Triple Fast Action

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Triple Fast Action was an indie rock/alternative rock band started by Wes Kidd and Brian St. Clair, both previously members of Chicago band Rights of the Accused in 1995. Kidd went on to manage such bands as Cheap Trick, The Damnwells and fellow bandmate Kevin Tihista while working for New York-based Silent Partner Management while St. Clair joined the band Local H after stints as tour manager for Chicago's Liz Phair and serving as drum tech for Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick. Triple Fast Action member Kevin Tihista has released several of his own solo albums since their breakup :Don't Breathe A Word (2001), Judo (2002) and Wake Up Captain (2004), all of which have been well received. His last release (2005) consists of home recordings and bears the eloquent title "Home Demons Vol. 1". Tihista contributed his craft to Veruca Salt's post-breakup release "Resolver".

Triple Fast Action was one of many local acts signed (Capitol Reocrds) during the multi-year label frenzy that also snatched up the Smashing Pumpkins, Fig Dish, Loud Lucy, Veruca Salt, Certain Distant Suns, Liz Phair, The Lupins, Hum, Seam, Menthol, Urge Overkill, Stabbing Westward, Cupcakes and Local H, among others. The band supported such notable acts as Everclear, Lenny Kravitz, The Wallflowers and Veruca Salt over the course of its existence. The band's first release, "Broadcaster", was often referred to as "Cheap Trick meets Nirvana" and featured power-pop two-toned guitar crunch and a stunning power backbeat but sadly fell on deaf ears due to very limited support from the label, despite lengthy touring across the U.S. After stepping away from Capitol due to that lack of support, the band signed with the then-NY-based indie label of John Szuch's (now based in Charlotte, NC) Deep Elm Records (Nada Surf, Brandtson, Pave the Rocket and Camber)to release the critically acclaimed "Cattlemen Don't". The first single, "Heroes" received some college radio airplay and won several nights of local WKQX FM's battle of the songs. A farewell concert was performed at Chicago's Metro on May 24, 1998. Notable fans of the band include Dave Grohl of Nirvana/Foo Fighters, who interestingly lists a show of Rights of the Accused as his first concert. Grohl and fellow Foo Fighters listened repeatedly to the band's "Broadcaster" during the recording of their release "The Colour and the Shape". Wes Kidd made several demos available to fans and friends via home-burned CD. DVDs of the final show as well as the limited edition vinyl tri-disc version of "Broadcaster" often surface on internet-based auction sites.