Double Play - Double Door

If you wish to meet a piano player, ladies, there will be one at the Double Door tonight at 8 watching The Splendid Ape and Perseus Noble. That's right, Foz will be a abroad tonight, seeing some swell music.

Now, you know Perseus Noble from a previous post on this blog, but The Splendid Ape could use more attention. The Splendid Ape is a band featuring FtH's own Patrick Stonehouse, Cole's Coleman Brice, and the lovely Caitlin Brice. I have seen them at Cole's, where they rocked, but this is their first big-room gig.

I will take a closer look at the Double-Door and see if it is right for FtH. In any case we will have to finish recording the album (Gin-Soaked Yankee and Other Disgraces) before we start shopping the act to big rooms. But don't be surprised when I announce a big show at a big room like DD. We just need to convince some strippers to join the band. We do need a horn section.

re Perseus Noble

Foz the Hook is not the only band that thinks of Cole's Chicago as home. Coleman Brice's The Splendid Ape can be found there, of course (featuring FtH's own Patrick Stonehouse on drums and bass). You can also get to know Perseus Noble there, a band that can trace its nativity to about the same time and place as FtH. Aside from the impressive quality of their music, Perseus does not have too much in common with FtH. In fact their progress in getting their set together, recording their music, and booking dates, far outstrips our meager efforts. I blame booze. Whether booze is to blame for Perseus' breathtaking energy, or for our comparative indolence I cannot say. But I do blame booze.

Last night, after a good FtH rehearsal at Cole's, Perseus took over the room to record their first video. They had produced some impressively upsetting masks of their own faces that they wore during an alternative universe episode of "Soul Train." You will see Foz and Patrick among the dancers. The masks were reminiscent of those created by 1970's prog rockers Gentle Giant for their Giant For a Day LP (See above).

Someday Foz is going to steal this excellent idea.

See Perseus with The Splendid Ape at the Double Door on Thursday, February 18.