50th Anniversary of the Finchley Boys

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Oct. 3, 2016 - PRLog -- Return of the Finchley Boys
by Steven Hager

Fifty years ago, Champaign-Urbana was a center of counterculture activity as well as a haven for the emerging garage band movement sweeping the nation. Inspired in large part by the British Invasion, many garage bands followed the zeitgeist as it veered into psychedelia, morphing from three-chord rock into the acid-drenched jam bands. During this transition, the Finchleys were one of the greatest acts in America.

Formed in 1966, the Finchleys appeared on track for an epic career in the industry, but somehow missed out, although their manager Irv Azoff did rise to the top. Perhaps the band was ahead of its time. It certainly didn't help that the original lead singer, Jim Cole, departed just as the band was peaking. Even before Cole's departure, however, the band had already lost two of its original members. Early success seemed to take its toll.

Robert Swenson was possibly the greatest cello player in Illinois, and member of the world-famous Walden quartet along with John Garvey, and it was at his home on High Street in Urbana, Illinois, that the Finchleys were formed by guitarist Mark Warwick and bass player Tim Anderson along with Swenson's son Eric on drums. One day Jim Cole dropped by and volunteered to sing lead, and the Finchley's were born, the name lifted from the liner notes on a Kinks album.

This house on High Street quickly achieved a reputation as the ultimate teenage animal house, over-run by rock-n-roll energy and a spirit of destruction. Daddy Swenson padlocked his upper floor bedroom, and let the rest of his home go to ruin. Anderson was reportedly the first to unleash epic energy during a performance of "Hey, Joe," when he began channeling a murderous spirit while climbing a chair. But Anderson was soon yanked by his parents as the band took off, replaced by Larry Tabling, who had been one of the original fans attending rehearsals along with his buddy George Faber, who was brought in to play harmonica. Both Cole and Faber quickly evolved into amazing performers, unleashing phenomenal improvisational energies. Cole's signature song was "I'm Not Like Everybody Else," while Faber sang lead on Warwick's psychedelic anthem "Only Me," which had been written under the influence of sniffing glue by the 15-year-old. Eric Swenson made one gig, replaced by Mike Powers, one of the more gifted and original drummers in Illinois. Powers added considerably to the band's theatrical impact. That and the live boa constrictor and yoga moves Faber added to "Only Me." The Finchley's became the favorite band of the Cockettes in San Francisco, who soon launched the glam movement with a visit to New York City. The band was filling a niche between the New York Dolls and MC Five, and the snake was soon picked up successfully by one of the first national glam acts, Alice Cooper.

1968 was a pivotable year because the original garage band generation was graduating from high school, meaning some were going to college, while others were headed to Vietnam. The original garage bands began breaking up during this time and a dark cloud was gathering over the love generation as feelings of violence against the system began overflowing. The Finchley's were reborn as a power trio fronted by Faber. Warwick was replaced on guitar by heavy metal virtuoso Garret Oostdyk.

The band is reuniting for a series of epic performances that includes members from both incarnations: Thursday at Rose Bowl in Urbana, Friday at FitzGerald's in Berwyn, and Saturday at the Red Lion's 50th Anniversary in Champaign.

For interviews and more information, contact Jessica Waters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNeQK8IQeLs



http://www.news-gazette.com/arts-entertainment/local/2016...