Ghoti Hook
Encyclopedia
Ghoti Hook was a pop punk
band from Fairfax, Virginia
. The band formed in 1991, signed to Tooth & Nail Records
in 1996, and disbanded in 2002.
Conrad, the guitarist and a main songwriter of the band, decided to leave Ghoti Hook when the band began to tour full time so he could finish seminary and continue with his accounting career. Christian Ergueta left the band soon after.
As a three-piece band, and as their last ever studio recordings Ghoti Hook released a six song EP titled EP on Velvet Blue Music
. The group disbanded in 2002. The band's last concert was at Cornerstone Music Festival on July 6, 2002 with guest performances by Conrad. The concert was recorded and released as a live album entitled Rest In Peace.
The band most recently played a reunion show on June 13, 2009 at Circle of Hope in Philadelphia, PA with the (also reunited) Huntingtons, Speedy Delivery, 274 and Main Line Riders. The performance was part of a benefit concert to support Jeannie Pierce, wife of Huntingtons' drummer Mikey Pierce, who is suffering from brain cancer. The band performed as a three-piece with an appearance from Conrad Tolosa on guitar for a few songs.
" is a phonetic spelling of "fish", commonly attributed to George Bernard Shaw
as an example of the irregularities of English spelling. Pronunciation: the "GH" as in the word "rouGH", "O" as in "wOmen" and "TI" as in naTIon. However, the band pronounces its name more intuitively, as a homophone for "goatee
."
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
band from Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax, Virginia
The City of Fairfax is an independent city forming an enclave within the confines of Fairfax County, in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Although politically independent of the surrounding county, the City is nevertheless the county seat....
. The band formed in 1991, signed to Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
in 1996, and disbanded in 2002.
History
Joel Bell, Adam Neubauer and Justin Levy formed the group in 1991. Conrad Tolosa, Jamie Tolosa, and Christian Ergueta, joined the band shortly after. Justin Levy left the band after one year to pursue other interests. The group released two independent EPs in 1994 and 1995. Ghoti Hook signed to Tooth and Nail Records in 1996, then released two albums: Sumo Surprise and Banana Man.Conrad, the guitarist and a main songwriter of the band, decided to leave Ghoti Hook when the band began to tour full time so he could finish seminary and continue with his accounting career. Christian Ergueta left the band soon after.
As a three-piece band, and as their last ever studio recordings Ghoti Hook released a six song EP titled EP on Velvet Blue Music
Velvet Blue Music
Velvet Blue Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by Jeff Cloud . They are a label that has prided itself on a completely independent nature and DIY ethics while also living up to these same qualities...
. The group disbanded in 2002. The band's last concert was at Cornerstone Music Festival on July 6, 2002 with guest performances by Conrad. The concert was recorded and released as a live album entitled Rest In Peace.
The band most recently played a reunion show on June 13, 2009 at Circle of Hope in Philadelphia, PA with the (also reunited) Huntingtons, Speedy Delivery, 274 and Main Line Riders. The performance was part of a benefit concert to support Jeannie Pierce, wife of Huntingtons' drummer Mikey Pierce, who is suffering from brain cancer. The band performed as a three-piece with an appearance from Conrad Tolosa on guitar for a few songs.
Name
The word "ghotiGhoti
Ghoti is a constructed word used to illustrate irregularities in English spelling. It is a respelling of the word fish: i.e., it is supposed to be pronounced...
" is a phonetic spelling of "fish", commonly attributed to George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw was an Irish playwright and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. Although his first profitable writing was music and literary criticism, in which capacity he wrote many highly articulate pieces of journalism, his main talent was for drama, and he wrote more than 60...
as an example of the irregularities of English spelling. Pronunciation: the "GH" as in the word "rouGH", "O" as in "wOmen" and "TI" as in naTIon. However, the band pronounces its name more intuitively, as a homophone for "goatee
Goatee
Goatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
."
Final lineup
- Joel Bell - vocals, guitar (1990-2002)
- Adam Neubauer (aka Chachi Manchu) - drums (1990-2002)
- Jamie Tolosa - guitar, bass (1991-2002)
Previous members
- Justin Levy - Lead Guitar (1990-1991)
- Conrad Tolosa - Guitar (1991-1997)
- Christian Ergueta - Bass, BGV (1991-2000)
Discography
- No Date (EP) (Self-released, 1994)
- Boca GrandeBoca grande-Places:*Boca Grande, Florida, United States*Boca Grande, Venezuela*Boca Grande Key, Florida, United States-Other:*Boca Grande Community Center, also known as Boca Grande School, a historic site in Boca Grande, Florida...
(EP) (Self-released, 1995) - Sumo SurpriseSumo SurpriseSumo Surprise is Ghoti Hook's debut CD on Tooth and Nail Records. The album is a pop punk CD, with a tendency toward both humor and evangelical Christianity.- Track listing :# Body Juggler# Seasons# South Capitol Street# Ooklah The Punk# Tract Boy...
(Tooth and Nail Records, 1996) - Banana ManBanana Man (album)Banana Man is Ghoti Hook's second CD on Tooth and Nail Records. It continues the band's trademark sound started with Sumo Surprise, combining Christianity with humor and fast melodic punk.- Track listing :# Banana Man# Estevan# My Bike# The Box...
(Tooth and Nail Records, 1997) - Songs We Didn't WriteSongs We Didn't WriteSongs We Didn't Write is Ghoti Hook's third CD on Tooth & Nail Records. A cover album, it contains Ghoti Hook versions of songs both from secular and Christian music.- Track listing :# I Love Rock 'n' Roll ...
(cover albumCover Album-Tracklisting:#Misono to Utaou! Animedley I # #...
) (Tooth and Nail Records, 1998) - Two Years to Never (Tooth and Nail Records, 2000; Review: Decapolis.com)
- Ep (Velvet Blue MusicVelvet Blue MusicVelvet Blue Music is an independent record label founded in 1996 by Jeff Cloud . They are a label that has prided itself on a completely independent nature and DIY ethics while also living up to these same qualities...
, 2002) - Retrospective (compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
) (Tooth and Nail Records, 2002) - Rest in Peace (live albumLive albumA live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
) (Tooth and Nail Records, 2003)