In 2009, Kepi Ghoulie proved just how much of a lovable softy he really is. The guitarist/singer of the Groovie Ghoulies, a now defunct Pop-Punk band, screenprinted a pair of red and white Valentine's Day cards for sale through Asian Man Records. One had a whale gracing the front while the other featured a rat.
Both images were cartoony, cheery and lovably dopey. On top of that, each card came with a CD featuring sparse, acoustic renditions of “Supermodel,” an original, and “Kiss the Girl,” a cover of the song from The Little Mermaid.
Key lines from “Supermodel” exemplify the doggedly childlike lyrical angle Ghoulie prefers: “Supermodel versus you, supermodel loses/Movie star versus you, movie star loses/Anybody versus you, anybody loses.” Ghoulie's nasal voice never contains a shred of sarcasm or irony, and the sense of devotion is glowing. The tradition has carried on since then with a third card/CD combo due in early 2011.
Kepi Ghoulie plays Southgate House Wednesday with The Queers and The Riptides. Go here to read Reyan Ali's full Sound Advice and for ticket and venue details.
