People always said they though Joey Joey of Prize Pig Blonde Wig was ripping off “Branston” Bickle of Happy Nephew with his elbows-akimbo stage mannerisms and pause-for-effect vocal delivery.
So when JJ had a fit and ditched on the band before a big outdoor show at Dead Eagles Pier, his fed-up bandmates said “What the Hell” and asked BB—whose initials also currently stand for Between Bands (but for the best reason; Happy Nephew bassist Merko just had a baby)—to sub for him.
“We were feeling lucky,” says guitarist and main songwriter Natty Nat. (This band’s all about alliteration.) Nat neatly corrects himself: “I mean, Joey leaving was NOT lucky. Joey’s great. It’s just that, uh, he DID leave…”
The show was spectacular. Not only did Branston learn a whole set of PPBW songs in record time, the band returned the favor by learning some of his favorite covers and even—with that on-hiatus band’s full approval—a couple of Happy Nephew treats. Several gig offers resulted due to the pier show, and the band suddenly finds itself busy for eight nights this month. One of those, of course, is Wednesday at the Bullfinch.
Joey, who’s dug a hole of furor and denial he’s having trouble crawling out of, was unavailable for comment. Branston is typically tightlipped. Humble and hardworking, he’s insisting this situation is “all about the music.” But we swear we could detect a fresh glee in how the humble, hardworking Bickle belted the Prize Pig Blonde Wig staple “New Man”—one of the band’s first originals, wrought four years ago and now prophetic:
From no man to new man
The showman is superhuman

Hard-Luck Boy and Champion Egg Spinner at the Bullfinch… Scattered Cards and Merko’s Grandson, double dose of dense Eurorawk at Hamilton’s… couple of days on the team at D’ollaire’s: First Day of School and Extra-Good Sunday…