The Know It All Boyfriends: Tonight!

Tonight we are going to see The Know It All Boyfriends, a supergroup that tends to get really hammered and mangle 60s and 70s pop songs. I have seen a fair percentage of their shows, and they are always sloppy, ill-rehearsed, drinking heavily on stage--and it's terrific fun. It's sort of Garbage fronted by Freedy Johnston, except the band really has roots in Spooner and Firetown. They have fabulous vintage gear and are totally crack, pro musicians--Butch Vig has time like God--so even as they are stumbling through "Band On The Run" without ever having played it, it's pretty great. These guys love and respect the Trans-Am joint-in-mouth, drink-in-hand, shifting into fifth aesthetic, and they bring it.

I'm pumped.

images from http://www.garbage.suite.dk/kiab.html

Freedy Johnston Guitar and vocals

Jay Moran Guitar, Accordion and vocals

Duke Erikson Bass, Guitar and vocals

Butch Vig Drums, Guitar and vocals

James "Pie" Cowan Percussion and drums

Bill "Stick" Bielefeld Tour Manager/bass

Here's a list of some of the songs they play at their shows:

• AC/DC - You Shook Me All Night Long
• Bachman Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
• Burt Bacharach & Hal David - (They Long To Be) Close To You
• Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me
• Deep Purple - Smoke on the Water
• Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds
• Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way
• Iggy Pop - The Passenger
• Isley Bros - Twist And Shout
• Joe Cocker - The Letter
• Joe Jackson - Is She Really Going Out With Him?
• Kiss - Rock & Roll All Night
• Led Zeppelin - A Whole Lotta Love
• Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er
• Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean
• Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walking
• Ohio Express - Yummy Yummy Yummy
• Paul McCartney - Band On The Run
• Prince - Little Red Corvette
• Roberta Flack - Feel Like Making Love
• Steve Miller - Space Cowboy
• Steve Miller - The Joker
• The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
• The Cars - My Best Friend's Girl
• The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go
• The Hollies - Bus Stop
• The Turtles - So Happy Together
• Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For The Man
• Velvet Underground - Sweet Jane
• Van Halen - Dance the Night Away

I saw their first show ever, which I was similar to this one:

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In addition to being the drummer for Garbage, Butch Vig produced seminal 90s records like Nirvana's Nevermind and the first two Smashing Pumpkins LPs. His studio, Smart Studios, is 1 1/2 blocks from my house, so he's a neighborhood fixture despite being in L.A. much of the time. Sessions at Smart have hosted U2, Killdozer, early Nirvana demos just post-Bleach, and many, many more.

Butch produced early Tar Babies records as well; careful readers will recall I play music with former members of that band. In fact, Tar Babies singer/guitarist Bucky Pope is babysitting the kids tonight with his girlfriend while we attend the show.