Squeaky Clean Cretins

Squeaky Clean Cretins is the Allouez acoustic rock folk band who’s name is difficult to pronounce by most.
“We liked it (the band’s name) because people had a hard time pronouncing it, and that’s great for us,” said guitarist and vocalist Graham Parsons. “I like how it sounds. I like the way it looks on paper. The name is kind of an oxymoron because cretin by definition is a human being that is dispictible, a low life form. So we have that low life form be squeaking clean. It’s like the innocent criminals.”
The six piece band is guitarists and vocalists Parsons and John Artibee, bassist Kieth Kinnear, drummer Greg Wright, keyboardist Mark McEvers, and percussionist Derek Touriniemi. Squeaky Clean Cretins will be the last act to perform at this Sunday’s Thimbleberry JAM Fest.
“Keweenaw Krayons have been so good to us,” Parsons said. “They are responsible for my whole music career. (Keweenaw Krayons) has provided practice space, and provided me a job when I didn’t have a job. I owe them a lot.”
Squeaky Clean Cretins are proud to be tell their fans that they are from the Upper Peninsula. They tour close to home and support other Upper Peninsula bands.
“I think the Copper Country needs to know that we’re never going to forget where we came from,” Parsons said. “Wherever we go we will say this is home. The lives that we’ve had here has shaped our music, and has shaped our outlook on life and our personalities.”
Parson said that his vision as a musician is to be able to make a living playing in Squeaky Clean Cretins because “there is nothing else I’d rather do.”
Last October Squeaky Clean Cretins released their debut record, Of Flesh... Of Marrow. Parsons said that so far the record’s responses from fans has been good.
“It’s been overwhelming positive, people can’t say more than good things about it. It’s been encouraging just to see the positive response,” Parsons said.
He said the record’s theme has common threads of uncertainty, life’s unanswered questions, and political themes.
“The record is a collection of songs that at we have been playing for a couple years that we are proud of,” Parsons said.
Parsons said that when he plays live, he gets lost in his music high and everyone around him disappears.
“(When playing) the person you’re with now is not there when I’m performing. Something strange happens, and that’s apart of the allure,” Parsons said. “I just start disappearing... I just get completely lost in what we’re doing.”
Squeaky Clean Cretins has played at various Upper Peninsula festivals and venues. Parson said that he loves playing at the Calumet Theater the most.
“There is something about the feel in there. It feels good,” Parsons said.
In November they will be playing a show at the Rosza. Parsons said that the band is looking forward to playing there, but it doesn’t always matter what sort of venue they play in.
“It doesn’t matter where we play, as long as we’re playing for someone new,” Parsons said.
Before the guys perform live Parsons livens them up.
“Joe and I are big into hugs, we like being close to each other before we play and tell one another it’s going to be good. Then after that I say something goofy any off beat before we start playing to throw everyone off,” Parsons said.
Parsons revealed that they will be going back into the studio in August to begin recording their new album.
“We got a lot of songs that need to breathe,” Parsons said.
Fans of Squeaky Clean Cretins can expect to see the guys on their Wisconsin tour later this month.