Cool Papa Bell Information and News

Pulled together by a common love of good hook and steady beat, the members of Cool Papa Bell have been playing their original brand of folk, pop and roll in and around the Motor City for the last couple years. As musical hobbyists in a burgeoning Detroit music scene punctuated by young, fresh-faced artists trying to get their big break, CPB have limited their appearances to smaller local clubs. Venues like the Berkley Front, Alvin’s, 3D’s (now the Groove Room) and the New Way in Ferndale, have had CPB opening for local standouts like The Immortal Winos of Soul, the Happy Accidents, and Cynecide.

The three current members of Cool Papa Bell -- Clay, Jay and Kevin, -- have joined together in Michigan from four different states in the mid-west, after having played in bands like Black Pearl (Ohio), Red Line, and Blue Age (North Dakota).

Playing all original material is a unique and risky business for a band fairly new to the scene, but CPB pulls it off. One local DJ compared the band to a mixture of the Replacements and Bob Mould, and more than one listener has heard an influence inspired by the bands that predated the NY punk scene of the late 60’s and early 70’s: the Velvets and Television.

No matter where they play or who they play with, Cool Papa Bell always seem to grab listeners' attention with their mix of straightforward, rip-your-heart-out, in-your-face, melody-focused rock-and-roll that makes you think, the Cool Papa way. Do yourself a favor and check ‘em out.

The Latest News on Cool Papa Bell

21 December 1998 -- Jam Rag reviews Koi. We think they liked it. See for yourself.

7 September 1998 -- We're back in the swing of things. Saturday, 3 October marks our return to the Dean Martini Lounge at the Berkley Front. Here's the skinny:

Surprise mystery guest bass player? Check.
Special performance by Johnny Allen? Check.
Special guest performance by Halo Objects? Check.
A night full of fun, merriment, and mayhem? Check.

Cool. We'll see you there, at about 9:00 or so, and you can pick up Koi, while you're at it. Check the schedule for directions.

20 July 1998 -- Yes, it's true. Paul has left the band, for frothier pastures (you can still catch Paul playing with his other band, Free Beer.) And so, the hunt begins.

Also, We're very happy to announce the public release of our first CD, Koi. It's not in the stores, yet, but you can grab it mail order. Check out all the Cool Papa Bell merchandise while you're at it.

5 June 1998 -- Cool Papa Bell music is online. You can hear two songs from Cool Papa Bell in RealAudio, from now until August. Check it out.

And a special thanks to everyone who turned out on the 30th to catch our CD release party. It goes on sale starting July 1 -- stay tuned!

25 May 1998 -- Big, big, huge news! Cool Papa Bell is releasing their debut CD at the beginning of July! As a special treat to Club 17 and our faithful following, anyone that shows up at this Saturday (May 30) at the Berkley Front will have the option to buy the CD a full month ahead of its general release. Been dying to study the intricacies of the Cool Papa Bell sound? Cool. See us at the Front. You can snag the disc, and study to your heart's content. If ya miss it, ya gotta wait a month. See you there.

15 March 1998 -- Saturday night was just about the most fun we've had anywhere. The Martini Lounge put on quite an extravaganza, which held up to any private party we've been to. Johnny and Deanna kicked it off right, and left us to our vices for the rest of the night. We'll be back, on 30 May 1998.

19 October 1997 -- Friday's mostly-unpublicized show at the Record store was a lot of fun for everyone involved. Special thanks to Jane and Lori for the marathon 1-1/2 hour shopping spree. It prompted a new addition to Club 17. Don't miss us at the New Way Bar in Ferndale on Saturday, 15 November 1997.

1 July 1997 -- Now you can sign the Official Cool Papa Bell Guest Book, and let all the world know what you think about Cool Papa Bell.

28 June 1997 -- Band members and interested parties: check the practice schedule!

1 June 1997 -- We're gearing up for the Borders show on June 13, and we've got a lot brewing: at least one new song, one newly resurrected, and a brand-new, full-time drummer! That's right, the drummer dilemma has been solved, and we're looking ahead. Come see him on the 13th to discover his true identity. And a special congratulations to the charter members of Club 17, the exclusive society for Number 1 Cool Papa Bell fans.

And, to learn more about Cool Papa Bell music, check out the catalog, for a listing of the current Cool Papa Bell songs.

26 March 1997 -- Well, the party at Joe's marked the debut performance of Cool Papa, the two-man, mostly-acoustic version of Cool Papa Bell. We were just happy to contribute to such a great cause, and make the world a little better.

Come May, we kick off our "South-of-the-Border" tour at Scalici's in Allen Park. Feeing a little funky? Make a run for the border!

9 February 1997 -- Once again, a riotous time was had by all. A special thanks to Hardly Dangerous for starting things off, and, as always, to Free Beer (the live band) for everything. Stay tuned to the schedule, 'cause things are moving fast. We're playing at the all-new Groove Room in Royal Oak on the 27th of this month, so don't miss it. Who's the drummer? The saga continues.

14 January 1996 -- The Pearl Harbor show was kickin', and we look ahead to a new year and a new era with Cool Papa Bell. Check us out next month on the 7th to see the changes.

Unfortunately, contract negotiations with Black Pearl have completely stalled, and there is no chance of Brian joining Cool Papa Bell. Who will play for the February tour? Come see the mystery guest drummer!

27 November 1996 -- Cash "Machine" Money is leaving the band! Come see his farewell performance on 7 December at the New Way Bar. Check out the details. Who's the replacement? We've been fortunate enough to pick up the drummer from the famed Black Pearl.

4 November 1996 -- Another success, despite some early equipment-related panics! Headlining was a cool experience, and we're looking forward to doing it again. A special thanks to Project 29 for warming up the crowd.

22 September 1996 -- The show last night was kickin'! A very special thanks goes out to all the friends and family who braved the weather to party with the Papa. Your support was greatly appreciated. We also announced the sale of Cool Papa Bell T-shirts. Get yours before they're gone.

27 August 1996 -- A return to the stage! Check the press release or the show schedule for details.

11 July 1996 -- Cool Papa Bell is currently on sabbatical. (Okay, honestly, Kevin's on vacation for a week.) Look for an explosion of bookings in a week. We've got a lot of venues interested, and we hope to have some deals cemented when Kevin returns.

5 July 1996 - Look for Cool Papa, the unplugged Cool Papa Bell lite, coming soon. Cool Papa has all the melodies, but only half the population, of Cool Papa Bell. (Yes, Junior, Cool Papa Bell is still together -- there are no creative differences brewing.) Coming soon to an establishment near you.

22 June 1996 - Saturday's show was a great bash. Despite scheduling difficulties resulting in a very cramped stage, Cool Papa Bell wowed the crowd with haunting melodies and stylized messages. From the opening Omar to the closing My Dog, Cool Papa Bell captivated the audience with a depth of musicality not commonly found in music today. Check the show schedule to see where you can catch Cool Papa Bell next.

[ Screaming Dogg Productions | Cool Papa Bell Schedule ]