The Hooters - Philly - June 16, 2006

The great English author Nick Hornby once wrote about how he went to see Marah and all these other people were there to see them although the last time they played no one was there. "This was my band...why are all these people here?". That's how I felt last night at The Hooters show at the Electric Factory.

Turn the clocks back to about 1980 or so. Walking through the hallowed halls of Bucks County Comm College and seeing these posters announcing a band playing the Sutdent Union Friday afternoon..."Ska/Reggae/Rock". What the heck was ska? But I hung around and they were great. By the way, the drummer and bassist look like the guys from the band Hot Property. Whatever happened to HP's lead singer Heidi? Then again, what ever happened to Johnny's Dance Band???

Few months later...watching this local show and the legendary DJ goddess Cindy Drue (WYSP) shows this band called The Hooters doing "Man On The Street". Suddenly this band is everywhere. Pretty soon all stations were playing this funky reggae tune called "All You Zombies" recorded at the former Emerald City. That vinyl 45 got a lot of spins at the frat house at Penn State.

1984...Boy that tune sounded familiar. But when I heard it before it was "Boys Just Wanna Have Fun" by Robert Hazard. But the girl singer changed the gender. And the backing band on the LP sounded very very familiar.

1985...walking into a record store in Amarillo where I lived at the time. Boy that tune they are playing sounded familiar. "Blood From A Stone"? It's freakin' The Hooters! In freakin' Amarillo! I asked the cashier and she said.."oh yeah...we've been playing this LP all day". Wore that mutha out! Nothing else to do in Amarillo except...uh...drink beer and eat calf fries. Then there was Live Aid. Flew back to Philly for it and the lads opened the show...sorta. But no one was really awake a the time. Plus the crowd was anticipating that appearance by Spandau Ballet from London. BTW...about this time Mick Jagger re-recorded "Hard Woman" from his first solo CD with the lads (I think I have the mp3 somewhere). Also the legendary New Wave band the Red Rockers (of "China" fame) covered "Blood From A Stone".

1987...Heart on tour witn The Hooters opening (Zig Zag tour?). For one night all I cared about was Nancy Wilson's leg kicks over my boys from Philly. Blame me? But their sound was changing. The band sounded more like E-Baz and the Boys. Not sure I really liked it.

1990...The Berlin Wall comes down. Roger Waters performs The Wall at the site there with the lads helping out. Small cameo but they were there!

1994...living in San Antonio. Saw an ad in the local paper that the Hooters were playing Sneakers that night. The Hooters? In San Antonio? Holy F! What a show that was. At the time the late Mindy Jostyn was in the band and her fiddle and mandolin playing really made the band sound great. But in reality The Hooters were that 5 piece band (with a Spinal Tap rotation of bass players) I saw at Buck U.. After the show I got to talk to Eric Bazilian a bit. BTW...the opener that night was this local band called Sun-Day. Kinda like Pearl Jam meets Los Lobos. I thought they were great but they faded.

Suddenly The Hooters went their own ways. Eric still recorded. Rob Hyman put together his great concept CD called "Largo". I hear John Lilley started a landscaping business. David Uoiskkken spent his time teaching people how to spell his last name and I'm not sure I still know. I'm sure Fran Smith found things to do. They still got together to tour Europe as they were still big over there.

Suddenly it is 2006. The Hooters are playing the Electric Factory. You know local DJ Pierre Robert would hype the crap out of it but it shouldn't sell out. But was I wrong. So a few days ago I posted a note on Craig's List looking for a ticket. Friday AM a dude emails me so after a few emails and calls we agree to meet outside. Dude never shows up! But luckily this tattooed mama was selling her extra so I grabbed it.

Place is packed. Young and old. Parents bringing their kids to see their hometown heroes. Was this some kinda musical PTA meeting? F&CK NO! It's THE HOOTERS! Opening band was some local band called Ike. Actually they were pretty damn good and I might check them out.

Out comes Pierre Robert in all his rainbow clothed glory. He's nearly foaming at the mouth introducing them. The place goes nuts. The launch into a new tune then crank up the joint with "Day By Day". The place is rockin'! Everyone is going nuts. Tune after tune after tune. New stuff. Old stuff. Plus an absolutely splendid cover of Don Henley's "Boys Of The Summer" done on 2 mandolins and piano. It's not 1980 at Buck U. all over again but the boys are playing their hearts out. Sweat flying everywhere. Everyone singing. It was a wonderful show. This is a Philly band that adores it roots.

One of the best moments of the night was in the encore where after they did their version of "Time After Time" they then launched into E-Baz's "One Of Us" that he wrote for Joan Osborne (ever hear the Prince version???). It rocked! They closed. the show with 2 signature tunes..."Beat Up Guitar" (a Philly homage) and "Blood From A Stone".

2 1/2 hours later and 3 encores. Everyone was smiling. Might have also been the very affordable $15 Hooters shirts they were selling.

Sometimes you go to a show in hopes of reliving the past. It happened last night. Now...what about a reunion from The A's???