Chinese Dentist: In Our Bed

   Chinese Dentist played their last show together at some point in early 2007. They are getting together to play at a location that is completely familiar yet entirely different: The Booth. The band never meant to stop playing together. For percussionist and enthusiaphoneist Bo Hicks, this  is "a new beginning as we move forward we don't view this as a way to support our family's anymore but it was never about the money its about doing something you love with people you love."
   I had a chance to sit down with Bo and talk to him about Chinese Dentist; then and now. He promises that the show this Saturday at the Booth will not suck and have him  dancing like the wild man of Borneo.

WTC: How many years did you play together and where have you played?
Bo: We were together from 2001 to early 2007 and we played any where we could. A couple of my favorites were (keep in mind these were the best shows just the funniest to recant) 1) Watermark Place Outlet Mall. 2) The roof of Fox 6 in Birmingham where we jamed with Mickey Ferguson and  sang Voodoo Lady to Janet Hall followed 12 hours later with a gig at The Nick with two death metal bands, Obliviaxe and Trokar. 3) A motorcycle rally in North Alabama. 4) A 24 hour laundry mat bar in New Orleans.
We played every where we could in the south east. We always had fun but the two best spots for us where Tuscaloosa and Baton Rouge.

WTC: How did you form?
Bo: We formed by me and Paul Losavio (Guitar) hanging out with Dave Cheek (Bass) watching Mr. Show and drinking beer. Dave and Paul liked to playing guitar and I was on bass. That lasted about two weeks and it was decided that although the hearth was there I was no bass player. So i started playing percussion. A few months later we invited Chris Johnson to help fill out are sound on sax. After that we were formed. A year or so in we split with our drummer Eli and Rusty Kyzer  (Red Label Revolver, Indiana Jones , Odell ) was looking for the music to play after Red Label split. He has been there ever since and really brought a lot of insight and happiness to the band.

WTC: What was it like to play with Chinese Dentist?
Bo: It was great. Playing always made me so happy. We played a lot Tuscaloosa landmarks that are gone now (i.e The chucker, The old Booth, Hales tavern) But when I was up on stage and I looked out and saw people digging what we did I would get lost. I've seen pictures and I have no idea what I'm playing but i have the biggest smile on my face.

WTC: When is the last time you guys played out?
Bo: That's hard. The last time I played [with Chinese Dentist]  was in late 2006 at Little Willies. The guys carried on a few more dates that I couldn't make because of Baak Gwai shows and Dave had moved to Tenn. So Bass Bad Man Ben Scott of The Great Big No filled in. That's one of the things that bugs me the most, that I don't remember more. It also bothered me about Baak Gwai. I never got that last show the one you remember the one you can't let go of.

WTC: Why did you stop playing?
Bo: You know i never really thought about it till i read this question. I had started playing with Baak Gwai, Dave moved to Chattanooga with his girlfriend for a job, Paul got married, there was never a plan to stop. In fact we planed to keep playing and it just didn't happen. We had gotten to know each other so well that we didn't practice, we just showed up. We had lost a little of our fire, I think subconsciously we need a break, something to show us how much we liked the the music as well as each other.

WTC: Why are you guys playing this show?
Bo: I think we all miss playing. I know I do. Chris johnson still gigs constantly but the rest of us all have lame non-rock and roll jobs. For me its about that feeling and enjoying it a few more times. I wanna go back to that happy place. Nothing mattered to me when I played, it was just that moment where everything slowed down and I couldn't help but smile. I think its the same place Matt Patton (Dexateens/Model Citizen) goes when he plays and if you've ever seen him play or me you know that's a happy fucking place.

WTC: Is this a new beginning or a celebration of the past?
Bo: I'm hoping both. We've gotten togather and practiced and as we did I could see the smile back on everyones faces. Its like when your away from home for a long time and when you get back home and lay in your bed you realize how comfy it is even if you used to think it was lumpy. We all looked like we were in our bed. I think this show will be a celebration of us being back in bed. There was also talk about not wanting to stop. So its also a new beginning as we move forward we don't view this as a way to support our family's anymore but it was never about the money its about doing something you love with people you love.

WTC: What do you think of the new Booth?
Bo: The new Booth is nice (almost too much so). It's great that Johnny has a venue to put on shows again. Even if it wasn't always my bag of music it was always nice to see live music. The new building has these kick ass garage doors that open the whole place up so its never smoky and has almost an open air feel. I'm really looking forward to helping this booth grow the small following that the old location had.

WTC: What can people look forward to on Saturday?
Bo: People can look forward to 26 songs of funky poppy happy music with  sax solos, a few weird covers, me dancing like the wild man of Borneo and I hope a damn good time between a band an an audience that is happy to be there and happy to be together.

WTC: Its been that long time...are you going to suck?
Bo: Fuck no... I was amazed at how well practice went. We, well everyone besides Chris, thought we'd have a hard time, but it was like we had stuffed a the songs in to a pillowy soft brain wrinkle and once we pulled that first one out they flowed.

Check out Bo and the rest of Chinese Dentist this Saturday at The Booth.
myspace.com/chinesedentistmusic