Before there were Casuals
Before there were Casuals, there was Travis Shook & the Club Wow — a musical comedy duo built around Chandler Travis and Steve Shook that opened for George Carlin and shared bills with everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Martin Mull, even landing spots on The Tonight Show, The Midnight Special, and The Dick Cavett Show. When the two decided to go all-in on a real rock band, they needed a drummer, and found one in Rich Bates, who quickly earned a reputation as one of the best on the East Coast. As the story goes, their first Boston show nearly blew the doors off the club — and the name Incredible Casuals stuck from there.
Two singles into life as a trio, Johnny Spampinato — younger brother of NRBQ's Joey Spampinato — joined on guitar, rounding the band out to a four-piece. A run of well-loved early releases followed, including the "Let's Go" 12" EP and the "Picnic Ape" single on Eat Records, both of which built real momentum on college radio. Steve Shook left not long after; following a brief run as a trio, Aaron Spade stepped in on guitar, already knowing most of the songs and bringing plenty of noise of his own.
By 2006's Nature Calls — the band's 25th summer together — Johnny was splitting his time with NRBQ, and Steve "Woo Woo" Wood, already a longtime friend of the band, had been playing live with them for years, subbing for Johnny and recording with the band too. Worth remembering: the current trio isn't as new a combination as it might look from the outside.
Album cover links through to The Essential Travis, Shook and the Club Wow on Bandcamp.
