Roll on Kentucky Moon.
The Oblio Joes’ Final Show
By Colin Hickey, 6-06-07
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| Caption: Photo taken by Colin Hickey two days before the fire. | |
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I don’t remember the first Oblio Joes show I ever saw. I do know that I’ve probably seen them more than any other band on the planet (except for Volumen). I’ve cried watching the Oblio Joes. I’ve laughed so hard that I’ve cried watching the Oblio Joes. The Obes have been around for 14 years and they are calling it quits this Thursday at Caras Park. John Brownell, the main song writer for the Oblio Joes said he would give the band 14 years and if they hadn’t made it by then the band would throw in the towel. I don’t know why the Oblio Joes aren’t as big as bands like Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, Pavement and others like them. Maybe it’s because they live in Missoula and the big shots in the industry don’t knock on our doors that often.
I went on tour with the Oblio Joes about four years ago. I actually booked the tour for the band and then I decided to go with them as their manager. They called me the road mangler. This meant I got us to the show then I drank like a fish sold their merchandise and sometimes got on stage with them and ruined a couple songs. I’ve toured many times but this tour had to be one of my favorites. Imagine being able to see your favorite band every night and then get to hang out with them all day.
The Obes might look like some harmless guys but this image of them was shattered for me when we were in Olympia on tour. They had played a small show that night and then we stayed at a friend’s house in a quiet neighborhood in Oly. We stayed up late on the front porch drinking beer, smoking cigarettes and telling stories. At some point we all headed inside to our sleeping bags for some well-deserved sleep. The next thing I know I hear screaming coming from outside the house. We jump up and we hear a woman screaming “YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE!!!!!” Hungover and confused we all look around and we don’t see a fire anywhere. We go toward the front door and from the window we can see that the front porch is on fire. We all rush out the back door and then the fire department shows up and puts out the fire. A large portion of this poor girl’s porch is totally ruined. The firemen tell us that a cigarette put out in a dried up potted plant was the cause of the fire. No one ever admitted to putting the cigarette in the plant. I have a pretty good idea on who it was.
We thanked the firemen and try to figure out our next move. John Fleming really thought we should go straight to Portland. Dan and I already had beers in our hands and were considering going back to bed. We ended up going to restaurant of the girl who owns the house. She actually bought us breakfast after we told her that we burnt down her porch. After the Obes got back from tour, they played a benefit show for the porch and sent all the money to the poor girl.
The thing I love about this story is it was the Oblio Joes—“the world’s nicest band”—that almost burnt down the house. It wasn’t the young punk rock band or the partying metal band. It was the Oblio Joes, who will be able to share that story with their kids for the rest of their days.
All of this comes to and end on Thursday. John Brownell (lead vocals, guitar), Stu Simonson (vocals, guitar), Ian Smith (vocals, keyboards), Dan Strachan (drums) and John Flemming (bass) will take the stage for the last time. Every rawk and roller in town will be there. The Obes have promised to play material from all of their albums and even some that never made it on albums. The whole thing starts at 5 and goes till 8:30.
Here’s the playlist for Thursday’s show:
Grey Skies
Misty & Ebenezer
Desiree
Anarchy Tonight
Dutch Boy
My Way
Tits on the Fridge
Space Opera
Telemarketing
Drunk
Static
Primatology
Mister Mann
Pizzapopolis
Roll On, Kentucky Moon
Strange Powers
Divvy It Up
Don’t Believe
Thorny Days
Good Neighbor
Among Strangers
Skeleton Woman
Survival Song
Diurnal Emissions
Technologic Age
The Book Of Teepee
Falling
Sin Tax
Oh No!
Patty Melt
Sloppy
I’m Not The Guy
Times That Are Not Now
Surreal
Capricorn Cowboy
Counterpoint
Captain of the Moon
Telephotogenic
Flat Earth Defender
Into The Sun
Small Hand, Big Foot
See Jack Ride
Ginger
In Love and Insane
That's a shame. I took some classes in college with John Bownell, and have kept track of what they are up to over the years. It is true what you say: very nice people.
Comment By Volumen-1, 6-06-07A sad day, indeed. Oblio Joes are in my top 5 bands of all time, not just local bands (they are number one in that slot). I think I've discovered a way to persuade them to stay together. Two words. Groin Punches.
Comment By Marc Moss, 6-07-07Thanks for a great story, Colin. Looking forward to seeing the show tonight. When they get to put on a real set, not like the last time they played when Calexico went on so late that the Obes couldn't play until almost closing time.
Comment By Josh Vanek, 6-08-07It was sad indeed, and I was only able to catch a few of their final songs. I look at it as fourteen memorable years, an incredible body of original work, several tours, a split 7" with an obscure hardcore band called Humpy, and more from-the-gut, sublime bar rock than the Small Faces were ever able to produce. To me that's "making it" in a big way. I always thought the Obes started as a Sebadoh/Pavement apers, but they quickly grew up and I think they will be remembered among Montana's finest contributions to the international canon of independent music.
The commercial music industry has damn near defined itself by missing the cream of the crop. Viva Obes!