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.
11 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.
The University of Missouri-Columbia show in greektown was the "Bid Day Bash" at Phi Kappa Theta in 1982. Great show. They were a regular hit at the Blue note around the same time (I was a Phi Kap at Mizzou from 1981-1985).
Cheers.
Fools Face has a new live album on sale at Not Lame....and yes Brad Pitt was a big fan...as was Sheryl Crow. Both used fake ID's to catch their shows in Springfield and at the Blue Note in Columbia.
Brad actually showed up at a Christmas show in 1999 or 2000 to see them. It made the AP.
Great Band...they really should have made it.
That was MY fraternity, Phi Kappa Theta, that they played at Mizzou!! It was for the Bid Day Bash Party that we threw every year!
The band that opened had a really cute keyboard player....I found out years later that she goes by the name of Sheryl Crow!!
Check out the Fools Face - Live At Last album....it's great nostalgia and a great listen!! And let's get the old albums, especially Tell America, available on CD or MP3 ASAP!!!
I was in a band in the 80's called Suite 116, and we used to open for these guys at a club called 4th and Pine in St. Louis. Those were the days....Fools Face was a smart, tight band with a huge following. It was a always a blast to see these guys perform, and I admit that I might have made the L5 sign a few times myself. I would love to have the old Fools Face stuff in my collection.....anybody know where to find it??
I saw these guys in '81 or '82 in Gelena KS at Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club. I was too drunk to remember a hole lot.
I saw these guys in '81 or '82 in Galena KS at Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club. I was too drunk to remember a hole lot.
saw fools face at parody hall in kansas city mo - still have the pin i bought and wore when then appeared. ellen quinn
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