Ever head off an argument with a “Not now?” The Acts of the Apes did yesterday, quietening their guest keyboardist Tommy Dow with impromptu power-chord choruses of “Not now! Not now!”

It was amusing at the time, but you could sense Tommy simmering.

Indeed, he called us the very next day, appalled at his mistreatment and eager to sell out the A of A as malicious, unprofessional no-talents.

Too bad for him that the rest of the band had gotten hold of us first, explaining that Tommy had come up with an arrangement of one of their songs, a “new direction” (his phrase) which they had democratically voted down, emphatically didn’t understand, and in any case hadn’t learned.

When insistent Tom attempted to blaze ahead with his revamp onstage anyway, the band (which someone suspected the set-up) went into a routine they’d briefly discussed in advance. It’s a variation on an R&B short they insert into their song “Up Now.”

Having been hipped to the tale afterwards, we wish we’d gotten the in-joke in the first place. This was our first experience of the Acts of the Apes, and won’t be our last.

…though it was indeed the final appearance of a certain recalcitrant keyboardist. Tommy Dow has announced he’s fed up with the thankless task of trying to “improve” other, better, local bands.

Not now! Not now! He’s going solo.

 

2 Dogs Works, White’s Family and Special Italian Dishes at the Bullfinch, a special teen nite…. Ocean Fish (formerly Tripe) and See Something Say Something at Hamilton’s… 498,632 Wins has won the gig as local opener for The Tomlinsons and

Could I Have Lupus at D’ollaire’s. Hope they have fun being hissed at. Among the most pissed: Blast of Hydration, who’d been assured they had the slot sewn up…