When Zimmy T. and Fingers McKnuckles formed The Late Fees in Austin, TX in late 2005, they had a very simple mission statement: to entertain themselves. The early songs combined the doo-wop music their fathers taught them with the '70s punk rock they loved to play. After their early demos were well received, they formed a band and recorded their full-length eponymous debut, and The Late Fees grew into much more, adding members and fans along the way. More members meant more ideas, shared vision, and ultimately a dillution of the original edict.
Zim & Knux's latest effort, "The Late Fees Present: Studio A," is a return to the original idea of making music on their own terms. This time out, the duo wrote, recorded, and mixed 9 songs in about two weeks. The tracks are love letters to the classic soul, gospel, R&B, and funk music they love. Most of the songs had some musical inspiration in old 45s that DJ Zimmy had in his collection.
Zim & Knux performed all of the instruments on the record--guitars, drums, bass, organ, piano, harmonica, etc. There are a few great guest appearances, including former Fees Hunt Wellborn as the fallen preacher on "Culprit in the Pulpit." Fees singers Elzie Sweetcheeks & Lefty Grooves sing on a few tracks, and Zimmy's wife Pookie Van Helsing guests on one. Elzie's uncle Mark plays sax on the opening cut, "Studio A," which has the duo lamenting, "We spent all day working on songs no one would play." Pick up this set and prove them wrong!
Zim & Knux have new music in the works, which can be found at http://zimandknux.bandcamp.com/
LINER NOTES:
The Late Fees Present: Zim & Knux / Studio A
Written by Zimmy T. & Fingers McKnuckles
Arranged & Produced by Fingers McKnuckles & Zimmy T.
Recorded & Mixed by Fingers McKnuckles
“Studio A”
Zim: vocals, guitar, organ
Knux: vocals, drums, bass, guitar, piano, organ
Mark Ivey: alto sax
"Our Damned Love”
Zim: vocals, bass, guitar
Knux: vocals, drums, guitar, organ
Elzie Sweetcheeks: vocals
Pookie: vocals
“You Look Like Someone I Used To Piss Off”
Zim: backing vocals, bass
Knux: lead and backing vocals, drums, guitars, piano, organ
Elzie: backing vocals
“Too Neurotic For the Philharmonic”
Zim: lead vocals, bass, guitar
Knux: backing & falsetto vocals, drums, guitar, organ
Elzie: backing vocals
Lefty Grooves: backing vocals
“One Shot”
Zim: backing vocals, bass, guitar, organ
Knux: lead & backing vocals, drums, wah guitar, organ
Elzie: backing vocals
“Culprit in the Pulpit”
Zim: “good preacher” intro, bass
Knux: “choirmaster,” choir member, drums, guitar, piano, organ, harmonica
Hunt Wellborn: “fallen preacher”
Elzie: choir member
Lefty: choir member
“Blow Me a Kiss Before You Screw Me”
Zim: lead vocals, guitar
Knux: backing vocals, drums, bass, lead guitar, organ
Elzie: backing vocals
“One More Mardi Gras”
Zim: bass
Knux: drums, second-line percussion, guitar, organ
“Fat Ass”
Zim: lead & backing vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin, buckets
Knux: backing vocals, organ, lap steel, buckets
Elzie: backing vocals
Read more...