The Names first burst onto the music scene in the early 80’s and instantly became Louisville’s most sought after band. Their innovation, originality and influence have been nationally recognized, and the standards they set continue to be the benchmark for live music presentation in the region. Today, the legend continues.
Fun, edgy, eclectic and a little twisted, the Names never fail to entertain and surprise their audiences. Regardless of the occasion or venue, they turn the mundane into the rare! An excerpt from a recent publication stated: “The Names’ real strength is their taste in music. Set lists are filled with memorable songs from the dawn of rock to present day. The ways they finesse those interesting and sometimes quirky arrangements compel audiences to dance and spontaneously sing along”.
The Names’ polish, stagecraft and state of the art sound gear give every event the atmosphere of a “big time” rock ‘n’ roll show. As Louisville’s Courier–Journal commented, “Music is communication, and the Names communicate with the crowd. They come out, they dance, they smile. Ladies and gentlemen ...the Names.”
A Band Apart
by Marshall Kennedy
In 1981, “The Names” seemed to come out of nowhere. Bursting onto the Louisville music scene, they created a buzz unlike anything that had been seen before… or since. Fun, energetic and completely original, The Names were often called “Louisville’s Beatles.” For an entire generation of Louisville club goers in the ‘80’s (including my wife, Lisa, and me), “going Naming” became the centerpiece of their weekend’s activities and it’s not unusual to find couples that still reminisce over how they met at a Names concert. No matter how many times we went to see them, The Names never failed to entertain us, surprise us and make us feel part of something larger. They were a big part of our lives.
Then, just as suddenly as they appeared, The Names stopped playing in public. For many, their sudden departure from the Louisville music scene only added to their mystique. At the same time, it left a void not fully filled until last year, when again, out of nowhere, they began to make public appearances.
The first thing a lot of old Names followers ask when they see their beloved group again is, “Where the heck have you been?”
“We just had other things we wanted to do,” says Ken Brown, The Names’ keyboard player. “People probably assumed we broke up or had a big blow-up, like bands often do. We never really broke up at all and we’ve stayed friends all these years. We planned to stop playing for a while to work on some individual projects and it just lasted longer than we thought, that’s all.
Not surprisingly, over the years, the band members have all become successful Louisville businesspeople. Gerry Canter, the band’s guitar player and Michelle Page, the lead singer, own businesses. During The Names’ sabbatical Gerry and Tom Walker, the group’s bassist, wrote a book together as well as developing subdivisions and shopping centers.
Today’s version of The Names will seem comfortably familiar to the band’s fans, but be warned: if you go to see the group today expecting the same old, same old, you probably don’t remember what made them so unique in the first place. Would any other band have the guts to play ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” in the same set? That’s exactly what separated The Names from their contemporaries in the old days and it still holds true today. Not only do they play songs no other band would even consider playing together, they somehow make it all come off as if it’s the most natural thing in the world.
“We’ve always just played what we like,” says Walker. “We did then and we do now. Luckily, other people seem to like it too.”
Michelle: “We love to entertain people. In a way, we’re an act! We want the crowd to be involved and have a great time.”
Pat Yates, The Names’ drummer adds, “We want them to hear a song and say, ‘Hey, I forgot about that song. What a great tune. I can’t believe they’re playing that.’”
That’s exactly what I thought when I heard them at a recent concert in the infield at Churchill Downs - Etta James’ “At Last,” followed by “Train in Vain” by The Clash. Who woulda thunk it? But that’s The Names for you.
“We’re eclectic,” says Canter. “Or, maybe we’re just twisted.”
They’re eclectic all right and, yes, a little twisted as well, but always a lot of fun and they play some of the best music ever written. In short, if you’ve never seen The Names, or you haven’t seen them in a long time, you owe it to yourself to catch their show as soon as possible.
