Rancid Cheese

[Stu]

Last night, I went to a local pub where I had been invited to the 18th birthday party of the son of a family friend. He’s called Dan and he’s always been a rather shy lad and a bit straight-laced (my wife says he's a mummy's boy, which I think is unfair). I was taken aback when I saw his girlfriend, Sal, who is a bit older (20) as she appears to be the diametric opposite of Dan with her green hair shaved at the sides, white make-up, purple lipstick, large pentagon star pendant, tattoos, facial piercings, ripped tee-shirt. Dan saw my reaction and said words to the effect that she’s really a lovely girl but she sings and plays drums in a band and dresses according to their style. OK. When I saw the rest of the band, they looked like the sort of young men any cop worth his salt would want to frisk for drugs or weapons. As I am quite old and have no knowledge of modern music or youth culture, I couldn’t work out whether they were supposed to be anti-establishment goths, grunge, heavy metal or punk, but I was quite alarmed. Then the band got on stage and Sal took the mic and growled at the audience like some kind of demented Alice Cooper in a breathy vocal fry: “My name is Sal and I'm not a Karen. But I’m going to be a Karen tonight!” I was absolutely not looking forward to their "output". Then the band started playing and she began singing - in the sweetest voice: “I’m on the top of the world looking down on creation…” Errr what??? I think I wasn’t the only one that was taken aback and there were a few chuckles. They played several songs with Sal singing including “Goodbye to love” and "I won't last a day without you" (then I understood the Karen Carpenter allusion). Later they sang “Fernando” (Abba??) and finished with Julie Rodgers (The Wedding). The band is quite new and obviously their idea is to trick the audience. They certainly fooled me. Dan says they are looking for a name. I suggested “Rancid Cheese” (grungy-looking, sings cheesy songs) Do you think that would be appropriate?

[Modoc]

The age-old saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover," applies to bands and their covers both musically and sartorially.

And as for a name, I think your suggestion would be as good as any other, Stu.

[denimini]

I have never known rancid cheese to turn out better than I first thought.

[Kirbstone]

With regard to cheeses there is a world of a difference between 'ripe' and rancid. I'm a fan of mature mostly blue cheeses, perhaps Stilton being the best known brand, but there is also a raft of other quite delicious blue cheeses out there to delect the palate.

Not that I'm at all interested, being an oldie, but there are a lot of youthful bands performing under quite wierd names, unfortunately most not blessed with such a voice as Sal evidently has. I wouldn't however begin to suggest a name for that band. They'll have to find or think of their own.

In the UK I have three of my own offsprings treading the musical boards regularly. One daughter is a Celtic harpist, Younger Son performs with the 'Phogues', a Pogues tribute band, while Elder son, wife and both grown offfprings are all outrageously musical and piano, percussion, classical guitar, clarinet and oboe are constantly in use. They're not looking for a name....

Tom