Cool It Reba
Encyclopedia
New York City
's Cool It Reba was part of the downtown post punk / no wave
scene in the early 1980s. They combined elements of James Brown
funk, Television
's guitar interplay and David Byrne
's lyrical paranoia to a danceable beat.
The band took their name from a catch phrase that Soupy Sales
often said on his show.
Formed in the Autumn of 1981 by vocalist/guitarist David Hansen, who was previously a member of Rhode Island's The Young Adults
, and drummer Kevin Tooley who was in The Mundanes
. The line-up was completed by John Fredericks on lead guitar and bassist Baker Rorick (who later played in The Baxters, The Scarecrows and Purple K'niF).
They regularly played such venues as CBGB
's, The Peppermint Lounge
, The Mudd Club
and Danceteria NYC. After only their fourth gig they signed to Hannibal Records
in 1982. Shortly thereafter, they released the Joe Boyd
-produced Money Fall Out The Sky EP
. Containing such songs as "I Saw Snakes", "Out Where The Buses Don't Run" and the title track, it was met with critical acclaim, making many critics' annual top-ten lists.
The band then played alongside the likes of Billy Idol
, John Cale
and R.E.M.. Label restaffing and losing key members led to the ultimate break up of the band in the Summer of 1984. Half of the band later played together in the band Steve McQueen. Although only releasing one record during their existence, many bootlegs of their live shows and unreleased studio recordings have circulated.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Cool It Reba was part of the downtown post punk / no wave
No Wave
No Wave was a short-lived but influential underground music, film, performance art, video, and contemporary art scene that had its beginnings during the mid-1970s in New York City. The term No Wave is in part satirical word play rejecting the commercial elements of the then-popular New Wave genre...
scene in the early 1980s. They combined elements of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
funk, Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
's guitar interplay and David Byrne
David Byrne (musician)
David Byrne is a musician and artist, best known as a founding member and principal songwriter of the American new wave band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Since then, Byrne has released his own solo recordings and worked with various media including film, photography,...
's lyrical paranoia to a danceable beat.
The band took their name from a catch phrase that Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
often said on his show.
Formed in the Autumn of 1981 by vocalist/guitarist David Hansen, who was previously a member of Rhode Island's The Young Adults
The Young Adults
The Young Adults were a rock quintet based in Providence, Rhode Island. They were formed by vocalist/saxophone player Bruce McCrae , vocalist/drummer David Hansen , piano player Jeff Shore, and guitarist in the early 1970s...
, and drummer Kevin Tooley who was in The Mundanes
The Mundanes
The Mundanes were an early-1980s Rhode Island-based New Wave band featuring future They Might Be Giants member John Linnell. They released one single called Make it the Same, featuring three songs, "Make it the Same," "Funnier Than Love," and "Empty Boulevards."The band had six members: John...
. The line-up was completed by John Fredericks on lead guitar and bassist Baker Rorick (who later played in The Baxters, The Scarecrows and Purple K'niF).
They regularly played such venues as CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's, The Peppermint Lounge
Peppermint Lounge
The Peppermint Lounge was a popular discotheque located at 128 West 45th Street in New York City that was open from 1958 to 1965. It was the launchpad for the global Twist craze in the early 1960s, and also where Go-Go dancing originated....
, The Mudd Club
Mudd Club
The Mudd Club was a TriBeCa nightclub that was opened in October 1978 by Steve Mass, art curator Diego Cortez and Anya Phillips, a figure in the downtown punk scene...
and Danceteria NYC. After only their fourth gig they signed to Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records
Hannibal Records was a record label and one of the first to work with the World music genre.Hannibal was started by Joe Boyd in 1980. Boyd had produced records by artists such as Nick Drake, The Incredible String Band and Fairport Convention and released recordings by these artists as well as...
in 1982. Shortly thereafter, they released the Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd
Joe Boyd is an American record producer and former owner of the Witchseason production company. Boyd was instrumental in launching the careers of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
-produced Money Fall Out The Sky EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
. Containing such songs as "I Saw Snakes", "Out Where The Buses Don't Run" and the title track, it was met with critical acclaim, making many critics' annual top-ten lists.
The band then played alongside the likes of Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
, John Cale
John Cale
John Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
and R.E.M.. Label restaffing and losing key members led to the ultimate break up of the band in the Summer of 1984. Half of the band later played together in the band Steve McQueen. Although only releasing one record during their existence, many bootlegs of their live shows and unreleased studio recordings have circulated.
Members
- David Hansen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar)
- John Fredericks (lead guitar, vocals)
- Baker Rorick (bass)
- Kevin Tooley (drums, percussion)
Later Members
- Gordon Wands (bass 1983-84)
- John McCurry (lead guitar 1983)
- Sid McGinnisSid McGinnisSid McGinnis is an American musician and guitarist, best known for his work on the CBS Television show, Late Show with David Letterman, as part of the CBS Orchestra....
(lead guitar 1983) - Jack Rigg (lead guitar 1984)
- Sturgis Nikides (lead guitar 1984)
External links
- Cool It Reba Myspace Page containing photos, reviews and listings.
- Yahoo Groups Page for Cool It Reba reviews, lyrics, gigography, photos and all Reba-related artists.
- Review of 2/13/82 Lupo's Show The Providence Journal February 15, 1982 Page B-04 By Tony Lioce.
- Village Voice Review Robert Christgau's review.
- Review of 1/7/84 Peppermint Lounge show The New York Times January 9, 1984 C14 By Jon Pareles.
- The Dean's List The Village Voice's 1983 Pazz & Jop Poll.
- Cool It Reba Guitarist Jack Rigg Turns Doctor The Fort Gordon Signal July 30, 2010.