Acoustic Junction
Denver Westword
February 4, 2000
In the February 27, 1997, edition of this column, Reed Foehl, longtime
leader of Acoustic Junction, explained why he and his mates had decided to
rechristen themselves Fool's Progress shortly after signing a two-album
deal with Capricorn Records. "We felt that we weren't reaching as many
people as we could because of the connotations of the name," he said. "A
lot of people to this day think we don't have a drummer and we sit on
stools. Basically, it was a name that fit us once but doesn't anymore. But
back then we were still on a grassroots level -- we didn't think we had the
kind of support we needed to make that kind of switch. And now we do."
Today Foehl is crooning a different tune. After spending nearly two years
as Fool's Progress, the combo recently re-emerged as Acoustic Junction. And
Foehl, who'll appear with his cohorts on Thursday, February 4, at Herman's
Hideaway, now admits that the appellation swap was a sizable mistake. "No
pun intended, but it was foolish of us to get suckered into it," he says.
"I don't want to put the full blame on others; it was our decision, and we
agreed to it. But if we had it to do again, we definitely wouldn't do it.
We put a lot of time and effort into building up Acoustic Junction, and it
paid off. But as soon as we tried the Fool's Progress thing, it was just
like starting over. I just didn't realize how much a name means to people.
If you change names, even if it's the same band, they look at you
differently."
Despite Foehl's remarks, Fool's Progress wasn't a complete washout. The
outfit's eponymous Capricorn bow hit stores in May 1997 and received
airplay on a slew of Triple A stations. In addition, the players (Foehl,
multi-instrumentalist Tim Roper, bassist Curtis Thompson and drummer Matt
Coconis) participated in a series of events sponsored by VH1, including a
charity concert that also featured Edwin McCain, and traveled extensively
on their own and in the company of other noteworthies, such as fellow
Coloradoans Leftover Salmon. But as time went on, it became abundantly clear
that many of the folks who'd made Acoustic Junction a successful touring
attraction from coast to coast were no longer on the bus. "A lot of people
weren't even informed that we changed the name," Foehl says. "We'd been
selling out 500-seaters, but after changing our name, we'd only bring in
150."
In the end, the bandmates realized that the Fool's Progress handle was
jeopardizing their very survival as a group. As a result, Foehl recounts,
"we called up Phillip Walden, who's the vice president of Capricorn, and
told him, 'We need our livelihood back. We're getting killed on the road.'
And he said, 'Whatever you guys want to do.' He was really good about it,
and we're thankful for that."
The shift, which became official in late October, paid immediate dividends.
A tour of New England "was our best since we'd become Fool's Progress,"
Foehl says. "We sold out some theaters and brought in, like, 350 people to
others -- and the response to the name change was overwhelmingly positive.
Either people would tell us that we'd done the right thing or they'd ask,
'What have you guys been doing for the past year?'"
Plenty, as it turns out. Acoustic Junction's latest album is already in the
can and should be available for purchase in April. Foehl describes it as an
eclectic collection whose variety can be traced to the circumstances of its
recording -- the musicians cut ditties in several studios, including
facilities in New York, Massachusetts and Colorado -- and the departure of
Coconis early last year. Before settling on Tom Diehl as Coconis's
replacement, Acoustic Junction laid down tracks with
percussionist-to-the-stars Kenny Aronoff and Aronoff protege. Kevin Leahy
(those tracks will appear on the disc) and also collaborated with former
Hall and Oates bassist T-Bone Wolk, Morphine's Billy Conway and singer
Graham Nash. This last guest star's contribution to the project was spurred
by a chance meeting with Foehl. "I was singing a song, 'Dancin' With You,'
that I'd just written the night before outside the Sweetwater Cafe in Mill
Valley, and Graham just happened to be passing by," he says. "Well, he
loved the song and approached me, and we chatted for twenty minutes about
music and life and record deals. After that, I followed up with a letter
asking if he might like to sing on the song, and he said he'd love to. It
came out beautifully, and I hope we can continue the relationship in the
future."
In the meantime, Foehl is sinking his roots deeper into the Colorado soil.
He and his wife, Jen, relocated to Massachusetts, where Foehl was raised,
in late 1996, prior to the arrival of their first child (a second joy
bundle is due this summer). But in April 1998 they bought a house in
Lafayette, not far from the Boulder clubs where Acoustic Junction got its
start, and Foehl couldn't be happier. "We love New England and always will,
but I think our hearts will always be in Colorado," he says. "The mountains
really drew us back."
So, too, did the Acoustic Junction moniker. As Foehl puts it, "I've come to
believe that it fit us all along. I listen to a lot of folk
singer-songwriters, and ultimately, that's where our music comes from. We
tried to deny that for a little while, but we're not denying it anymore."
Press Clips
"Real musical cults are rare, and they tend to be grown not manufactured.
Acoustic Junction's concert here last fall was an authentic cult phenomenon
... Not only did the crowd stand, sway and dance throughout, the fans also
seemed to know every word of the repertoire, and sang along with a
communal, open-hearted glee."
-The Boston Globe
"Their songs ranged from straight ahead rock to rock with a tint of country
and blues..They have the power and attitude of a hard rock band, as well as
the feeling and soul associated with a more relaxed and intimate
feeling...They put on a show and it's such a cool time."
-The Informer
"The band focuses on the sweet blend of acoustic and electric instruments
paired with smooth and silky vocals for an electric mix of sound and lyric
. . . high energy chemistry that may sometimes seem like a reckless jet
plane ...it's unusual when the voice of a rock singer can make you cry ."
-The Mountain Times
"They've successfully released their own records and have built up and
excellent live performance reputation that has them touring
nationally...their success is due to the band's intense dedication to their
music... and producing electrifying sets night after night."
- Fort Collins Coloradoan
"From high energy rock to slow songs with soul . . . known for lively shows
filled with singing, dancing and merriment, no one goes away disappointed."
- Westfield State College Owl
"Up-tempo and energized from the start, the quartet jammed with abandon for
the better part of two hours... may be the only band in the world to
substitute a fiddle for lead guitar while playing a Pink Floyd song."
-The Hartford Courant
"The current incarnation of Acoustic Junction is a tight, four-member
electric rock band."
-The Campus Press
"[Acoustic Junction is] committed to their fans, which is probably why
they've developed quite a loyal following that results in concerts filled
with dancing, singing along, and a down-to-earth good time."
-The Rapp Street Journal
© 2000 Ariel Publicity and Acoustic Junction