Triple Fast Action
Encyclopedia
Triple Fast Action was an indie rock
/alternative rock
band started by Wes Kidd
and Brian St. Clair
, both previous members of Chicago band Rights of the Accused, in 1995. Kidd went on to manage such bands as Cheap Trick
, The Damnwells
and fellow bandmate Kevin Tihista
while working for New York-based Silent Partner Management
. St. Clair joined the band Local H
after stints as tour manager for Chicago's Liz Phair
and served as drum tech for Bun E. Carlos
of Cheap Trick. Triple Fast Action member Kevin Tihista released several of his own solo albums after the band's breakup.
Triple Fast Action was one of many Chicago area acts signed to Capitol Records
during the multi-year label frenzy that also snatched up the Smashing Pumpkins, Smoking Popes
, Fig Dish
, Loud Lucy, Veruca Salt
, Red Red Meat
, Certain Distant Suns
, Liz Phair
, The Lupins, Hum
, Seam
, Menthol, Urge Overkill
, Stabbing Westward
and Cupcakes among others. The band supported such notable acts as Everclear, Lenny Kravitz, The Wallflowers and Veruca Salt over the course of its existence. The band's first release, "Broadcaster", was often referred to as "Cheap Trick meets Nirvana" and featured power-pop two-toned guitar crunch and a stunning power backbeat. The album sold poorly due to limited label support and despite lengthy touring across the U.S.
The group left Capitol and signed with the then-NY-based indie label of John Szuch's (now based in Charlotte, NC) Deep Elm Records (Nada Surf, Brandtson, Pave the Rocket and Camber)to release the critically acclaimed "Cattlemen Don't". The first single, "Heroes" received some college radio airplay and won several nights of local WKQX FM's battle of the songs. A farewell concert was performed at Chicago's Metro on May 24, 1998.
Notable fans of the band include Dave Grohl
of Nirvana/Foo Fighters, who interestingly lists a show of Rights of the Accused as his first concert. Grohl and fellow Foo Fighters listened repeatedly to the band's "Broadcaster" during the recording of their release "The Colour and the Shape". Wes Kidd made several demos available to fans and friends via home-burned CD. DVDs of the final show as well as the limited edition vinyl tri-disc version of "Broadcaster" often surface on internet-based auction sites.
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
/alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band started by Wes Kidd
Wes Kidd
Wes Kidd was a founding member of Rights of the Accused and Triple Fast Action, the latter signing to Capitol Records and Deep Elm Records. He grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and attended Glenbard West High School. After Triple Fast Action disbanded in 1998, he went on to produce several albums...
and Brian St. Clair
Brian St. Clair
Brian St. Clair was born May 24, 1968. At the age of one, Brian's family moved from Bellwood, IL to Fullerton, California where he went to Rolling Hills Elementary School. In 1980 his family moved to Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he would meet long time friend Wes Kidd...
, both previous members of Chicago band Rights of the Accused, in 1995. Kidd went on to manage such bands as Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, The Damnwells
The Damnwells
The Damnwells are an indie rock band originally from Brooklyn, New York The band formed in 2001 and has released four full length albums, Air Stereo , Bastards of the Beat , and One Last Century...
and fellow bandmate Kevin Tihista
Kevin Tihista
Kevin Tihista is a singer-songwriter and musician. He is a former bassist for the Chicago group Triple Fast Action and contributed songs to the Veruca Salt album Resolver. Tihista's solo music is a mixture of pop and rock combining orchestration, electronica, vamping, and multi-tracking...
while working for New York-based Silent Partner Management
Silent Partner Management
Silent Partner Management is a professional management firm located in New York and manages such music groups as Simi, Local H, Cheap Trick and Kevin Tihista. Wes Kidd, formerly of the band Triple Fast Action, currently co-manages many of these bands for the firm....
. St. Clair joined the band Local H
Local H
Local H is an American rock duo, formed by Joe Daniels and Scott Lucas in Zion, Illinois in 1987. Local H's 1996 album, As Good as Dead, includes the top 10 hit "Bound for the Floor" Author, rock critic and Rolling Stone contributor Greg Kot and the Chicago Tribune named the band its 2008 Chicago...
after stints as tour manager for Chicago's Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
and served as drum tech for Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos, born Brad Carlson, June 12, 1951, is the primary drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He is the band's chief setlister and archivist, and maintains recordings of all the band's shows, some of which have been released under the name 'Bun E's Bootlegs'.Carlos is left-handed, but...
of Cheap Trick. Triple Fast Action member Kevin Tihista released several of his own solo albums after the band's breakup.
Triple Fast Action was one of many Chicago area acts signed to Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
during the multi-year label frenzy that also snatched up the Smashing Pumpkins, Smoking Popes
Smoking Popes
The Smoking Popes are an American pop punk from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1991. They play punk-influenced pop music with crooning vocals...
, Fig Dish
Fig Dish
Fig Dish was a 1990s Rock band based in Chicago. The band signed to PolyGram Records in 1995 and released two full-length albums before becoming inactive in 1998. They were part of the mid-90s Chicago rock scene that included The Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, and Local H...
, Loud Lucy, Veruca Salt
Veruca Salt (band)
Veruca Salt is an alternative rock band founded in 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included vocalist-guitarist Louise Post. Guitarist Stephen Fitzpatrick has been with the band since 1999 and drummer Kellii Scott has worked with the group on and off since 1999...
, Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat was a '90s Chicago-area blues-influenced alternative rock band. After their break-up, frontman Tim Rutili went on to form Califone, for which many of Red Red Meat's former members, including producer Brian Deck, often record and perform...
, Certain Distant Suns
Certain Distant Suns
Certain Distant Suns is an alternative rock band that was present on the Chicago music scene of the early 1990s.-Early Days: 1989-1991:Justin Mroz and Lance Stewart formed Certain Distant Suns in 1989 in Fox Lake, Illinois...
, Liz Phair
Liz Phair
Phair's entry into the music industry began when she met guitarist Chris Brokaw, a member of the band Come. Brokaw and Phair moved to San Francisco together, and Phair tried to become an artist there...
, The Lupins, Hum
Hum (band)
Hum is a post-hardcore band from Champaign, Illinois. They are best known for their 1995 radio hit "Stars." Hum has not been consistently active as a recording or touring group since 2000.-Founding and early recordings:...
, Seam
Seam (band)
Seam was an American indie rock band active from 1991 to 1999, led by Sooyoung Park, former frontman of Bitch Magnet. Park currently plays in Ee...
, Menthol, Urge Overkill
Urge Overkill
Urge Overkill is an alternative rock band, formed in Chicago, United States, consisting of Nash Kato , and Eddie "King" Roeser . Their cover of Neil Diamond's song "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" appeared prominently in the movie Pulp Fiction, and became a hit in 1994...
, Stabbing Westward
Stabbing Westward
Stabbing Westward was an American industrial rock and alternative rock band. They formed in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois and began recording in the 1990s. The band announced a dissolution in 2002.- Early years :...
and Cupcakes among others. The band supported such notable acts as Everclear, Lenny Kravitz, The Wallflowers and Veruca Salt over the course of its existence. The band's first release, "Broadcaster", was often referred to as "Cheap Trick meets Nirvana" and featured power-pop two-toned guitar crunch and a stunning power backbeat. The album sold poorly due to limited label support and despite lengthy touring across the U.S.
The group left Capitol and signed with the then-NY-based indie label of John Szuch's (now based in Charlotte, NC) Deep Elm Records (Nada Surf, Brandtson, Pave the Rocket and Camber)to release the critically acclaimed "Cattlemen Don't". The first single, "Heroes" received some college radio airplay and won several nights of local WKQX FM's battle of the songs. A farewell concert was performed at Chicago's Metro on May 24, 1998.
Notable fans of the band include Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl
David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...
of Nirvana/Foo Fighters, who interestingly lists a show of Rights of the Accused as his first concert. Grohl and fellow Foo Fighters listened repeatedly to the band's "Broadcaster" during the recording of their release "The Colour and the Shape". Wes Kidd made several demos available to fans and friends via home-burned CD. DVDs of the final show as well as the limited edition vinyl tri-disc version of "Broadcaster" often surface on internet-based auction sites.
Line up
- Wes KiddWes KiddWes Kidd was a founding member of Rights of the Accused and Triple Fast Action, the latter signing to Capitol Records and Deep Elm Records. He grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and attended Glenbard West High School. After Triple Fast Action disbanded in 1998, he went on to produce several albums...
- vocals and guitar - Brian St. ClairBrian St. ClairBrian St. Clair was born May 24, 1968. At the age of one, Brian's family moved from Bellwood, IL to Fullerton, California where he went to Rolling Hills Elementary School. In 1980 his family moved to Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he would meet long time friend Wes Kidd...
- drums - Ronnie SchneiderRonnie SchneiderRonald Schneider is best known for being the business presence at the epicenter of pivotal 1960s events including the Altamont Free Concert, the dissolution of the Beatles and the reorganization of their business arm, Apple Corps...
- guitar - Kevin TihistaKevin TihistaKevin Tihista is a singer-songwriter and musician. He is a former bassist for the Chicago group Triple Fast Action and contributed songs to the Veruca Salt album Resolver. Tihista's solo music is a mixture of pop and rock combining orchestration, electronica, vamping, and multi-tracking...
- bass - Scott LucasScott LucasScott Lucas is the name of:*Scott W. Lucas , U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader from Illinois*Scott Lucas , Australian footballer*Scott Lucas , founding member of Local H...
- additional guitar (played as part time relief for Ronnie Schneider)