The High Fidels

The High Fidels are an American rock band based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Formed in guitar player/vocalist Terry Kracksmokus’ garage in Woodacre, CA in 2006, the band has performed throughout the Bay Area. Their music blends elements of a wide variety of music, including classic and modern rock, pop, jazz, funk and heavy metal. They are known for their satirical lyrics and low-budget on-stage gags, such as wearing space robes during a 2008 performance at The Stork club in Oakland.

History

The High Fidels were formed in Woodacre, CA in September, 2006 by guitarists Terry Kracksmokus and Jeb Tankersley, keyboardist Frank Zeccola, drummer Chris Oatman and bass player Ray Ramirez. Early performances included sets at coffee houses, dive bars and laundry mats in Marin county and San Francisco. Most of the early material consisted of covers, such as Ween's "Gabrielle," Little Feat's "Spanish Moon," The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" as well as Kracksmokus originals, including tunes he wrote with his former band Sicfus.

The High Fidels moved in a new direction after Kracksmokus penned "The Hit," a parody of rock-and-roll stardom. Tankersley and Zeccola originals followed, and the band began performing mostly original sets in early 2007, and recorded a demo in Kracksmokus’ garage. The Fidel's live act took shape in the vein of some of their lyrics, incorporating over-the-top rock cliches and cock-rock antics. After The Baguette-Throwing Incident (BTI) at the Brainwash Cafe in San Francisco, the band's material moved into the terrain of highly autobiographical, self-conscious songs, especially the Kracksmokus work "Kind in Cages" and the epic Tankersley rocker "Weynshet."

In the spring of 2007, bassist Ray Ramirez left the band to pursue a career in medicine. The bass duties were then shared by Kracksmokus and Tankersley, as well as by Zeccola, who played the bass lines on a Korg MicroKorg. It was during this period that the band first saw success at the legendary Stork Club in Oakland, as well as played a wedding in San Anselmo, CA.

During the summer of 2007, Zeccola met bassist Chris Avery at an archaeological retreat on the Sonoma Coast. By the fall of that year, Avery was a full-time member.

In the winter of 2007, the band played back-to-back sell-out shows in North Beach, signifying a stepping-up of game in terms of live shows and song writing. This period saw the addition of the Tankersley tunes "Tender Vittles" and "My New Robe," the song that was the basis for the Robe gag at the Stork Club in February 2008. A bootleg of the Stork gig is currently in circulation, and plans are in the works to record the Fidel's first album on an independent label operated by the band.

Incidents, Lore and Gags

The Baguette Throwing Incident

In the winter of 2007, the High Fidels, along with Santa Cruz-based band The Here and Millville Plains played a disaster of a show at the Brainwash Cafe in San Francisco. The night was a train wreck from the beginning, as the venue did not supply the necessary PA equipment as promised and the bands had to scramble to get the gig off the ground. In the midst of this chaos, the bartender that night, with the unlikely name of Willow, was giving the bands a hard time and threatening to close the club at midnight. The bands sets were cut short, and the Millville Plains act ended as band members watched their cars being towed outside the venue. The Millville Plains drummer wound up leaping over his drum kit and speeding to save his car from being towed in one of the most epic show endings in local rock lore.

As the Fidels took the stage at 11:30, the bartender Willow still threatened to close the club at midnight, even though the place was jam packed with Fidels fans. As midnight neared, Willow told the band they had one more song. The Fidels obliged and launched into their lengthy staple palindrome segue, Poor Molly-->Chim Chimeree-->Poor Molly, which lasted 30 minutes. By this time, Willow was fuming and threw a baguette of bread at the band. To spite her, the band launched into the Beatles cover "Get Back," and Willow threw another baguette at the band.

By this time, the general discomfort and rage among fans in the room signaled that the Fidels should blow the joint, and they left promptly.

This incident is the basis for the Kracksmokus song "Kind in Cages," which features a narrative about the bartender Willow.

The Robes

In December of 2007, Tankersley sent the band an email that contained a picture of himself dressed in a space robe costume. Rumor has it that the robe may have appeared in a car commercial, most likely Hyundai. When Tankersley alerted the band that he had a box full of these robes, the band began working on a gag for a scheduled show at the Stork Club in Oakland in February.

The Fidels headlined the show after sets by Slow Motion Red and Sons of the Golden West. Before the Fidels took the stage, the band was announced by friend Phil Hayes. as the Frank Zappa song, G-Spot Tornado, played in the background. One by one, the Fidels appeared dressed in space robes, and they opened with the new Tankersley song "My New Robe," as an ode their new robes and a special treat for Tankersley's Oakland fans and groupies.

The show was recorded and is currently in circulation among fans and Bay Area hippies.