Fools of the Nile

>> Geographically ignorant frat-rock revivalists Fuad and the Feztones return

HARAM-BUNCTIOUS: Fuad and the Feztones

by RUPERT BOTTENBERG

Hailing from NDG and the West Island—sorry, the “Middle East”—Fuad and the Feztones (who bear an uncanny resemblance to members of the Gruesomes and the Stills) are back after a half-decade to tap their keg of cheap, dumb, culturally insensitive frat-boy R&B, complete with sleazy sax and keys. And what did they find in Aladdin’s cave? A record deal with Ricochet, the local label that put out the first Feztones seven-inch, two Gruesomes reissues and fellow Gruesome Gerry Alvarez’s solo album.

Fuad Ramses (guitarist, “singer”): We started the band before 9/11, at a time when, if you mentioned the Middle East, people would say, “Oh yeah, I heard about that place—that’s a real hot spot, isn’t it? I heard they have some trouble over there.” Nowadays, you can’t get away from it! Everyone seems to be informed about the Middle East.

Rich N. Ready (bassist): Yeah, so our story totally comes off as bullshit now. Our official line is, we were over there entertaining the troops—we just won’t say on which side.

Lew Dacks (drummer): Where are we from?

FR: Egypt! Specifically, the south side—the tough part!

Tip Hazard (sax/keys): It’s hardcore down there, man.

Mirror: Now that you’re over here and safe and sound, what’s new for the band?

RNR: We have an album coming out at the end of the summer, called Beeramid!

FR: Nineteen soul-frat Egyptian twister dancefloor hits!

RNR: The cover is a cartoon of us being whipped by pharaohs as we slave to build the world’s most giant pyramid out of beer cans. It features such great titles as “Djibouti Call,” “Mo’ Rockin’,” “The Boogaloser” and “Beeramid.” There are actually some titles that aren’t puns—but not many.

FR: We have two songs about camels—three if you count “The Hump”!

LD: This is a really good martini…

M: Between when you started the Feztones and now, there’s been a revisiting of garage rock, the White Stripes specifically. Is it a friendlier atmosphere for retro rock now?

FR: That would be an understatement! The same terminology once used to insult and deride bands is now used to champion them! “This band sounds like the 13th Floor Elevators” would have been a cheap insult in the ’80s. Now it’s a compliment!

At l’Escogriffe tonight,
Thursday, May 31, 9 p.m., $7