3rd most popular band in Iceland in 1990!
The Nice Doughboys were a band of former US Naval Aviators, who played together regularly from 1989 through 1993. They played the classic rock genre, with some southern rock and alternative rock influences in their mix. What they lacked in raw talent, they more than made up for in their passion, energy and love of the music they were playing. The Nice Doughboys parlayed that energy into something less than moderate success, becoming one of the top (read: one of the only) bands in Iceland in 1990. Only Bjork and The Sugarcubes (who?) were more popular!
The Nice Doughboys were founded in Orange Park, Florida. They played their first jam in the Mariner's Wharf apartment complex, in the shadows of Naval Air Station, Jacksonville in late 1989. Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode never sounded so...loud. Neighbor's complaints moved the Nice Doughboys to various venues within the vast expanse of Jacksonville's military suburbia, including Doctor's Inlet and Middleburg, Florida. It is rumoured that the Nice Doughboys actually broke into a house simply to have a place to jam.
The Doughboys talents were showcased through the masterful shredding of guitarist, Chris "Slider" Kethan and songwriting/lead vocals of Jack "Queen" King. Pounding out the bloodied knuckle rhythms (not necessarily in perfect syncopation) was Ed "Crusher" Hickey. The Nice Doughboys went through various configurations and members that included John "Jaymo" Morris and Andy "Cibs" Cibula on bass guitar. At the peak of their non-meteoric success, the Doughboys had Ric "Soje" Sjostrom on bass. True to their classic rock roots, the Doughboys originally resisted the talents of keyboardist, James "Goose" Johnson. Ultimately, the Gooseman was just too exuberant and talented to leave out of the band. Plus, what is Margaritaville or Comfortably Numb without keyboards, right?
The band ended up doing most of their practicing in Chris Kethan's studio (*ahem* garage) and honed their musical chops in the afternoon hours while attached to NAS Jacksonville's VP squadrons. Represented were the VP-5 Foxes, the VP-45 "Dirty Bird" Pelicans, and the soon to be decommissioned VP-56 Dragons.
Ultimately, the band's popularity back home earned them the unique opportunity (via questionable Operations Officer decisions) to bring their music gear on deployment. Their set up fit nicely into a popular on-base watering hole known far and wide in Patrol Squadron circles, The Brass Nut. Depending on flight schedules, the Nice Doughboys found themselves frequently performing impromptu gigs for the many Brass Nut aviators that were simply looking for a glass of Bushmills. Weekends light on flight time, meant scheduled Brass Nut gigs for the Doughboys. Those gigs frequently brought Icelandic locals onto the base (mostly women), simply to see the 'Hairy Drummer', the 'Good Looking One', the guy in the Chuck Taylors who shreds on 'the Billy', and the charming, sensitive, talented one they called 'Goose'.
Now, 20 years later, the Nice Doughboys decided on a Doors-esque reunion that took place in a hotel suite, over the course of a few days on South Beach in Miami, Florida. They picked up right where they left off some 20 years earlier, partying into the wee hours (aided by Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy), blowing out amps (ok, so it was only 5 watts...), and trying their best to rediscover that magic Doughboy musical chemistry.
With few exceptions, Doughboys' traditional instruments gave way to cajons, ukeleles and shaker eggs, but they still managed an epic jam or two. They hope to recapture this sound during their upcoming Reunion Tour, which kicks off September 20, 2012 at DeLunafest on Pensacola Beach, Florida. Stay Frosty, Doughboys! See you there!
The Nice Doughboys were founded in Orange Park, Florida. They played their first jam in the Mariner's Wharf apartment complex, in the shadows of Naval Air Station, Jacksonville in late 1989. Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode never sounded so...loud. Neighbor's complaints moved the Nice Doughboys to various venues within the vast expanse of Jacksonville's military suburbia, including Doctor's Inlet and Middleburg, Florida. It is rumoured that the Nice Doughboys actually broke into a house simply to have a place to jam.
The Doughboys talents were showcased through the masterful shredding of guitarist, Chris "Slider" Kethan and songwriting/lead vocals of Jack "Queen" King. Pounding out the bloodied knuckle rhythms (not necessarily in perfect syncopation) was Ed "Crusher" Hickey. The Nice Doughboys went through various configurations and members that included John "Jaymo" Morris and Andy "Cibs" Cibula on bass guitar. At the peak of their non-meteoric success, the Doughboys had Ric "Soje" Sjostrom on bass. True to their classic rock roots, the Doughboys originally resisted the talents of keyboardist, James "Goose" Johnson. Ultimately, the Gooseman was just too exuberant and talented to leave out of the band. Plus, what is Margaritaville or Comfortably Numb without keyboards, right?
The band ended up doing most of their practicing in Chris Kethan's studio (*ahem* garage) and honed their musical chops in the afternoon hours while attached to NAS Jacksonville's VP squadrons. Represented were the VP-5 Foxes, the VP-45 "Dirty Bird" Pelicans, and the soon to be decommissioned VP-56 Dragons.
Ultimately, the band's popularity back home earned them the unique opportunity (via questionable Operations Officer decisions) to bring their music gear on deployment. Their set up fit nicely into a popular on-base watering hole known far and wide in Patrol Squadron circles, The Brass Nut. Depending on flight schedules, the Nice Doughboys found themselves frequently performing impromptu gigs for the many Brass Nut aviators that were simply looking for a glass of Bushmills. Weekends light on flight time, meant scheduled Brass Nut gigs for the Doughboys. Those gigs frequently brought Icelandic locals onto the base (mostly women), simply to see the 'Hairy Drummer', the 'Good Looking One', the guy in the Chuck Taylors who shreds on 'the Billy', and the charming, sensitive, talented one they called 'Goose'.
Now, 20 years later, the Nice Doughboys decided on a Doors-esque reunion that took place in a hotel suite, over the course of a few days on South Beach in Miami, Florida. They picked up right where they left off some 20 years earlier, partying into the wee hours (aided by Red Bull and 5 Hour Energy), blowing out amps (ok, so it was only 5 watts...), and trying their best to rediscover that magic Doughboy musical chemistry.
With few exceptions, Doughboys' traditional instruments gave way to cajons, ukeleles and shaker eggs, but they still managed an epic jam or two. They hope to recapture this sound during their upcoming Reunion Tour, which kicks off September 20, 2012 at DeLunafest on Pensacola Beach, Florida. Stay Frosty, Doughboys! See you there!
* Now with 30 extra pounds and a lot less hair! *
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