Ghoti Hook

Ghoti Hook ( ) was an American punk band from Fairfax, Virginia. The band formed in 1991, signed to Tooth & Nail Records in 1996, and disbanded in 2002.

History

Joel Bell, Adam Neubauer, and Justin Levy formed the group in 1991. Conrad Tolosa and Christian Ergueta, who also went to the same youth group, joined the band shortly after. Justin Levy left the band after one year to pursue other interests. Conrad's cousin, Jamie Tolosa, was asked to join the band soon after. In 1994 they started to develop their pop-punk sound. The group released two independent EPs in 1994 and 1995, both produced by Kevin 131 at Assembly Line Studios. They built a following primarily in central Pennsylvania. Ghoti Hook signed to Tooth and Nail Records in 1996, then released four albums: ''Sumo Surprise'', ''Banana Man'', ''Songs We Didn't Write'', and ''Two Years To Never''.

Conrad, the guitarist and a primary songwriter of the band, decided to leave Ghoti Hook after the release of "Banana Man" and the subsequent tour promoting its release. He left the band when the band began to tour full-time so he could finish seminary and continue with his accounting career. His last show was in the fall of 1997 at a show promoted by Javacasa in Lebanon, PA. Mark Lacasse joined on lead guitar in 1998 and helped to write and record "Two Years to Never". Christian Ergueta left the band sometime after the recording of "Two Years to Never" with Mark leaving a few months later.

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 and Mark. The concert was recorded and released as a live album entitled ''Rest In Peace''.

The band 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 the final three-piece lineup along with an appearance from Conrad Tolosa on guitar for five songs.

Name

The word "ghoti" is a phonetic spelling of "fish”, invented in the 19th century 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.

Members

;Final lineup
* Joel Bell - vocals, guitar (1990–2002)
* Adam Neubauer (aka Chachi Manchu) - drums (1990–2002)
* Jamie Tolosa - guitar, bass (1991–2002)

;Former members
* Justin Levy - Lead Guitar (1990–1991)
* Conrad Tolosa - Guitar (1991–1997)
* Christian Ergueta - Bass, BGV (1991–2000)
* Mark Lacasse - Lead Guitar (1998-2000)

; Timeline

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id:Vocals value:red legend:Lead_vocals
id:Guitar value:green legend:Guitar
id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass
id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
id:BV value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:album value:black legend:Studio_album
id:EP value:gray(0.55) legend:EPs
id:bars value:gray(0.95)

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ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1991
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1991

LineData =
layer:back
color:album
at:08/30/1996
at:11/04/1997
at:10/06/1998
at:07/18/2000
color:EP
at:01/01/1994
at:01/01/1995
at:01/01/2002

BarData =
bar:JB text:"Joel Bell"
bar:AN text:"Adam Neubauer"
bar:JT text:"Jamie Tolosa"
bar:CE text:"Christian Ergueta"
bar:CT text:"Conrad Tolosa"
bar:ML text:"Mark Lacasse"
bar:JL text:"Justin Levy"

PlotData=
width:11
bar:JB from:01/01/1991 till:12/31/2000 color:Vocals
bar:JB from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Guitar
bar:JL from:01/01/1991 till:12/31/1991 color:Guitar
bar:CT from:06/01/1991 till:12/31/1997 color:Guitar
bar:ML from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/2000 color:Guitar
bar:CE from:06/01/1991 till:12/31/2000 color:Bass
bar:JT from:01/01/1992 till:12/31/2000 color:Guitar
bar:JT from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Bass
bar:AN from:01/01/1991 till:end color:Drums
width:3
bar:JB from:01/01/2001 till:end color:Vocals
bar:JT from:01/01/1992 till:end color:BV
bar:CE from:06/01/1991 till:12/31/2000 color:BV
bar:ML from:01/01/1998 till:12/31/2000 color:BV

Discography

*'' No Date'' (EP) (Self-released, 1994)
*''Boca Grande'' (EP) (Self-released, 1995)
*'' Sumo Surprise'' (Tooth and Nail Records, 1996)
*'' Banana Man'' (Tooth and Nail Records, 1997)
*'' Songs We Didn't Write'' (cover album) (Tooth and Nail Records, 1998)
*'' Two Years to Never'' (Tooth and Nail Records, 2000; Review
Decapolis.com

*'' Ep'' (Velvet Blue Music, 2002)
*''Retrospective'' (compilation album) (Tooth and Nail Records, 2002)
*''Rest in Peace'' (live album) (Tooth and Nail Records, 2003)

References

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External links

InterviewInterview on Never Was Podcast

{{Authority control

Musical groups established in 1991
Christian punk groups
American pop punk groups
Tooth & Nail Records artists
Musical groups from Washington, D.C.
1991 establishments in Virginia