Rock Island: Cocobeanos sure know ROCK
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Our albino clawed frog hasn't spoken to me since we ran out of freeze-dried mealworms. That was, like, Friday or something, so I'm concerned. However, not so concerned that I would drive all the way out to the Mega-Lo-Mart just for frog treats. I ask Anne to make a shopping list for me. That way, I don't get spanked for forgetting anything. Hmmm ... let me check this over. Mealworms, toothpaste, batteries, toilet pa... I mean, "bathroom tissue," milk, Cocobeanos. Cocobeanos? We already have four open boxes of cereal. Oh, wait! Now I remember, This is the band George Gast has casually mentioned to me about seven thousand times.
I've been getting a little grief from George lately. He's torqued about the five-dollar bribe thing I wrote in the Jim Brown article. He wants me to retract that statement, do my Boomhower impression in front of everyone, and write about his son's band, "or else." I have no idea what "or else" could be, but I write freelance, and don't have items like lawyers, guns, or money, so I'm gonna cave.
George never took a five-dollar bribe in his life. (His minimum is $7.50.) As for Boomhower, "Talkin' 'bout dang ol' George, man, dang ol' Cocobeanos this and Cocobeanos that, talkin' 'bout take this dang ol' poster, man, dang ol' George gone drove me crazy talkin' 'bout dang ol' free publicity, man, tell yuh wut."
As for the Cocobeanos story, I intended to do it anyway. I'll just let George think it was his idea so he can feel like he won. Don't tell him I said that. He may throw some more conditions at me.
George has good reason to be the Cocobeanos' number one cheerleader. (That little skirt has got to go, George. Sorry.) These young gentlemen are going places fast. They played over 100 shows in 2005. They have already booked over 150 for 2006. We caught their performance at Daly's in good old downtown Sandusky Feb. 4. The weather could have killed a buffalo, but the place was surprisingly full. People seem to like these lads quite a bit. It's 11:15, and we arrived just in time for the Cocobeanos to take a break. I was hoping to write about them, but the only thing coming through the PA is The White Stripes' "Doorbell," and I sure as heck can't interview a CD. I'm forced to order drinks and wait for the band to get back to work.
My limited patience is rewarded when the Cocobeanos kick out a Bon Jovi two-fer with "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "You Give Love a Bad Name." The set included "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, "Bang a Gong" from T. Rex, and "What I Like About You" by The Romantics. Well done, but I'd like to hear something from this century, please. That's when they hit us with The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army." Now we're talking. Something old, something new makes for a well-rounded songlist. These young fellas are pretty good at this rock band job. Already veterans of the circuit, they're getting quite an education in the music biz. They travel all over the region with a trailer full of gear. Later, guitarist and vocalist Scott Gast told me that keeping up with such a full schedule can get tiring. "It can get tiring," he told me. (See, that was a quote. Now you know that I really talked to him instead of making the whole thing up like I usually do.)
Cocobeanos continue to wow the crowd with "Mony, Mony" by umm...don't tell me, I know this one...I'll have to go with Billy Idol. I can't remember the name of the original band. They follow with some Violent Femmes, the ever-popular "Blister in the Sun," and "Cold Hard Bitch" by Jet. (I'm not really supposed to use the word "bitch", but since "bitch" is in the title "Cold Hard Bitch", no one's gonna bitch.) The band fires off Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend," Green Day's "Basket Case," and "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman Turner Overdrive.
It's audience participation time! We will sing "and working overtime" when it comes around on the guitar (to plagiarize Arlo Guthrie). Easy enough, yet some folks didn't sing. They must have missed the rehearsal. All in all, Daly's full house had a great time with Cocobeanos. This is a tight group, so if you missed them at Daly's you can catch them at the Maumee Bay Chili Open in Port Clinton on Feb. 17, and at Mr. Ed's, also in Port Clinton, Feb. 17 and 18. Now I think I'll fix myself a crunchy bowl of Cocobeanos and watch Adult Swim.
NEXT WEEK: DAISEY CHAIN!
Brad Linton has done less for five dollars. You can reach him at blinton@funcoast.com.
