2004 was the year Licorice Tree Records and Thee Fine Lines became newlyweds. Licorice Tree’s first release, the self-titled full length from Thee Fine Lines, blazed a path all its own straight to new fans’ ear holes, garnering worldwide recognition and ending up on many “Best Of” lists from that year. WFMU’s Teenage Wasteland guru Bill Kelly, out in the Big Apple, upped the ante by calling it Record of the Year.

When the rowdy ne’er-do-wells clamored for more more more, Thee Fine Lines brought it in the form of a four song 7 inch EP entitled “Looking Everywhere”. The guys basked in the sun of its distorty greatness by touring again, and playing a South by Southwest showcase down in Austin Texas, then taking the silver bird to The Mersey Beat Motherland, and touring Europe. The European tour ended in Rotterdam Holland at the Primitive Festival. Though Thee Mighty Caesars headlined that time around, Thee Fine Lines schooled thee chaps with advanced Three Chord-ology.

Now here we are with Thee Fine Lines second full length release, “Set You Straight”. The guys are as charged up as ever, bringing you punk rock speedballs, melodic guitar vampers, and original 60s styled garage smackdowns that Les Sexareenos would have peed on a maple leaf to have written. Thee Fine Lines will always stay true to their themes of heartbreaking girls, soured love, and revenge, but with enough pop flair to make each song f-u-n… So much fun that Screaming Apple Records in Germany had to get in on the action to bring us the waxy version of this disc! 2007 could be Thee Year of Thee Fine Lines world domination!

NEW ALBUM "SET YOU STRAIGHT" OUT NOW!

GET ME THAT THEE FINE LINES STUFF NOW!!

Discography

"Set You Straight" CD (licorice tree records)
"Looking Everywhere" 7" ep (licorice tree records)
Thee Fine Lines S/T (licorice tree records)
"Lose Control" 7” ep (weerock records)
"Thee Fine Lines/The Jim-Jims split 7" (weerock records)

Thee Fine Lines website!

 

REVIEWS!

Thee Fine Lines "Set You Straight" LP

Razorcake
I would VOLUNTEER that Thee Fine Lines is the best band to come out of Missouri in the last ten years. (What’s that, you say? Tennessee is the VOLUNTEER state, not Mih-ZURR-uh!? Well, someone’s gonna have to SHOW ME proof! Aah-hahahahaha…ahem.) State slogan nonsense aside, my hypothesis from the first sentence remains. I’ve been meaning to check these guys out for a couple a years, but, lazy ass that I am, never got around to it. Their latest CD falls into my lap by the grace of Razorcake, and now I realize how much more fulfilling the last few years would’a been had I been officially hipped to Thee Fine Lines. Set You Straight is primitive in the same manner that the Jewws’ L’explosion du son de Maintenant! was—three band members, three instruments, one heart, one stripped-down now sound, baby! The moodier, atmospheric songs, “Midnight’s Fine” and “You’re So Fine,” would fit nicely on any of the Teenage Shutdown compilations, while the trashier, up tempo numbers sound like they could have come out of San Francisco’s garage rock heyday of the early- to mid-’90s. Just try to listen to Set You Straight and keep your legs from going into crazy, rock’n’roll induced spasms. –Josh Benke (Licorice Tree)

Next Big Thing
Similarly no frills is Thee Fine Lines “Set You Straight” which sounds like it was made to be blasted out of a transistor radio. Not one of those digital things that are becoming all the rage. Once again, I don’t recognise the comparisons with Billy Childish. There’s not a whiff of the impressionism that pervades much of that guys work. I feel kind like BC is the opposite side of the Paul Weller coin, this 3-piece on the other hand deliver short sharp jolts of primo garage-punk not unlike our own Thanes. Based in Skele-country - Springfield, Mo – they have that extra edge that evidently comes from whatever is put in the water there. Lou Whitney once told me it was “the buckle on the bible belt”. If that’s the case they sure have a way with the devils music. Available now on cd and vinyl from Licorice Tree.

Slug Magazine
I’m not sure why anyone would want to pick a fight with garage legend Billy Childish, but that’s exactly what Thee Fine Lines did when they added the extra “e” to their name. Now every one who hears them automatically thinks of Childish fronted bands like Thee Headcoats, Thee Mighty Caesars and Thee Milkshakes. And while Billy certainly doesn’t hold the copyright to the second vowel in the alphabet, he is on such a high musical plane that it’s a fool’s quest to give people a reason to compare your music to his. That being said, this disc by Thee Fine Lines is quite good. It is almost unforgivably lo-fi, heavily inspired by artists like the MC5, Childish, The Mummies and other recent garage bosses. And while the music Thee Fine Lines make is no where near original, it is ten time better than most of what passes as cool these days, even if it’s not thee shit. –James Bennett

 

Thee Fine Lines "Looking Everywhere" 7inch EP

Under The Volcano
On this here 7-inch bundle of spazzed-out sonic wildness, Thee Fine Lines stir up a frenetic, fuzzy-heavy cyclone of amplification with four Garage Rock stompers that peel the paint off the walls when played loud (as only it should be!). The vocalist spits, snarls, and growls like a raunchy, booze-swillin’ hellcat on a sleazy, pelvic-thrusting mission to corrupt and defile each and every young, nubile gal within groping distance. And the gritty musical accompaniment is a raw, sweaty display of primal, mad-dog noise that’s as aggressive as it is intoxicating. For the very best in the reckless, sinful, and animalistic sounds of pure Garage Rock mania, look no further than Thee Fine Lines. (7”)-Moser  

Razorcake Magazine
THEE FINE LINES Looking Everywhere 7”
L o-fi ‘60s stuff, and they’re quite good at it. What they’re doing doesn’t feel dated and the “trash” is tempered with simple, yet strong songwriting. Good stuff. – Jimmy Alvarado (Licorice Tree)

Ear Candy Magazine
Thee Fine Lines,"Looking Everywhere" [7” vinyl ep] (Licorice Tree)
Another fine slab of garage rock vinyl from a band that’s never been one to disappoint. Jason, along with brother Justin and newly recruited bassist Johnathan, belt out four grade-A garage punk nuggets. “You’re For Me” and “Looking Everywhere” make up the A-side here and both songs are uptempo Billy Childish style rockers with loads of attitude. Well worth the four buck price tag and we’re only halfway through this thing. The B-side shakes it up a bit by slowing down ever so slightly on “One Thing Will Always Be” before kicking into the caffeine fueled frenzy of “You’re Heartless”. Highly recommended.

Punk Information
Thee Fine Lines "Looking Everywhere" 7" (Licorice Tree)
Four more top-notch Headcoats/Masonics-like garage punkers from these Springfield, Missouri, kids.  This is a terrific follow-up to last year's excellent full-length, also released on Licorice Tree.   


The Next Big Thing
Yeah, today didn't pan out quite the way I planned it. Started out badly when I went for petrol (that's gas to you folks in the USA) and I found out it was up to 97.9p per litre. Anyways, the fucking refinery that it comes from is literally 100 yards from the station, you'd think we'd be ripe for a discount. But I digress, for one reason and another I didn't "get in aboot" the backlog like I had it figured... Thee Fine Lines “Looking Everywhere” EP goes round at 33? and finds the Springfield, Mo. trio in typically rough house shape. All four songs are well up to scratch in that righteously primitive vein that you folks tend to lap up.

Thee Fine Lines S/T LP

CHOKE (Austria)
Thee Fine Lines
It's very Headcoatees, plus loads of older influences (mummies, sonics)!!! IT''S SO DAMN GOOD!!! These threesome is playing together two years or so, in Springfield, MO, and they are the surprise of the issue. Coming out of nowhere, the two brothers Justin and Jason on guitar/ drums, plus the VERY cute Trista on bass, deliver not only fast paced garage tunes, they even have a bunch of slower, meaner songs.  Due to the fact the vocal duties are shared between Trista and Justin, the male/female voice is giving the whole package something special.  Be sure to check this band out, I hope the hop across the big sea soon! BTW: this is the first release of Licorice Tree Records.  Keep your eyes peeled on that label too, a Texas comp is coming soon, plus the debut of Mike Mericonda's new band, THE STEPBROTHERS!

TIME TO ROCK AND ROLL
Thee Fine Lines – s/t Licorice Tree Records

Hail, Hail Rock N' Roll.  Thee Fine Lines have summoned the spirit of still living Billy Childish through their groin-grinding nervous child gone wild sound.  Seriously this sounds like a tribute to thee Milkshakes and Thee Mighty Caesars, but can you complain about that?  I'm thinkin' I can't.  True garage savagery for those maladjusted enough to not give a damn!        MG

TEENAGE DEPRESSION
Thee Fine Lines - "S/T" CD   (Licorice Tree Records     P.O. Box 92783     Austin, TX     78709     USA     www.licoricetree.com )
     No surprise that I really dig this album. Thee Fine Lines are working the same formula they used on their 7''s (which I also really dug), and the songs here are even better than their previous stuff. Hands down, Thee Fine Lines are one of the best bands doing music rooted in the 60's, today. They're a three piece, so the music is stripped down…they're young and energetic…and they lack most of the pretentious stereotypes and overproduction you see in a lot of 60's styled punk these days. Sure, they pull a lot of inspiration from the Medway scene…but we've all been guilty of a little Childish/Hampshire worship. It's not like Thee Fine Lines are aping anyone anyway. They're a modern, 60's styled garage-rock band, and they're good…period. This is a collection of 14 great tunes…Trista sings some, and Justin sings the rest…and there's not a dud in the bunch. Sure, there are a few borrowed riffs and familiar arrangements, but that's par for the course when you're doing this kind of stuff. I was impressed that every song on the album was an original composition. The fact that they laid down 14 GOOD original tunes, AND resisted the temptation to throw in a couple familiar old standards, is further testament to the genius of the band. I can't say a bad word about this band…from the songs, to the production of their records, to the tone of their instruments….everything seems right to me. Consider this a hearty endorsement of anything these guys do. Congratulations to Thee Fine Lines for putting out one of my fave records of the year…and kudos to Licorice Tree for doing such a bang-up job on their first release! (TK)

SLUG MAGAZINE
Thee Fine Lines- Self-Titled
Licorice Tree Records
Thee Fine Lines = Ramones + The Kingsmen + The Greenhornes + The Sonics

So you say you want some fun pop music that does not suck? So you say you want some sassy rock that has the fun bop that makes you want to pogo in place like a demented Peanuts character at Christmas time? Well, then brothers and sisters have I got a hot trio for you. Musically, Thee Fine Lines are best described as garage that is neither major league record mogul nor pretentious poser emo. While the guitar does not alternate much between its rough and raw punch it's the vocals of its player that will appeal to many a rocker. The production is somewhere in the mid-fi, guitar turned way up, bass ringing with the drums, vocals sounding distorted in the mix. It truly sounds like they are playing in their garage for their friends. Dig it at www.licoricetree.com . – Kevlar7

 

CHICAGO READER
THEE FINE LINES
Thursday 8/19, Big Horse
This trio from Springfield, Missouri, owes a lot to Billy Childish--the insanely prolific, stubbornly primitive, hilariously misanthropic British rocker who's been bashing away in varying degrees of obscurity for almost three decades. Thee Fine Lines deliver the same kind of catchy, dirt-simple tunes, stomping 60s garage beats, snarly guitar, distorted vocals, and shitty sound quality (sorry, I mean "vintage production") that made Childish projects like Thee Headcoats and Thee Mighty Caesars tasty. (They also have a fondness for some of Billy's favorite topics: "We're done screwing, so you'd best get out of my hair"; "Now that you're out of my hair, I believe you're cheating on me"; "Oh shit, I think I'm an alcoholic.") But these kids' self-titled debut full-length (released last year on Licorice Tree) makes me dancier than their chief inspiration ever has. Guitarist Justin Kearbey is a fiercer singer than Childish, who sometimes lapses into sly, waterlogged mumbling, and on drums Kearbey's brother Jason favors a jaunty, overexcited bounce, with plenty of goofy floor-tom bonks. Thee Fine Lines have a great second vocalist too, in the person of cute-chick bassist Trista Winn. It's a shame she's stuck on backups most of the time--unlike most cute chicks in garage bands, she doesn't sing like a cat getting a bath. Instead she bumps along the bottom of her range in a menacing, addictive purr. She takes the lead on just 3 of the 14 tracks, so I keep replaying this disc like a lab mouse who pushes the little lever till his paw aches, hoping the next pellet will be the special kind.

EAR CANDY MAG
Thee Fine Lines,"Thee Fine Lines" (Licorice Records)
This is my new favorite album. Thee Fine Lines are as garage as the Seeds, as punk as the Dead Boys and as catchy as a cold on a schoolbus in the middle of winter. I love every song. The lifted lead break on “Take It Away” (pull out your Nuggets box set) is as much a tribute as it is a rip-off. This band has a deep down love for sixties rock n’ roll and it shines through on every track. It’s great when you stumble onto a rock n’ roll band that has all the traits you dig. It’s like pulling an old jacket out of the closet and finding a twenty in the pocket. If you want to hear what garage is supposed to sound like then make this your next purchase. You won’t regret it.

THEE CAVE
THEE   FINE LINES - S/T, LP/CD
Licorice   Tree Records, YUM 1001/2001, 2004, USA
Justin   Kearbey (vocals/guitar), Trista Winn (vocals/bass) and Jason Kearbey (drums)   are responsible for this blast of furious and untamed garage and trash that   comes from Austin, Texas continuing the fame of their fathers and   grandfathers (its 2004 granny!) in the 60s! I bet that these guys and girl   raised up listening to Mighty Caesars and Headcoats/Headcoatees as their   sound is very similar to the Medway scene and it 's also   obvious that there are no dubs in here but only teen madness recorded live in   the garage! The recipe is simple as their tunes: 3-chords and lyrics bout   lovers gone and lovers on the way. Here are some of the titles to see what I   mean: “I've Got My Eye On You ”,“Open Up My Heart ”,“Tears Are Rolling ”,“Feelin Blue ”,“Bring Her Back ”… That 's true rocknroll baby! File under “Songs   & Attitude Billy Childish Taught Us ”!

Since the humble beginnings at a Halloween party in 2001, Thee Fine Lines have been tearing through towns across the country and abroad, bringing their own mash of 60s-fueled punk and beat and rock and roll along with em.