House of Large Sizes
From The Secret History of the Cedar Valley
Contents |
History
House of Large Sizes is by far the most successful, prolific, and well-known band in the history of the Cedar Valley. Began in September of 1986 by core members Dave Deibler and Barb Schilf, the band released 8 full length albums and a smattering of EPs and singles. They have toured the country extensively, most notably with ex-Pixies front man Frank Black.
They were signed to Columbia Records in 1994 and released their major label debut, My Ass-Kicking Life, on that label. Due to internal mismanagement at the label, they did not receive the support and attention for their record, and they left the label as a result. Undetered, they continued to play music and make records with What Are Records? and The Tyros Label until 2003.
The band broke up due for unknown reasons in late 2003. Barb and Dave currently own and operate Mohair Pear, a vintage/retro clothing store on College Hill in Cedar Falls.
2007 Reunion Shows
In October of 2007, House of Large Sizes announced live show dates to take place during the last week of December, 2007. The shows will be in Iowa City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, and Cedar Falls, Iowa. More information can be found at: http://www.houseoflargesizes.net/
The Band Name
""House of Large Sizes" was a chain of clothing stores for plus sizes which operated in the midwest in the 1980s.
In print, the band name is sometimes shortened to HOLS, though in colloquial conversation they are simply known as "House" (eg. "House is playing at Steb's tonight!").
Band Members
- Dave Deibler - Vocals, Guitar
- Barb Schilf - Bass, Vocals
- Dave Berg - Drums, Vocals (1986-1994)
- John Ganser - Drums, Vocals (1994-1995)
- Mark Munn - Drums (1995-1998)
- Brent Hanson - Drums, Vocals (1999-2003)
Discography
Albums
 Toxic Shock Records 1989 |
 Toxic Shock Records 1990 |
 Columbia Records 1994 |
 What Are Records? 1997 |
 What Are Records? 1997 |
 What Are Records? 1998 |
 What Are Records? 2000 |
 What Are Records? 2002 |
Singles and EPs
 Debut EP SouthEast Records 1986 |
 Split 7" w/Treepeople Toxic Shock Records 1991 |
Noise From Nowhere Volume 2.jpg
Single Compilation: Noise From Nowhere Volume 2 - 1989 |
 5 song EP Westworld Records 1992 |
The Wrap Up Single Sampler Volume 3.jpg
Single Compilation: The Wrap Up Single Sampler Volume 3 |
 2 song 7" Red Decibel / Columbia 1993 |
 2 song 7" Westworld Records 1994 |
 2 song 7" Picture Disc Super Cottonmouth 1997 |
 Split 7" w/Film Star Picture Disc Super Cottonmouth 1997 |
 2 song 7" The Tyros Label 016 2003 |
 5 song EP The Tyros Label 028 2003 |
 5 song EP The Tyros Label 029 2003 |
TBA.jpg
5 song EP The Tyros Label 030 2003 |
Promotional
 Self-Released Demo Cassette 1987 |
Videos
Music video by House Of Large Sizes performing Sox On Spot (1993)Flyers
 Dean's Parkade Lounge 10/86 |
 Island Park Boathouse 6/88 |
 Steb's 1/89 |
 Gabe's Late '80s |
Live Shows / Tours
1986
- 9/26 - Dean's Parkade Lounge - w/Pussy Galore
- 10/16 - Dean's Parkade Lounge - w/Primitive Ritual, Crock of Dookey
- 11/5 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City - w/Horny Genius and Drednex
- 11/9 - [[Dean's Parkade Lounge - w/Plan 9
1987
- Feb. 21 - The Wesley Foundation - Cedar Falls - w/Crock of Dookey
- April 11 - The Wesley Foundation - Cedar Falls - w/Primitive Ritual, Crock of Dookey, Bill Somber
- July 31 - The Wesley Foundation - Cedar Falls - w/Psychotrash, Rin Tin TIn, Dead Souls, The Dudes?
- September 26 - The Wesley Foundation - Cedar Falls - w/Drednex
1988
- March 4 - The Wesley Foundation - Cedar Falls - w/Psychotrash
June 10 - Boat House - Cedar Falls - w/Stone Wakening
November 19 - UNI Commons - Cedar Falls - w/Full Fathom Five
1989
January 21 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
August 25 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
September 2 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
December 31 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
1990
April 21 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
June 24 - Island Park - Cedar Falls
July 16 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
- July ? - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
August 11 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
September 15 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
November 3 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
November 10 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
December 28 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
December 31 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
1991
February 9 - Stickman's - Davenport
February 16 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
February 23 - Willy Bear - Madison, WI
April 5 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
April 6 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
June 22 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
- June 29 - Sturgis Falls - Cedar Falls
July 14 - Cedar River Festival - Cedar Falls
July 26 - The Boat House - Cedar Falls
July 28 - Uncle Roscoe's - Daveport
October 5 - Shade's - Cedar Rapids
October 12 - Wartburg College - Waverly
September 28 - Uncle Roscoe's - Davenport
November 2 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
December 28 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
December 31 - Uncle Roscoe's - Davenport w/Devastation Wagon
1992
February 8 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
March 13 - Spotlights - Cedar Rapids
April 3 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
April 10 - Uncle Roscoe's - Davenport
April 12 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
May 30 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
July 12 - Cedar River Festival - Cedar Falls
September 5 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
September 30 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
November 20 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
December 31 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
1993
March 3 - Big Dog's - Cedar Rapids
June 12 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
July 2 - Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City
July 3 - Hairy Mary's - Des Moines
August 28 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
October 13 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
December 9 - UNI Maucker Union - Cedar Falls
December 10 Stebs - Cedar Falls
1994
February 7 - Coop Records (Ass Kicking Life Release Party) - Cedar Falls
1995
August 26 - M-Shop (Iowa State University) - Ames
September 2 - Big Dog - Cedar Rapids
September 8 - Stebs - Cedar Falls
2001
4/6 - CD Release Party - 3rd Street Live
4/30 - Columbia, MO - The Blue Note w/Frank Black and the Catholics
5/12 - Graceland
12/29 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis
12/30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
12/31 - Cedar Falls, IA - The Reverb
2002
2/8 - Ames, IA - M-Shop
5/4 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis
8/31 – Cedar Rapids, IA - Taste Of Cedar Rapids
9/27 – Ames, IA – Maintenance Stop
9/28 – Cedar Falls, IA – The Reverb
10/02 – Lincoln, NE – Duffy's
10/03 – Columbia, MO – Mojo's
10/4 – Kansas City, MO – Hurricane
10/5 – Iowa City, IA – Gabe's
10/10 – St. Paul, MN – Turf Club
10/11 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry
10/12 – Mankato, MN – What's Up Lounge
2003
4/9 - Chicago, IL - Double Door (w/Bugatti Type 35)
4/10 - Milwaukee, WI - Reed St. Station
4/11 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis (w/Bugatti Type 35 & Burn Disco Burn)
4/12 - Mankato, MN - What's Up Lounge (w/Pester)
4/16 - Lincoln, NE - Duffy's Tavern (w/Manplanet)
4/17 - Columbia, MO - Mojo's (w/Manplanet)
4/18 - Rock Island, IL - RIBCO (w/Manplanet, Driver of the Year)
4/19 - Des Moines, IA - Hotel Ft. Des Moines Grand Ballroom (w/Manplanet, Sherman Hillside Stranglers, Pork Liver)
4/24 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club (w/The Dames, Vena Cava)
4/25 - Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane (w/Faux Jean)
4/26 - Cedar Falls, IA - The Reverb (w/Burn Disco Burn
9/19 - Rock Island, IL - RIBCO
9/20 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th St. Entry
9/24 - Madison, WI - Annex
9/25 - Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
9/26 - Chicago, IL - Double Door
9/27 - Ames, IA - M-Shop
10/3 - Cedar Falls, IA - The Reverb
10/4 - Iowa City, IA - Gabe's Oasis
10/5 - Dubuque, IA - TBA (tentative)
10/9 - Omaha, NE - Ranch Bowl
10/10 - Columbia, MO - Mojo's
10/11 - Kansas City, MO - The Hurricane
2009
June 26 - The Mill - Iowa City w/Petit Mal and Lipstick Homicide
June 27 - Spicoli's - Waterloo w/North of Grand and Petit Mal
July 3 - 80/35 Festival - Des Moines
July 11 - Silver Dollar Cantina - Dubuque w/The Teddy Boys
Media
- Clipper Gore (circa 1995)
"This band is the king of the state, having been around the longest and helped establish a music scene here. Just about EVERYONE in town likes them."
External Links
House of Large Sizes MySpace Page
House of Large Sizes Blogspot Page
HOLS Reunion 2007 Site
What Are Records HOLS Page
Ron's House of Large Sizes Page (Fan Site)
HOLS Yahoo Group (Active 1998-2003. Overtaken by Spambots 2004)
Necessary Papers Yahoo Group (Active 2003-2006)
HOLS on MusicBrainz
