Oddly enough, my band is not in this montage.
My Real Memoir
The Luscious Naipseht was my first band. The name was a joke: childhood BFF Jeff, newfangled BFF Marc, and I were members of a high school drama club called the Thespians. But “The Thespian” was too on-the-nose, so we reversed the spelling and got “The Naipseht.” Quirky and just a smidge psychedelic in that year of “White Rabbit,” “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Good Vibrations.” Still, something was missing. Aha, an adjective! After trying out a bajillion descriptives — “The Leaping Naipseht,” no, too something-or-other — “The Groovy Naipseht,” no, just, no! — we hit on “The Luscious Naipseht” – Yes! Yummy and absurd all at the same time! What could be better? Well, good music would have been a plus.
Jeff and I had always (when you’re a teenager “always” is anything over six months) wanted to form a music group. Under the influence of our old role model Hoyt Axton and emerging role models Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, we assumed it would be a duo. But my guitar skills were still evolving and Jeff’s were more-or-less stuck at the Cro-Magnon stage.
Enter Marc, who could actually play guitar, as in, you know, play-play! Only Marc’s role model (apart from The Beatles, who we all worshipped but dared not try and emulate) was the infectiously crunchy sound of The Kinks (“You Really Got Me”).
So we formed a band, with Marc as lead guitarist, Jeff as lead singer, and me as just-OK-other guitarist. In a nutshell, it was our training wheels band. Our bass player’s chief (as in only) qualification was that he had a bass. Our drummer Toni (a girl!) could actually kind of play. Plus, with her high cheek bones, hair over one eye, and pouty lips, she was hot! But she was insecure and wore way too much make-up. Her younger sister Teri, by the way, was pouty-cute too, and so was their mom—dang!
Our music was of the all-skate school, i.e. everyone playing the same notes on the same beat at the same time. I knew that if Marc and I strummed C, D, and E chords, our bass player should plunk something other than just C, D, and E notes. But Steve was more interested in making out with his short, platinum blonde girlfriend Lisa. When I complained, “Stop kissing and try something different, Steve!” Lisa grinned, and said, “You don’t remember me, do you? You gave me a ring!” Holy moly! Short-platinum-blonde-Lisa had somehow evolved from my third-grade girlfriend tall-dark-haired-Lisa!
Meanwhile, Toni thought I hated her, when all I really wanted to do was wipe her excess make-up off and kiss those pouty lips! Why should Steve have all the fun?
Our modest breakthrough was “Do You Believe in Magic?” Imitating The Lovin’ Spoonful’s irresistibly catchy arrangement, we found our way to something almost good. Ish. Jeff warbled sweetly while Marc and I took our first stab at singing harmonies together and fell in love! With harmony, that is, not each other.
Our debut gig was a Battle of the Bands at a rec center ten miles away. And it was perfect. By which I mean, it was the equivalent of what newbie stand-up comedians call “a good place to be bad.” That is, if we bombed — which we did — no one we knew…
Would ever hear about it!
My Real Memoir is a series. To read the next one, click here.
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At least you’ll never have regrets that you didn’t play in a “groovy” band even if you didn’t become ridiculously famous like the Fab Four.
;>)
My son was in several bands, in our basement because he had a drum kit. What were we thinking? He graduated to solo work and is on some platform as muteboy (everythings gold) and is actually good. Wrote all the songs, played all the instruments. Now he’s in Brooklyn, has no room for a drum set and is working in wine. Those were fun days though. I miss the music. They started at battle of the bands too! Thx for taking me back.
My pleasure, Martha. Sounds like your son is a multi-talented fellow!
At least you were in the arena (of sorts). Most people are merely “at” the arena in the seats or crashed out on blankets.
Even if you all weren’t spectacular, it still sounds like a lot of fun.
It was, Vera. And there were better things to come.
So no one you knew would ever hear about it … until now. 😉
My husband Marty was in a band of the same era – playing “You Really Got Me” and probably a few others you guys did! We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary (of our marriage, not the band!) next month, and our daughter Kelly already has our playlist and is preparing to be the D.J. 😀 She’s getting acquainted with the Kinks, the Association, Moody Blues, some classic rock, Woodstock, and of course the Beach Boys! – Fun times!
Fun times indeed, Annie. It was a remarkable era musically, with such rich diversity, experimentation and crossover of styles.
I realize every generation believes their music was the best, but ours REALLY was, right? 😉
Right! ;>)
In another post you told the story of singing one of your songs on TV. You even included a video. Was it “Do You Believe in Magic?” You guys sounded really GOOD! If the right producer had gotten ahold of you . . . Then again, too many gold-record achievers end up ruined or spoiled by their success. Perhaps it’s just as well you were only good. Ish. God had bigger and much better plans for you!
That’s for sure. To this day I’m not sure disco qualifies as actual music (I’m positive EBM doesn’t, but that was just an unhealthy outgrowth of disco). And remember the instant soullessness of anything played over a drum machine?… 🤪
With you when it comes to disco, Ana. Even as a young guy during that era, I wasn’t a fan. I preferred non-disco 70s artists like Queen, Led Zeppelin, Billy Joel, Elton John, James Taylor, Eagles, Linda Rondstadt.
Yeah ~ with a frequent backward dip toward Aretha…
Oh, yeah! And Stevie Wonder–he put out some of my favorite albums in the 70s.
That dude was so amazing. He routinely wrote three songs a day.
Nancy, that was a different band, my third actually, formed later that same year. And, no, the song we sang on TV was an original. Thank you for being a fan! Every rock star should have at least one. ;>)
I’m sure you’ve had many!!
That was a great spot to start…we started in front of our school…no hiding there. Again Mitch…I should have grown up when you did…the music at least was much better than the 80s.
In front of your school — ouch! I do think the 60s were an extraordinary era for music, Max. But the 80s are probably my second favorite music decade.
It went well believe it or not! We probably practiced for a month for 5 songs.
I just love the sound of the sixties…
Oh, Mitch…I’m grinning ear to ear! How do I understand you? By immediately looking as the name of your band and spelling it backwards! Ha! You were groovy then and still are! Tall Brunette Lisa to short platinum Lisa (I laughed out loud!). Your descriptions (go, Toni and girls, lol) of your friends, the songs of the times, the mixmashed pics (disappointed no pic of the band ☺️🤭)…you always give us EPIC everything’s! Thank you, dear friend! 🎶🎶
Aww, bless you, dear Karla!
😊 you too, Mitch!
Well, if your band’s not in it, the collage just can’t even call itself cool…
;>)
Well, I’M not buying one, anyway…
As the old saying goes, from little acorns, might oaks grow!
From squirrel food to branches for them to play in. ;>)
The Luscious Naipseht is an excellent band name.
I was in a band—we had a studio setup in the basement for rehearsals too. The name was Syndrome. I was one of two vocalists. When we rehearsed people danced in the streets. We did covers of everyone from AC/DC to Rupert Holmes—you know, If You Like Pena Coladas? To me, Luscious Naipseht is not such a bad name after all. Even though I’m not quite sure of the pronunciaton. (LOL)Bravo my friend!
Thanks, fellow music legend!
Same to you my friend—Blessings and Peace!
I like the Kinks. Nothing wrong with them. 😉 🎶
PS. I lkie teh seelction in your collage. Including the prettiest of all “Yéyé girls, Françoise Hardy) 👍🏻
She was a beauty.
She was. And she still looks good, despite years of illness. A great lady.
You had the coolest childhood, Mitch. Love hearing about your shenanigans.
;>)
Wonderful story!
Thank you, Renee!
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