed the quintet.

Frantz came to Washington from Pittsburgh to attend American University and fronted the Controls with guitarist Keith Campbell. His brother Chris Frantz co-founded Talking Heads as drummer. Goldstein also came from Pittsburgh and graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, then worked on museum and gallery exhibitions around Washington.

France was born in Paris and studied painting and commercial art at Rhode Island School of Design, then moved to Washington as a freelance artist. Rose moved from New York to Washington in 1975 and established himself as a painter. Frankel studied jazz with drummer Paul Motian and percussion with National Symphony Orchestra principal percussionist Fred Begun.

Urban Verbs rehearsed in the Atlantic Building at 930 F Street NW, where the Atlantis club occupied ground-floor space. On Jan. 27, 1978, the band joined the Slickee Boys and White Boy on an Atlantis bill. Goldstein managed the group and pursued further bookings in Washington and New York. Urban Verbs also established ties with the local art community through appearances at Corcoran School of Art and other Washington art spaces.

Urban Verbs opened two nights for Just Water in August 1978 at CBGB, where Brian Eno saw the second performance. Eno offered to finance and produce a two-song demo after the show. The sessions yielded “The Next Question” and “Pensive Lives” and drew A&R representatives from Island, Sire, and Warner Bros.

On Feb. 3, 1979, Urban Verbs shared Georgetown University Hall of Nations with the Cramps and the Chumps. The band opened for the B-52’s on Feb. 24 at Corcoran School of Art, where Warner A&R staff attended the concert. Warner vice-president Bob Krasnow signed Urban Verbs to a two-album contract. Urban Verbs entered Mediasound Studios in New York in late October 1979 for seven weeks of sessions with producer Mike Thorne on the self-titled debut album.

Discography: