The Bon Mots

Chicago's Bon Mots represent the union of two singer/songwriter/guitarists from Michigan who had led their own bands previously. Mike Coy's band, Big Angry Fish, and Eric Chial's group, Mitch, both recorded for Chicago-based Beluga Records in the 1990s. In 2000, Coy and Chial left those bands and launched the Bon Mots with Coy's drummer, Kevin Hoetger, who in turn introduced keyboard player Chris Frantisak to the group. (Both Coy and Chial also handled bass guitar duties.) The Bon Mots then recorded their debut album, Le Main Drag, with Neal Ostrovsky for Mellifluid Records; the disc alternated Coy and Chial compositions. After its completion, Hoetger quit the band and moved to Austin; he was replaced by Jason Styx.