Just for fun Cracking wise with Katie Lee Hooker By Bob Gulla

For Katie Lee Hooker, one of the area’s most oddly misnomered bands, humor is the key. Like their heroes, the Dwarves and the Supersuckers, Jason Wright and the band temper their squalid punk-plus rock sound with a healthy dose of the funnies. "It’s fun because it’s silly and stupid," says Wright, "but it’s beyond that. We’re not a joke band. But we still like our music loud and obnoxious."

To wit: On the band’s debut album released last year, KLH wrote songs about, among other things, "Capicola" and "Paraguay," not your typical sleaze rock subjects. On the new album, Thriller, a disc whose release will be celebrated this weekend at Jake’s, there are songs about iced coffee and weird hairdos. Again, not your average topics. But then KLH ain’t your average punk rock band.

"Everybody who’s in a band at one time or another says, ‘We’re just doing it for fun,’ " says Wright, "but so often it’s bullshit. They’re nearly always serious. I can truly say that this is a project absolutely for ourselves." To prove it, Wright admits giving away most of the copies they had made of their debut. And while they won’t do the same thing with the new album, they just didn’t feel right charging their friends for what they feel is a simple, enjoyable pastime.

Perhaps it’s because two of the three Hookers play in other bands: guitarist Zach Davis is also in the Young Americans, while Wright plays bass in the Shakes. Drummer Jim Burke is the band’s sole dedicated member. Still, it’s Wright’s main gig, while he calculates Davis spends a little less than half his time in Hooker. "I don’t write for the Shakes. Writing takes a lot of time and energy."

According to Wright, the writing on Thriller is a big improvement over the slap-dash havoc of the band’s debut. Wright’s songs, at least by his own account (the disc wasn’t ready for listening at press time), are more substantial this time aruond. "The songs are a lot better," he says. They’re not so scattered, they’re a little longer, and they actually make more sense."

But too much good sense can ruin the humor, can’t it?

"Don’t get me wrong, there’s no brains behind this band," he says wryly, "and a lot of stuff bears explanation. A lot of it might be construed as racist or stuff, but it’s really a joke. This is obvious to us, but maybe not to some who hear us."

Katie Lee Hooker also did some other silly things during the making of this record, which was recorded for posterity by the very able hands of Joe Moody over at Danger. They added keyboards, for one. "We also took time and effort to get things right. If we didn’t like a lyric a few days later, we went back and changed it even though it was a pain in the ass. Things like that."

All of which should make Thriller a massively successful album, much like the mega-selling album it’s named after. "If you’re gonna follow anyone’s career path," says Wright, of his faux fawning of Michael Jackson, "we figured why not the King of Pop? We’re at least as good as he is and we’re gonna sell just as many records."

Katie Lee Hooker’s CD release party will take place at Jake’s Bar and Grille on Saturday (the 16th). The Young Americans and the Shakes are also on the bill.

Shawn Colvin’s in Easton. Folk chanteuse and three-time Grammy winning artist Shawn Colvin will take the stage Sunday (the 17th) at 6:30 p.m. at the Summer Music Festival at Stonehill’s Clock Farm on Washington Street in Easton, Massachusetts. It’s a benefit for the Natural Resources Trust of Easton. Also performing are Bill Staines and Rebecca Correia. Colvin’s a spot-on acoustic artist with sweet melodies and strong stories. Plus, her artistry has grown stronger over the years. Her recent disc, A Whole New You, is the most self-assured of her releases, making her appearance worthy of anticipation. Tickets are $30 and $50 (children are $5); a VIP meet-and-greet and private party with Capital Grille grub goes for $150. To charge tickets or for more information, call (508) 238-6049.

Jo Jo Gator. Amid the rubble of the World Trade Center bombing lied not only the hope and optimism of our nation, but also broken minds and businesses. One of those businesses, Global Entertainment, was owned by Rhode Island-based music entrepreneur Jo Jo Gator. Gator went through a bleak period where he didn’t think the music business would bounce back in time for him to stay afloat. He was right. He spent two years fighting to keep his doors opened, to no avail. Global went belly up and Jo Jo took some time to recover during another bleak period. Finally, he got a break in the form of a job offer from Steve Devino at Granite Rocks Recording Studio in Derry, New Hampshire. The job gave Jo Jo the drive, not to mention the capital, to start the construction of his new studio in Chepachet, modestly titled Hit Brothers Recording.

With his new partner Steve Lupo and a slammin’ new roster, Gator is now officially back in action. On tap for 2003/2004 is the release of Q-Te’, Jo Jo’s baby from the late ’90s polished up with a new lineup and great tracks. Also look for Purge DI on Ass 9 Records, and Sleepwalk. Amazing 12-year-old prodigy Jillian Wheeler leads off the female solo division of Gator World, along with Kristin Trotta. For more information contact Jo Jo at (401) 568-4453 or (401) 356-0395, or e-mail jojogator@cox.net

WANDERINGEYE. Grandevolution has a show tonight (the 14th) at JR’s Bourbon St. Rock House, which is inside Club Mardi Gras, which is on Route 5 on the Warwick/ Cranston border. They’re playing with the Haymakers, which will make for an excellent night of whoop-ass rock and roll. It’s 21-plus, the doors are at 8 p.m., and the show is $5.

The Psycads, the band with the psychedelic slant on rock-steady and reggae, have secured an enviable slot opening for the legendary Burning Spear at Lupo’s on Saturday (the 16th). Get there early.

Also on Saturday, Folks Together will be back at the Summer Concert Series, one of their favorite gigs. It takes place at the Soule Homestead in Middleboro, Massachusetts. Showtime is 7 p.m., with Dennis and Dennis opening. Tickets are $6 adults, and $4 for kids. Check out soulehomestead.org/sumconc.htm for more information.

E-mail me with any and all music news at big.daddy1@cox.net