Arcade Ambo Page designed and maintained by Peter Campbell

Arcade Ambo played in the Boston Area for about a year and a half in 1981 and 1982. The band consisted of:

• Denise DiZio: Vocals, Percussion
• Peter Campbell (Wadsworth, at the time): Bass, Vocals
• Tod Hagan: Guitar
• Terry Donahue: Percussion, Drums, Vocals
• Donald Saaf: Drums, Percussion

We played around at Cantones, Storyville, The Rat, The Inn Square Men's Bar, a church and a Knights of Columbus Hall. Had we lasted a few weeks longer, we might have been the only band to ever play live at the Kenmore Deli/Pizza Pad. Below are MP3's of the few things we did in the studio; a decent live recording from the Rat, and other bits grabbed from practice tapes.

All lyrics Copyright 2001 by Peter Campbell. Denise Dizio co-wrote Breath and Terry Donahue wrote Unskilled Laborer. You're so Vain is a cover, of course.

Why "Arcade Ambo"? Well, read the dictionary definitions below, but don't draw the conclusion that we were very religious. The contrast of the two words, "arcade" meaning, to most people, a place to play, and "ambo" meaning a dais to read or preach from, was similar to our upbeat music and somewhat ominous lyrics. Taking the two words individually, we liked the idea of being "preachers at the arcade", where people are probably too busy playing Asteroids to pay much attention. We also liked the idea of the arches and twisted imagery that comes with that: an "arcade ambo" could be a hunched over dais. But, most of all, we liked the rhythm of the phrase, and thought it at least a little evocative of our music.

Arcade:

1. (Arch.) (a) A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them, the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature. (b) A long, arched building or gallery.
2. An arched or covered passageway or avenue.
3. An amusement center having coin-operated games

Ambo:

A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian churches. Gwilt.

Arcades Ambo:

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Click on a song title for lyrics and, if available, a link to an MP3 version. Note that the MP3's live on my DSL-connected system at home, and will take a while to download.