Artful Dodger (US band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Artful Dodger


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Origin = Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Genre = Power pop, Rock and roll
Years_active = 1973–1982, 1991, 2005–present
Label = Columbia, Arista, Red Rooster
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Current_members = Billy Paliselli
Gary Herrewig
Gary Cox
Steve Cooper
Steve Brigida
Peter Bonta
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Notable_instruments = :"For the UK garage/techno band called The Artful Dodger, please see The Artful Dodger (UK band)."

Artful Dodger (formed in 1973 in Fairfax, Virginia) are an American power pop rock band, noted for their tight rock compositions, deft lyricism, vocal harmonies, and live shows. The group was heavily influenced by The Beatles, The Faces, and The Rolling Stones and drew frequent comparisons to The Raspberries and Big Star. Artful Dodger's studio releases received high critical praise, but the band was unable to pentrate the charts due to factors including lack of record company support as the emergence of punk rock and new wave garnered increased attention and marketing dollars.

Band history

:"This section taken (modified) from the [http://www.randysrodeo.com/pop/artful.php Randy's Rodeo] website."

Originally called Brat, Artful Dodger was formed in 1973 in Fairfax, Virginia, out of the remains of two local bands, Homestead and Badge. Creatively, the key members were Gary Herrewig (guitar) and Billy Paliselli (vocals), who wrote most of the songs as a team, and Gary Cox (guitar and vocals), who also wrote songs (usually by himself). Steve Cooper (bass) and Steve Brigida (drums) formed the rhythm section. Brigida was an ideal foil for the band's songs, combining the steady time-keeping of Charlie Watts with the flash of Keith Moon. The group's first release was a self-produced single, "Not Quite Right", which never made it onto an LP, with "Long Time Away" as the B-side. "Long Time Away" was re-recorded for their first album with an increased tempo and more pop feeling. Armed with this impressive 45, Brat went to the Big Apple and, with help from New York Dolls' management, signed to Columbia Records. After being forced to choose a new name (another Brat had prior claim), Artful Dodger released their self-titled debut in 1975.

Produced with a refreshing lack of clutter by Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Miles Davis), "Artful Dodger" was a near-masterpiece that combined the best aspects of hard rock and Beatles-derived pop. "Wayside" (thanks to its inclusion on some latter-day compilations), has become the acknowledged classic, but the rest of the album, particularly the explosive "Think Think" and Cox's ballad, "Silver and Gold," is outstanding. Reportedly, the label's choice of the latter song as the album's lead single (not to mention a stunning lack of sales) was the beginning of a rift between Cox and the rest of the band. This didn't seem to make much of a difference, however, on the next album, "Honor Among Thieves", which expanded upon the band's mastery of classic pop with a harder edge and more accomplished performances. Co-produced by Douglas and Eddie Leonetti, the album featured the power ballad "Scream" and straight ahead rocker "Keep Me Happy" as singles.

Once again, however, the record failed to sell. The press was supportive and the band toured relentlessly, but to no avail. They even did a stint during the summer of 1976 opening for KISS. Jack Douglas was an associate of Bob Ezrin, Kiss' producer, and one imagines that this connection got Artful Dodger the gig. But it's hard to imagine a more incongruous pairing - Jimi Hendrix opening for The Monkees (really happened, 1967) comes to mind - and it probably did the band as much harm as good. By the release of "Babes On Broadway" (1977), the strain of the band's experiences in the star-making machinery (including writing and recording three albums in three years) began to show. Produced exclusively by Eddie Leonetti, critical accolades on "Babes On Broadway" were fewer, with "Can't Stop Pretending" standing out as the pick-to-click. It didn't, of course (click, that is), and Artful Dodger found themselves back on the street "sans" management, record deal, and founding member Gary Cox.

Happily, the band regrouped with piano/guitar whiz Peter Bonta (previously with The Nighthawks and Rosslyn Mountain Boys) filling in for guitarist Cox, and they signed to Ariola Records in 1980. The intervening three years had been eventful ones for rock music - punk happened, and power pop coalesced into an identifiable, coherent sound. On their first and only Ariola release (and their last overall), Artful Dodger is perhaps guilty of a self-conscious attempt to jump on the very bandwagon they helped create. The redeeming factor is, they succeeded magnificently.

Artful Dodger's "Rave On" is an unqualified (if unheralded) power pop classic, contrasting starkly with "Babes On Broadway" in that highlights are difficult to pick among a record so consistently fine. Certainly, however, "She's Just My Baby" warrants mention as an absolutely perfect pop single; "Rave On", in fact, stands toe-to-toe with albums as great (and famous) as The Raspberries' "Fresh" and Badfinger's "Straight Up". Artful Dodger plays as if they had something to prove (they didn't) and as if their life depended on it (it did), and their energy fairly leaps from the grooves. Everything, including continued praises from the critics, seemed to point towards success at long last, but it was not to be. In a marketplace cluttered with skinny-tied popsters (and poseurs), Artful Dodger had become just one more band for the industry to toss against the wall of public taste, hoping they'd stick. While The Knack were selling millions, Artful Dodger were disintegrating after a final 1980s tour.

Billy Paliselli, whose raspy, impassioned vocals and pretty boy looks were key to the band's appeal, left to spend more time with his family (he eventually opened a motorcycle shop in Amissville, VA) and in 1982, a dispirited Artful Dodger broke up. The rhythm section of Steve Cooper and Steve Brigida partnered with Washington DC guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Jeff Smith and continue to record and play live with Smith as the Band of Steves. Peter Bonta opened his own recording studio, Wally Cleaver's, located in northern Virginia. He produced, engineered and played on solo projects for Gary Herrewig (the unreleased "Four Gone Conclusions"), Billy Paliselli and Gary Cox (a set of country demos shopped unsuccessfully to Nashville). Bonta also found steady work recording and touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter.

In 1991, Artful Dodger played two reunion shows in Cleveland, Ohio (where they still get airplay) for the Cleveland Agora's 25th anniversary and appeared at the Legends of Rock Reunion '91 event held in Parkman, Ohio, but the reunion didn't take. Sony briefly issued "Honor Among Thieves" on CD in the early 90's, and the first two LPs were both reissued by Pendulum on CD in 1997. In late 2007, American Beat Records re-issued "Honor Among Thieves" and is currently pursuing the re-issue rights to "Artful Dodger" (the debut album) and "Babes on Broadway" (never available on CD).

Due in large part to a resurgence of fan interest on the internet, Artful Dodger reunited once again to kick off a year-long series of "flashback" concerts to celebrate The Agora's (Cleveland, Ohio) 40th anniversary. This reunion show occurred on New Year's Eve (December 31 2005). The band returned to The Agora for a show on April 1, 2006 and played at the annual Taste of Cleveland event on September 2, 2006. The band is currently together and rehearsing for a show scheduled for May 3, 2008, once again at the Cleveland Agora.

Band Lineup

("Alphabetical")

* Peter Bonta - Keyboards, Guitars (1979–1982, 1991, 2005–present)
* Steve Brigida - Percussion (1973–1982, 1991, 2005–present)
* Steve Cooper - Bass (1973–1982, 1991, 2005–present)
* Gary Cox - Lead/Rhythm Guitars (1973–1980, 1991, 2005–present)
* Gary Herrewig - Lead/Rhythm Guitars (1973–1982, 1991, 2005–present)
* Billy Paliselli - Lead Vocals, Harmonica (1973–1982, 1991, 2005–present)

Discography

*1975: "Artful Dodger" (Columbia Records)

#Wayside
#You Know It's Alright
#It's Over
#Follow Me
#Long Time Away
#Think Think
#Silver and Gold
#Things I'd Like to Do Again
#Waiting Place
#New York City

*1976: "Honor Among Thieves" (Columbia Records)

#Honor Among Thieves
#Not Enough
#Scream
#Keep a Knockin'
#Keep Me Happy
#Remember
#Dandelion
#Hey Boys
#Good Fun

*1977: "Babes On Broadway" (Columbia Records)

#Can't Stop Pretending
#Alright
#Who in the World
#Wave Bye Bye
#All I Need
#Babes on Broadway
#Mistake
#Loretta
#Idi Amin Stomp
#C'mon Everybody

*1980: "Rave On" (Ariola America Records)

#She's Just My Baby
#It's a Lie
#So Afraid
#Get in Line
#Now or Never Mind
#Come Close to Me
#I Don't Wanna See Her
#Forever
#A Girl (La La La)
#Gone Again

References/Credits

* Portions of this text are liberally excerpted from the excellent article on Artful Dodger posted at [http://www.randysrodeo.com/pop/artful.php Randy's Rodeo] Power Pop website.

See also

* List of power pop bands
* Power pop

External links

* [http://www.artfuldodgersite.com/ The Artful Dodger Fan Site]
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArtfulDodgerBand/ Yahoo! Groups Artful Dodger Site]
* [http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/artful_dodger/artist.jhtml VH1 Band Page] (Please note: There is some confusion here with The Artful Dodger (UK band))
* [http://www.randysrodeo.com/ Randy's Rodeo] & [http://www.randysrodeo.com/pop/artful.php Randy's Rodeo Artful Dodger page]
* [http://www.cleveland.com/friday/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/friday/1135935513303470.xml&coll=2 Cleveland Agora flashback concert article]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:sxkmikx6bbo9 All Music Guide entry]
* [http://www.poplopedia.com/12301.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val* Poplopedia mention]