Biography
In 1997 drummer Dave Lawson and guitarist Scott Lloyd launched Fat Apple. An advertisement placed by the two founders drew responses from Chris Pastore, who covers guitar and vocals, and bassist Ken Howard; both musicians joined after a single shared audition. Weeks afterward Barry T. Cooper was added on percussion and vocals, completing the present lineup. Several months passed before the group confirmed this roster as permanent, after earlier lead vocalists had cycled through and Chris Pastore assumed the role for good.
Beginning in December 1998 the band’s popularity and commercial prospects rose faster than those of most peers in the Washington/Baltimore region. Early showcases and gigs were booked with scant original material, giving rise to the improvisational identity now closely tied to the group. Although additional songs entered the repertoire the following year, that same improvisational emphasis continued to pack the venues they played. The members’ taste for spontaneity also shaped their approach to live presentation. To sidestep the conventional regional ladder of gradual advancement they staged fully independent “Appleland” events staged after major area festivals, often running until near dawn. These productions became a regional fixture; the final 1998 installment took place in Brandywine, MD, at the Third Annual Autumn Equinox Festival before 5,000 fans. The self-titled debut album issued in 1998 quickly made Fat Apple a subject of discussion throughout the local subculture. Further growth has been pursued by moving shows northward into New York and Pennsylvania. In August 1998 the band undertook a month-long southern tour that reached venues in North Carolina, Georgia, and Key West, FL. Maryland Music Monthly later selected Fat Apple as Best New Band of 1998. The group has shared bills with Disco Biscuits, the Recipe, Juggling Suns, and numerous other acts, while yearly appearances at the Maryland State Fair remain a fixture. Continued progress toward a higher musical plane is pursued through disciplined work and close attention to audience expectations.
Beginning in December 1998 the band’s popularity and commercial prospects rose faster than those of most peers in the Washington/Baltimore region. Early showcases and gigs were booked with scant original material, giving rise to the improvisational identity now closely tied to the group. Although additional songs entered the repertoire the following year, that same improvisational emphasis continued to pack the venues they played. The members’ taste for spontaneity also shaped their approach to live presentation. To sidestep the conventional regional ladder of gradual advancement they staged fully independent “Appleland” events staged after major area festivals, often running until near dawn. These productions became a regional fixture; the final 1998 installment took place in Brandywine, MD, at the Third Annual Autumn Equinox Festival before 5,000 fans. The self-titled debut album issued in 1998 quickly made Fat Apple a subject of discussion throughout the local subculture. Further growth has been pursued by moving shows northward into New York and Pennsylvania. In August 1998 the band undertook a month-long southern tour that reached venues in North Carolina, Georgia, and Key West, FL. Maryland Music Monthly later selected Fat Apple as Best New Band of 1998. The group has shared bills with Disco Biscuits, the Recipe, Juggling Suns, and numerous other acts, while yearly appearances at the Maryland State Fair remain a fixture. Continued progress toward a higher musical plane is pursued through disciplined work and close attention to audience expectations.
Albums