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11/2/2006

Hilarious Kennett Brothers bio on Artist Direct

The Kennett Brothers performing at Chicago's Hideout, ca 1999. Photo by Rachel LeibowitzIf I don’t quit Googling myself I’m going to end up blind. That said, I am nothing if not vain, and continue a relentless self-Googling regimen. I stumbled across this hilarious bio of one of my old bands, the Kennett Brothers, on the site Artist Direct.

Though “overnight success” is a phrase that’s too often tossed around frivolously, in the case of Chicago’s Kennett Brothers, that characterization is entirely accurate. Building on the intense local following that greeted its modestly produced, do-it-yourself debut album, “Santa is Real,” the band rocketed to stardom within the span of a few months. While some have leveled accusations that the group slyly co-opted the sound of pioneering alt.country bands, and play way too damn loud, the Kennett’s music has obviously tapped into the hearts of literally several fans. Thus far, the group’s popularity shows no signs of waning.

Why is it hilarious? I wrote it for the Kennett’s now-defunct website six years ago…by taking Creed’s bio and replacing the word “Creed” with “The Kennett Brothers”. And replacing “millions” with “literally several”. I have no idea how it ended up on ArtistDirect. I would, however, like to congratulate Artist Direct’s excellent fact-checking department for a job well done.

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Professor Longhair playing Big Chief in 1973

There’s not a lot of good footage of the great New Orleans pianist Professor Longhair out there. This 1973 clip of him playing one of his signature tunes, Big Chief, is pretty special.