The Rye Notes legend starts in Adena Brook, a little known ravine in Columbus Ohio. It was there that international playboy, humanitarian and explorer "Animal" Ian O'Vation started a search for miniature mastodon teeth to add to his collection of prehistoric oddities. As O'Vation flipped rock and dug through muck along the riverbed, he spotted a red fox in the distance. This was unusual because fox are not usually out during the day and he thought the fox might be sick or in danger . Having some experience with trapping, Animal started tracking the fox and immediately set a rolling snare to humanely capture the critter.
After just a few quiet hours Animal heard a horrible screech from the direction of the snare. "Bingo!" he thought as he made his way to the trap. To his surprise a full grown man was hanging upside down from the trap doing his best to escape. Animal yelled to the fellow, "Hold still, I'll cut you down". The captured man continued to cuss and Animal could tell this fellow as going to be trouble.
As he approached, the man settled enough for Animal to cut him down and simultaneously catch the man in his arms. To Animal's surprise the man jumped to his feet and asked if Animal had see the fox too. Animal replied, "Yes, the trap was meant for him". The man then introduced himself as Kilgore Fister, "But you can call me "Snake", he said. He told Animal that he had been trying to catch the fox for over a decade, and that local legend was that the person that could catch the fox would be granted one wish. Snake's wish was to be in the world's greatest rock band. Animal had a similar dream as a young man, but gave up on it to pursue a life of lap and luxury.
After just a few quiet hours Animal heard a horrible screech from the direction of the snare. "Bingo!" he thought as he made his way to the trap. To his surprise a full grown man was hanging upside down from the trap doing his best to escape. Animal yelled to the fellow, "Hold still, I'll cut you down". The captured man continued to cuss and Animal could tell this fellow as going to be trouble.
As he approached, the man settled enough for Animal to cut him down and simultaneously catch the man in his arms. To Animal's surprise the man jumped to his feet and asked if Animal had see the fox too. Animal replied, "Yes, the trap was meant for him". The man then introduced himself as Kilgore Fister, "But you can call me "Snake", he said. He told Animal that he had been trying to catch the fox for over a decade, and that local legend was that the person that could catch the fox would be granted one wish. Snake's wish was to be in the world's greatest rock band. Animal had a similar dream as a young man, but gave up on it to pursue a life of lap and luxury.
As the men walked along the riverbed they realized that they had shared aspirations of free tabs at local bars and the all the excessive trappings of rock n roll. That day they decided to form the band "Whiskey Throttle". The collaboration that started with two men and a dream, soon included drummer Johnny Diamond and a set list of Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, AC/DC covers. While songs were not their own, they were being played in a way no one had ever heard before.
As a three piece progressed musically, Snake was coming under incredible pressure in his day job as a professional tight rope walker. On a recent performance, Snake missed a critical step and lost footing 150' above a crowd of hundreds that had gathered below. As he started the fall to his death his life flashed before his eyes. He saw images of his wife Molly, his dog Ruby and his cat Lou moving so quickly and all disappearing in his mind's eye. He reached out a hand to a final image of Molly and she reached back grabbing him. He had caught the tight rope with his left hand, and found himself dangling again. As he pulled himself up, strangely he heard his friend Animal's version of "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed. This was too much for Snake to comprehend, and the next week he needed some help in understanding the visions, and more importantly the pressures of everyday life. He thought about a psychiatrist . . . to pricey, then about spiritual guidance . . . to religiony, then he though to himself "I need magic!".
As a three piece progressed musically, Snake was coming under incredible pressure in his day job as a professional tight rope walker. On a recent performance, Snake missed a critical step and lost footing 150' above a crowd of hundreds that had gathered below. As he started the fall to his death his life flashed before his eyes. He saw images of his wife Molly, his dog Ruby and his cat Lou moving so quickly and all disappearing in his mind's eye. He reached out a hand to a final image of Molly and she reached back grabbing him. He had caught the tight rope with his left hand, and found himself dangling again. As he pulled himself up, strangely he heard his friend Animal's version of "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed. This was too much for Snake to comprehend, and the next week he needed some help in understanding the visions, and more importantly the pressures of everyday life. He thought about a psychiatrist . . . to pricey, then about spiritual guidance . . . to religiony, then he though to himself "I need magic!".
Snake found the "Be Amazing Magic Shop" on the outskirts of town and started to peruse the shop's wares. As he reached for a magic wand, cape and hat set a dashingly thin man entered the isle smiled and gently said "Can I help you?". Snake took this as a sign, and the man as a shaman of sorts. He replied, "Yes, yes you can. What is your name?" The man said, "I am Billy Spitfire. How can I help?" Snake went on to explain his recent near death experience, and briefly mentioned that he was playing in a cover band to help relieve the pressures of tight rope walking. Billy listened patiently to Snake's story and waited for him to finish. He looked directly into Snake's eyes and said, "You've come to the right place. First, I want you to start writing down everything that is bringing you down, and I want you to put it into song. And one other thing, you do need magic, but what you need is the magic of my killer guitar riffs". The words were real magic to Snake's ears. Overcome with raw emotion, Snake grabbed Billy and hugged the stranger turned friend and personal counsel.
As Snake's personal journey ended in the discovery of a new lead guitarist, Whiskey Throttle had gone through two drummers, including world renowned Joe Texas Jones. Joe was considered by most in the Columbus music scene to be at the top of his game, a serious contender with serious skills in the art of drum thunder. What most didn't know what that Joe was holding down three separate jobs at the Columbus Zoo including big cat tamer, orangutang speech therapist and goose thinner.
As Snake's personal journey ended in the discovery of a new lead guitarist, Whiskey Throttle had gone through two drummers, including world renowned Joe Texas Jones. Joe was considered by most in the Columbus music scene to be at the top of his game, a serious contender with serious skills in the art of drum thunder. What most didn't know what that Joe was holding down three separate jobs at the Columbus Zoo including big cat tamer, orangutang speech therapist and goose thinner.
The drunken debauchery that was the hallmark of Whiskey Throttle practices were hard to shake off the next morning, especially when you were in a cage with a beast that could smell the gin on you from 500 feet away. Joe's edge in lion taming was his command of the cage, but the long nights of mind numbing intoxication wore him down. So much so that a clouded leopard (known also as Neofelis nebulosa) got bold and frisky enough to strike at Joe while he attempted to catch a nap out of the watchful eye of his employer. Joe wrestled the Himalayan native for close to twenty minutes and finally the big cat submitted. Joe gently kissed the leopard on his furry cheek and whispered "You almost got me, but not today, not ever." Joe loved the Zoo, and he loved the beasts he had spent decades learning to tame. Every day in the cage brought Joe a happiness that could not be replaced . . . even by rock n roll.
The next day Joe told Snake, Billy, and Animal the tale of the clouded leopard. He went on to explain that while he loved playing with the band, the lure of taming the animal kingdom was too strong for him to continue with the band. He also told them that he Googled "Whiskey Throttle" and there were like ten bands called Whiskey Throttle. The rest of the band was devastated by the news, but respected his decision. They also thanked him for having the foresight to search for the band name, as they hadn't thought to do it.
The next day Joe told Snake, Billy, and Animal the tale of the clouded leopard. He went on to explain that while he loved playing with the band, the lure of taming the animal kingdom was too strong for him to continue with the band. He also told them that he Googled "Whiskey Throttle" and there were like ten bands called Whiskey Throttle. The rest of the band was devastated by the news, but respected his decision. They also thanked him for having the foresight to search for the band name, as they hadn't thought to do it.
Within a week's time, the band reformed under the moniker "The Rye Notes", and after some soul searching decided drinking a fifth of whiskey at every practice was probably not a good idea. Snake had heeded Billy's advice and started putting down his feelings to song. This was of considerable value to Snake's mental health, and as it turned out a wealth of lyrical material for the band.
Animal Ian drafted his brother "Roughhouse" Rob MacAlister to the Rye Notes. Roughhouse has changed his last name several times for mostly unknown reasons. Public record shows a "Roughhouse" Rob, with no reported last name playing with a band formerly known as the Meeker Boys. The Meeker Boys disappeared after a show in Homewood, Illinois of which MacAlister claims having no connection, recollection or knowledge of the band's fate. Roughhouse and the rest of the band refuse to discuss his various name changes or the mystery surrounding the Meeker Boys.
Animal Ian drafted his brother "Roughhouse" Rob MacAlister to the Rye Notes. Roughhouse has changed his last name several times for mostly unknown reasons. Public record shows a "Roughhouse" Rob, with no reported last name playing with a band formerly known as the Meeker Boys. The Meeker Boys disappeared after a show in Homewood, Illinois of which MacAlister claims having no connection, recollection or knowledge of the band's fate. Roughhouse and the rest of the band refuse to discuss his various name changes or the mystery surrounding the Meeker Boys.
Roughhouse blended his fanatical drumming style to band's notorious "drunk rock" sound, giving it a much needed refined quality. Like a perfectly aged bourbon, the Rye Note's time had finally come. Over 2014, the Rye Notes left no music venue unrocked, playing with the likes of Cotton Jackson, Blatant Finger, Drawing Paper Airplanes, Fletch, and Miniature Giants, just to name a few.