The Fringe

Never heard of this quartet from Houston?  Well, regrettably, you are not likely to ever get the chance.  The guys aren’t rock stars, but they rock.  Drawing on different inspirations, I guess, the group just wrote some songs, practiced in their spare time, and cut a very eclectic CD in 1997.  Nobody quit their day job and everyone had fun.  How many of us wouldn’t love to express ourselves with the music we love?

For the sake of describing the Fringe CD, I’ll refer to a number of artists that these guys reminded me of.  They don’t really sound like anyone in particular and they certainly didn’t copy any other band, so the comparisons are well-intentioned.

The Fringe is Mike Roebuck on guitars and vocals, Rich Latimer on bass, guitars, vocals and saxes, Randy Latimer on drums, and Sig Hall on slide, keyboards, and vocals.  All odd-numbered tracks were written by Mike and the even-numbered tracks were written by Rich.  Brother Randy collaborated with Rich on track 6.

Track 1 - Montrose Boulevard -- A playful, almost punk tune…..initially reminded me of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.  Mike’s vocals are so loose, they’re slippery (not unlike a lazy Jagger on Some Girls).  Cool tale about night life on a hip street.

Track 2 – Never Gonna Read Your Lips – Another Heartbreaker-like tune.  Great drumming….would love to hear it in a club setting - LOUD.

Track 3 – Live For Today – Hedonism is always a popular subject for rock songs.  What’s not to love?  Intro reminds me of Foreigner’s Waiting on a Girl Like You.

Track 4 – What Were You Thinking? – The CD’s most psychedelic tune – kind of Pink Floydish.  Has a drum cadence reminiscent of The Doors Unknown Soldier andsome good soprano sax.

Track 5 –  Little Sister --  An uncomplicated ditty about one of those sorority gals who just can’t say no to a party.

Track 6 –  The Longest Afternoon -- The only thing missing on this tune is Sir George Martin on the mixer.  Yep, it’s definitely the Sgt. Pepper’s  moment on this CD.  Interesting and complex, I was also reminded of Ray Davies during the Kink’s concept album days.  I like it.

Track 7 – Just Let It Go – Best harmonizing on the CD.  And another very appealing tune.

Track 8 – Bitch !-- Rich apparently is a “difficult” dude and proud of it.  An odd choice for the CD, I think.

Track 9 – The Plan– Easily the most “playable” track on the CD.  With a very catchy tune, a sprinkle of well-placed harmonica and some Harrison-like wah-wah, this song could have had “hit potential” at some point in our life.  The lyrics are s-i-m-p-l-e and the message is clear.  Free love rules, Man!

Track 10 – Let Me Take Your Picture -- The Fringe’s autoerotic moment.  I hate that I missed the “whip the digital cam out on your drunk date” phase of courtship.

Well, that’s it.  Our buddy, the Blackwood Drive ax-God and babe magnet Roebuck, bailed for the Lone Star State years ago and never came back…..Except to play for reunions!  Anyway Mike – the Snapper Snatchers give a big thumbs up to The Fringe.  You could’ve been a very successful professional musician, but you chose the bar exam over a lifetime in bars.  We’re not surprised.    GD