What does the Late Fees record have in common with Lord Finesse’s classic lp, “Funky Technician”? Well they were both ambitious. And a clean break from anything the “artists” had done previously.

Picture this: 2005. After 4 years of playing acoustic, introverted, thoughtful, profound, and intensely ignored country-ish folk songs about things no one cares about (ie. love, fairness, politics), two life-long friends decided to play music they liked. Zimmy T. and Fingers McKnuckles were raised with some of the greatest music ever recorded… I’m talkin, The Crests, The Angels, The Harptones, The Sesame Street Disco lp. They decided that they would form the band that they were born to form. The Late Fees started as a duo with Zim on guitar and Knux on drums, playing “Love Minus Zero” and “Bye Bye Love.” It was kind of like Joe’s Garage but it was Knux guest room and we never got good at either one of those songs, saxophone or not. Then Zim was looking at his record collection and realized that if he had any Elvis records on Sun he’d probably pop a fool if they messed with them. And away we went. “Elvis on Sun” was the first Late Fees song ever written and though one stupid istener and future beloved bandmate heard it as Amazon Sun it was still great and raw.

After auditioning a few odd choices, including a 55 year old “bassist” who kept trying to sing David Crosby songs, a chance encounter with Wylie E. Peyote and Hunt Stillborn III at the Gingerbread in Austin and calling in a few favors from old friends Lefty Grooves and Moxie Sillen, the Late Fees were born. For a few shows we had another member but that’s a looong story in which I liken him to John Belushit from Animal House with an IQ of 3 and even worse hygiene… fuck that guy (ok he’s not that bad but I hold a grudge sometimes.)

After "Elvis," the songs flowed and finally they were about things we knew at least 2 people cared about (Zim and Knux). After several changes in the band with additions and losses of back up singers (Elzie Sweetcheeks moved from official historian to singer), and 2 and a half years of small shows (Zim’s favorite being the Tom Waits tribute at Trophy’s and the not-so infamous pajama show at 11am at Bikini’s), The Late Fees hung up their chucks. It was shortly after this record came out. In distorted, drug-affected hindsight, what we put together was a revolution of soul and spirit… In reality, it was just another local band no one gave a shit about except the people fortunate enough to be involved. We always had at least 7 people in the place when we played (us), and we usually insulted someone (also one of us), and we had a fuckton of fun. So here it is… songs about Zim’s penis and other small tales.. The Late Fees' first and only record. I am pouring out some of my 40 for my dead homies. Thanks for walking down cloudy memory lane with me.
--Zimmy T.
November, 2010

If memory serves us well, then we weren't trying hard enough.
--Fingers McKnuckles
November, 2010