The Loose Rails on Myspace
The Loose Rails formed in the waning days of the Big 80s by native Minneapolitan Jeff Kase and Iowa transplant Matt Potts. The pair was soon joined by Hollywood, California exile Johnny Hodges and Adam Fesenmaier, a fellow Minneapolis native and grammar-school playground buddy of Kase. The meteoric early success of live shows led to the new term “Spasm Rock” and piqued the interest of John Kass’s Prospective Records—peddlers of power-pop and punk platters. The union of band and label soon produced 2 singles and one EP.
After an ugly teen-aged back seat fumble with Twin/Tone Records, the lads inked a hasty one-record deal with Cackpot records. The resulting full-length, entitled Red Turns to Green set a standard for the record label’s long tradition of releases shipped “cut-out.” A short tour in support of the album was quickly thrown together after the 24-karat major label carrot was dangled before the foursome. What ensued was nothing more than an expensive “lesson” to Tinseltown, Hollywood’s walk of fame, and a hot dog and Dom Perignon on Sony’s dime. The boys returned to Minneapolis with some sweet Polaroids and more importantly, a stockpile of new material ready to record.
The decision was made to cut fresh tracks at newly opened Am-Rep Studio. Although enough material for a full-length release was committed to acetate, internal disputes and disagreements over a sequined wrestling singlet left in the studio’s control room led to the Am-Rep sessions ending without producing a new album. The episode did, however, unveil a new direction and change for the band. Citing “athletic differences,” the band released Potts, replacing him with ex-Framed, and current Panel of Experts founding member Rob Sells. Later in an interview with the Twin Cities’ Auto Trader, the boys regretfully remembered letting Potts go: “It was hard, but you can’t really make your friend stop showing up in wrestling clothes.” The band has continued to grow musically for many years re-grouping when the situation is right. Hodges’ and Kase’s songwriting matured and their ability to tame their vocal stylings led to them being dubbed the Siegfried and Roy of Minneapolis music. So now fix yourself a Cheetos & Marischino cherry sandwich on Wonder bread and enjoy.
