Banana Split
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In 1998, Foam Rubber played at Partnerz Lounge
(which used to be called Lavery's Pub and is now Glengarriffs) at College
Rd. (119th) and Harlem. 
Paul Frigo was not the band's drummer at the
time, instead Jim Paluszek was drumming for the band. Gary was not there
that night for some reason, instead his cousin, Pat Keiner (of Gigglewater)
was sitting in for him. The whole band was wearing afro-wigs
and blue tuxedos, except for Soter, who was wearing a Banana
suit that night fresh and new from the costume shop. Soter was also sporting
huge,
bushy side-burns! He recently had a beard, but he strategically
shaved his chin and mustache areas leaving these enormous pork chops on
his face.
The show started out with a video presentation
featuring still photos of the band drinking, smoking and
playing guitars. The Who's "Pure and Easy" played in the background
to create a tear-jerking effect. Six minutes of this crap seemed
like an eternity. No band member was onstage. Surprisingly enough, the
audience did not leave.
Finally the band arrived to the tune "Disco
Inferno." They proceeded to tune up for another five minutes. Pat,
severely
affected by alcohol and whatnot, messed up the intro chords to the
very first song, "Brown Sugar." His guitar made un-describable, off-key
sounds: "Chung, chang, w-w-screech, der-der wang!" What a professional.
Well into the show, during the beginning of
the song "Bitch," Soter, without a guitar, still dressed
in a banana suit, was tamely shaking a tambourine. Then, out
of no where, he slammed the tambourine to the ground as
if he were spiking a football, and started rocking violently,
half-bent over. The top of the banana costume, a good foot above his head
was rocking back and forth, his face was obscured. He then grabbed the
microphone stand like a sledgehammer and started violently slamming the
heavy, bottom end into the stage repeatedly. He was out of control.
After singing a few verses, he danced a spooky banana dance 
and
stood
on his head. During the guitar solo, he went behind Andy's amplifier
and came out with a watermelon. He held it up over his head triumphantly
at center stage, then slammed it to the ground on the dance floor.
Then he pulled out a baseball bat and proceeded to
liquify what was left of the melon.
Throughout the show, Soter was giving away
prizes including broken guitar necks and office supplies. He juggled eggs
(poorly). Then, as if possessed by Curly of the three stooges, he ran all
the way around the bar, interrupting a game of darts, and a game of pool.
Upon his return to the dance floor, he slid face first
into the remains of the watermelon and eggs (on purpose). When he stood
up, you could see that the front of the banana costume was now black with
wet filth. Days later, when he tried to return the costume to the rental
shop, it smelled foul. They tried cleaning it numerous times, but they
couldn't get rid of the stain. Soter had to buy the costume.
The point here is, never miss a Foam Rubber
show.
back to Great Moments
in Foam Rubber History