About Me
The Story of the Electric Mess:
On a foggy summer night in 2006, lead singer Chip Fontaine (of the popular freakbeat band, Chip Fontaine and the Fontastics) plucked lead singer Cherry Popp (aka Cheryl von Märchenstein, recent runaway and disowned American heiress to the duchy of Wallachia) from the local open mic scene in downtown San Francisco, where Cherry crooned Joni Mitchell-ish songs holding a three-string guitar. Lost in the dark pools of Cherry's eyes and charmed by her potential, Chip whisked her away to his studio apartment in Hells Kitchen, NYC, where they embarked on a month-long affair with each other, music, mushrooms, pills, other pills, powders, acids, RC Cola, love, and mushrooms. It was during this time that Chip and Cherry gave birth to their first musical project, Acoustic Together (and a baby, Chip Jr., who was promptly claimed by the state). After gaining some popularity and a small record deal with Howdyfolks Records, the Howdyfolks executives dumped Chip and Cherry for wanting to go electric. Then Cherry dumped Chip. A month later, they rekindled; then Chip dumped Cherry. Cherry wooed Chip once again, only to dump him a second time. Despite several subsequent breakups (and the loss of Chip Jr.), their musical partnership endured until Cherry shattered Chip's heart one final time and fled to Hollywood in October of 2007.
Bassist Stoney Roma (aka Floyd Roberts) first arrived in New York City in the fall of 1999 by way of Saskatoon, Canada, forced to leave under mysterious circumstances. Biographical details become sketchy during this period but it is known that he took up the bass early 2001 as a way of keeping his hands busy 'for fear of doing something horrific.' He first discovered rock and roll in 2002 after a urinary infection left him bed ridden for several weeks with nothing but a small transistor radio and a kilo of potent Mexican grass.
The Ulster County Correctional Facility released lead guitarist Red Mittens (actual name) in February 1997. Mittens drifted around upstate New York for the next few years, doing contract work for local organized crime and solving mysteries. He went 'straight' in 2005 after Chip Fontaine hired him to solve the Mystery of the Disappearing Plastic Bag.
Organist Jackie Sandoz was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico to carnie parents, where he learned to play organ in the big fun tent next to the "Man with the Giant Left Foot" and the "Shoot a Gopher, Win a Giant Pencil" attraction. He ran away from home "because, like, Mr. Mescalito and the mousey witch who rode the flying crepe pan told me too, man" and headed east, where "like, the action was, man". Arriving in the East Village in 1993 he played in the jazz combo Hepcat Macaroni before leaving for "spiritual differences", doo wop group Al Haley and the Meatpackers Delight, before being fired for a physical altercation with singer Haley involving a broken toilet, and the church choir of the First Jesuit Apostolic Light of Jesus Sacred Temple for "freaking out on the holy water". It was in the post British Invasion frenzy that was the electric New York rock scene where he finally found a home in the group Knights on Broadway who had modest success with the single Girl, You Make Me Feel Like I Got Worms Crawling All Over My Body (and it Ain't Too Cool, Baby).
Drummer Lorenzo Bang, was "turned on" to the Mess after an enlightening encounter with some Sandoz head candy.
Drunk on Formula 44D one night in the fall of 2006, Chip, Mittens and Roma stumbled into Café Wha? and discovered Knights on Broadway, featuring keyboardist Jackie Sandoz and drummer Lorenzo Bang. With the help of a local witch doctor and an electrician, the five joined to create the Electric Mess!
