Hokey Smokes! Frank Allison and the Odd Sox

Hokey Smokes! Frank Allison and the Odd Sox is a short documentary about a band from Ann Arbor, Michigan that was crazy-popular among college students and locals who lined up outside venues like the Blind Pig to get a good spot on the dance floor. Fans loved Frank's quirky songs and funny antics onstage. The band usually played three sets and the fans created their own dance moves and audience participation activities for songs like Crediting Men's Hayride, Let's Go Fishin' and Cash for My Car. Most of his songs were about lovelorn working class guys who can't get a break- the best friend steals his girlfriend, crediting men are after him, and he's got to eat sandwiches because he needs cash for his car.

Despite two popular albums, loyal fans and great reviews, the band never broke big nationally. In the mid to late 90s Frank lost his voice to spasmodic dysphonia.

This movie explores what it takes to make it in the music business and points out that even though they weren't a commercial success, Frank Allison and the Odd Sox made a big impact on a lot of people.

As fan Chip Hadler put it, "Success of a band really ought to be whether the music they made was something they're proud of and whether they created a scene at any level whether it be local, regional or national. Frank Allison and the Odd Sox certainly created a scene in Ann Arbor. As far as why they didn't break big-- they're big to me!"

Hokey Smokes! Frank Allison and the Odd Sox screened at the 2008 Detroit Winter Blast Film Festival.

Frank's website is www.frankallisonmusic.com.

Cast: Frank Allison, John Seldin, John Boyle, Dan Beckett, Dave Katz, Karie Dorsten, Judy Seldin, Jeff Taras, Greg Kutcher, Diane Wilson-Kutcher, Chip Hadler.
Camera: Amy Quick Parrish, Jim Hayes with fan archive footage courtesy of Frank Allison, Michael Boyle, & Tom Abraham
Editors: Amy Quick Parrish, Jeff Moreaux, Melinda Brown
Director/Producer: Amy Quick Parrish
Photos: Cris Burkhalter
Music by Frank Allison and the Odd Sox used by permission.
Monkey Business, Hokey Smoke, Pig Out and other fine recordings are available at www.Frankallisonmusic.com, PJs Used Records and CDs in Ann Arbor, MI, iTunes and Amazon.