The Knights of the Auto Order Proudly Present: The Auto Body Estimate: Vol. II, #70, March 2007

As long as you don’t slide down the slippery slope of subgenres, I think it’s safe to label the Auto Body Experience as a rock band with horns. I used to think that I had made the decision to have horns in my rock band by free will, perhaps inspired by my fondness for George Martin’s contributions to the Beatles, Zappa’s bigger bands, or my horn-playing friends Randy and Charlie.

I’m a little disconcerted to discover it was preordained.

Ask anyone of a certain age to name the best-known rock band with horns and they’ll probably say Chicago. Ask them to pick another and they’ll probably say Blood Sweat and Tears. You may prefer Tower of Power, The Ides of March, or whatever, but for many these two come to mind first.

Here’s where things get weird.

Peter Cetera – lead singer of Chicago – was born on September 13. David-Clayton Thomas – lead singer of Blood, Sweat, and Tears – was born on September 13. Scott Yoho – lead singer of the Auto Body Experience – was born September 13.

Isn’t that a little strange?

In my addled mind my birth date has additional significance as it also occurred on a Friday. I’ve ranted about Friday the 13th before, but I would like to point out a few additional points.

Fear of Friday the Thirteenth is called paraskavedekatriaphobia. Fear of drawing this word in a spelling bee is called holycrapnophobia.

Unhappy speculation about the relative luck of Friday the thirteenth probably began on Friday, October 13, 1307, when France’s King Philip IV arrested hundreds of Knights Templar. These arrests certianly proved unlucky for the Knights, as they were all tortured (and I’m not just talking about being made to appear in one of Tom Hanks’ weaker movies). Closer to home, the asteroid 99942 Apophis will come very close to Earth on Friday, April 13, 2029. Back in December of 2004 NASA predicted the likelyhood that it would crash into the earth on this day at 1 in 37. Thankfully they’ve since increased the odds.

If you have no fear of Friday the thirteenth, show your defiance by coming and hearing us play on Friday, April 13th at the Eagles Club. If you are fearful, I think you’d be safest spending it among trusted friends, so I’d recommend coming and hearing us play at the Eagles Club.

The Eagles Club is north of Lake Street and east of Hiawatha in south Minneapolis. The address is 2507 East 25th Street. If you get lost, just call them at 612-724-9714. It’s a friendly, causal place, with free parking, no cover, lots of elbow room, cheap drinks, and a classic wood-paneled vibe reminiscent of the 1980s Minneapolis West Bank scene. With regular acts like Willie Murphy, the Butanes, and newer groups with members from the Suburbs, Suicide Commandos and the Wallets, what’s not to like? Did I mention no cover?

The Front Porch Swingin’ Liquor Pigs (the "The Monster Trucks of Folk Music") begin at 7:00 PM, and we’ll begin around 9:00. We’ll play two long-ish sets, so for once we’ll actually be able to sit and chat between sets, and do the same when we’re done as no dang teenaged band will be hustling us off the stage to start their noisy, fish-in-the-bottom-of-the-boat gyrations. Come on down and help us make this our new regular clubhouse.

Love, Scott Yoho, Grand Pooh Bah, Knights of the Auto Order

PS: Don’t complain about Chicago’s later balladry: stuff like “25 Or 6 To 4” is still brilliant.

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