The Taw Rats were “The Taw Rats (featuring Joe Smith)” for so long that, when Joe Smith stopped being featured, they didn’t quite know what to do. So they did nothing for a well. It wasn’t as if it was false advertising. But one former admirer of the band in particular got upset anyway: Joe Smith.
Smith, as we overheard the other night from an adjoining table at the Bullfinch, wants the Taw Rats to change their whole name.
“What if we just find someone else to feature?” was one hilarious burst of words the erstwhile bandmates got to fit in edgewise during Smith’s rant. Which led to an outpouring from the once-permanent “guest guitarist” about how crucial he was to the band.
We’re already gathering evidence to the contrary: Smith wrote none of the Taw Rats’ (few) original songs, rarely rehearsed with them, and did none of the businessy things like booking them or sticking their fliers on phone poles.
The rest of the arguments will be fought in public. Expect The Joe Smith Band (featuring Joe Smith) at a pub near you. Not to mention the newly formed Not Featuring Joe Smith Band (formerly The Taw Rats).