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Zack Stokes Knows Scholarly Gentlemen, "TPFY"
Why does this guy have such an awkwardly long band name? What the fuck does "TPFY" stand for? Who knows, and who cares—this is one of the catchiest pop songs to hit my radar since Mad Rad's "My Product" (o.k., that wasn't that long ago, but still). Anyone who can claim both Acid Mother's Temple and ZZ Top as influences is bound to be doing something either great or terrible. Luckily in the case of Mr. Stokes, the former is the case. Perhaps it all comes down to the pull of tense, urgent guitar and the rhyming of "rich" with "bitch" (an art perfected by Hall and Oates, mind you). Regardless, this one's on heavy in my head these days. - Hannah Levin
Discography
Faux Foe- Self Released EP
"TPFY"- From Faux Foe has been getting played on KEXP 90.3
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Bio
April 20th 2008, just after 7 pm, I'd finished packing up my gear after my first show at the Sunset Tavern and I sat down at the bar to order a drink. I turned to the woman sitting next to me and asked her what she thought of my set. She replied, "I really liked it... you've got a sort of Robin Zander thing going on with your red jumpsuit and long hair", referring to my bright red Indy Car bodysuit from the 70's. I wasn't so sure if that was a good thing and then she leaned a little closer and said "You know... I carved his initials into my ankle"... and things have been swell ever since!
For 14 years, Zack Stokes has written and performed in many bands... most of which have amounted to nothing. Has that stopped him from persuing music? No way! In that time he taught himself how to sing, play bass, drums and keyboards in addition to continually practicing the guitar. In his best recordings he has played all the instruments himself. Though he enjoys doing that, he relishes playing out live with a band and or loop pedals.
While not initially too thrilled about playing under his own name, he realized that it might enable him to include musical stylings from many different genres, allowing him to not be tied down to one particular sound. His catalogue spans from acoustic songs with hushed melodies to screaming heavy sonic rock and blazing guitars... and not to mention everything in between. Joined by his longtime friend Jared Groom (Guitar/Backing Vocals), Zack founded the Scholarly Gentlemen and has played numerous local venues including The Sunset, Neumo's, Chop Suey, The Jules Maes, The Comet and The Rendezvous.
"There's something wonderful about being a scholar and or a gentlemen that lends itself well to the band environment. Everyone should get along and have fun because each member's skills and manners help the group gel into a family."
With influences ranging from Sonic Youth, Built to Spill and Elliott Smith to Botch, ZZ Top and Acid Mother's Temple the myriad of material is vast, catchy and most definitely interesting. Recently, he has prompted the attention of Hannah Levin, Seattle Weekly Columnist and host of KEXP's Audioasis. She wrote in the Seattle Weekly's Blog 'Reverb', "Anyone who can claim Acid Mother's Temple and ZZ Top as influences is bound to be doing something either great or terrible. Luckily in the case of Mr. Stokes, the former is the case... Why does this guy have such an awkwardly long band name? What the fuck does "TPFY" stand for? Who knows, and who cares—this is one of the catchiest pop songs to hit my radar since Mad Rad's "My Product". Since January 2009 "TPFY" has been a constant selection in her rotation. (http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/reverb/2009/02/local_music_in_my_rotation.php)
So the next question is... "Where is Zack Stokes heading now?".
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