Two Man Gentleman Band
Monterey Club, Fort Lauderdale
Thursday, September 15
As they waited to play, the Two Man Gentlemen Band sat on the couch at the back of the Monterey barroom.
It's on the plush side, and has surely harbored a fair share of public
indecency. In a sea of beards, tattoos, and smoke, they stood out in their all-white and beige, suspenders and bow-ties. Both were clean-shaven, save for guitarist Andy Bean's pale 'stache. They were almost sans visible tattoo, save for the small old-timey telephone on the inside of Bean's left forearm (he and his wife got matching ones).
opened up for Bob Dylan at least once or twice, the New York City
vaudeville duo sat casually, lacking the air a band that's getting kinda
famous can often have.
heart beats true 'neath the red, white, and blue..." Bean sang. They
didn't spend too much time on "You're A Grand Old Flag," though. It's
just a mic check -- they departed wholesome within the first measure of
their set.
behind his enormous tenor guitar, Bean askedthe crowd if they like
two-man music. As Bean and stand-up bass player Fuller Condon - a.k.a.
the Councilman - jaunted through opening tune "Going into Business," it's
clear the crowd did.
driving the guys' tour is the recent release of their seven-inch vinyl
single, "Prescription Drugs (We're Having a Party!)"/"Tikka Masala."
probably racist if you don't like this one," Bean said before going
into the latter, a tune that's apparently about a hot chick at an Indian
takeout counter.
"Drip Dryin'" and "There's Something in my Trousers" with equal parts
playfulness and precision. (The goofy nature of their song titles might
make them seem like they fit squarely in the Dr. Dimento zone, but they
pull off whatever it is they do in a nonchalant manner that seems to
transcend the novelty box).
the set, Condon had a kazoo harnessed around his neck a la Dylan's
harmonica. The makeshift harness was actually made from a wire hanger, he
said after the set.
with "William Howard Taft," which seems to be a signature tune of theirs. It's old timey in an Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire kind of way, sure, and it pokes fun at the somewhat obscure yet
famously portly President Taft.
cover. It's not a tune you'd expect, but once they busted into "Theme
from Ghostbusters," it wasn't really that surprising. Condon's kazoo
goes all over the place in this one.
set, the boys were back on the couch - same as before, except that much of the audience had gravitated toward this
side of the room. Photos and autographs ensued.
