Song Of the Day: August 20, 2005
Midwestern folks maight not need much intorduction to this Springfield, MO band; they were a very popular club draw in the early 80s, and had they been from LA they almost certainly would have been allowed to sign a major label deal and make one or two LPs that shipped immediately to Camelot Music cut-out bins. They were slick and professional on record (3 LPs, 2 45s), and similarly disciplined live by all accounts, though I was just a couple of years too young to ever have seen them. They made a reunion CD in 2002 that was warmly recieved by the Not Lame/Audities community. Other details of the band's history are available here including the explanation of the "Fool's Tail," which lends an unfortunate Midwestern touch to the traditional skinny-tie power pop look.
This, like the Necessaries and Comsat Angels entries was a KJHK mystery until the early 90s when What Gives co-founder and former Springfield resident Mike Horan played this record for me at his house. I knew within the first few seconds what it was. It's still my favorite Fools Face song.
4 Comments:
Ahhhh, good stuff! They opened for Elvis Costello in KCMO at the Starlight theater in 82 I think (could have been 83, but I think Aztec Camera opened that one). Fools Face seemed to have an enthusiastic following there, and I remember the lighters came out for a song called "L-5", something about the point half way between the earth and moon...
MOvie connection? Springfield boy Brad Pitt probably pogoed to them at the big Homecoming dance.
They have a sight foolsface.com and they have a message board on foolsfacenow. they have a new live album out and is being sold on notlame.com. If any one has there old stuff burned on mp3 lets get it out to the masses or cash for the band.
I was a student at the University of Missouri-Columbia from 1981 - 1985. I remember Fools Face playing at one of the Fraternity houses in greektown -- maybe it was homecoming '82 or '83. L5 was definitely a crowd favorite. Everybody would make the L5 symbol with their hand when they got to that point in the song. I'm sure they played at the Blue Note club, too...an alternative rock club in Columbia. Great time. And Brad Pitt probably WAS there...he was a Sigma Chi at Mizzou from 1982 - '86.
Ron B. says...
I had the good fortune to see Fool's Face at the Blue Note in Columbia, MO, in 1981 and 1982. The were EXTREMELY professional and an absolute blast to go see. I always hoped they'd go somewhere. I do have a copy of their vinyl LP, "Go Tell America". I'd love to hear them again for old time's sake.
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