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OK, my work day (real job!) is unwinding, and now a quick
opportunity to report on last night's 3 band EVENING OF REVERB
SUPERB at NYC's 'RODEO BAR'
Special thanks to all surf-music fans and freaks who came by for the
event (the ubiquitos "Bob D." once again making the scene)
We had a strong turn-out at the venue, as people normally gravitate
there on a Thursday night for some food and drink; the key is to
hold their attention and keep them on the premises...and I must say,
that seemed to be the case
Grateful to the RODEO BAR (and Jack Grace in particular who books
the room) for letting me throw this event together; hopefully he'll
be generous yet again (and again!) and give me future opportunities
to do this again real soon....I am in hot pursuit of this b/c I
would love to find a venue that understands this concept of
presenting these shows, say on a once-a-month bases; build a
following; eventually people will flock there after the concept
takes hold; and the RODEO BAR is a true rock n roll club....I think
this would be a great place to build this...TWANG IT, AND THEY WILL
COME! so Jack, are you listening?????
anyway....first up, THE 9th WAVE -- Connecticut's premier hot-rod
surf band, and founders of N.E.S.M.A. (North east Surf Music
Alliance) www.nesmasurf.org. Negative Ed was traveling with the
band handling the chores on bass. I gotta tell ya, I have NEVER
seen NegEd pound it out like he did last night...really driving the
band hard as Hell. Great set from the band -- they were loose and
explosive, a wonderful combination. PAUL FRITZ of the surf-band
KELP was on hand, and jumped up to join the band for PIPELINE. Dual
action twang!! Joining me at my table was none other than the
wonderful and totally cool RONNIE LAKE, who hails from Minnesota
(yeah they surf everywhere!). By sheer coincidence I was wearing my
Minnetonka Moc's I recently purchased at, of all places, the top of
HANGING ROCK Mountain in North Carolina. God Bless Mike "Staccato"
Rosado and Oceana (and Phearless Phred, NegEd) who stuck it out for
the whole night, only to have to drive back real real late (a nearly
3 hour journey each way--how's that for surf-rock support &
spirit?). www.9thwavesurf.com. Hey Staccato, could you play a
little faster next time? (just kidding!).
THE TARANTINOS hit the stage second. They are an outgrowth of
another local band known as AFTER ONE (that band I am told is on
hiatus). Their sound is a fluid
intense hybrid of so many styles: basic surf, spy, spaghetti
Western, soul, exotic -- wide-ranging wondrous interpretations that
they make all their own. Believe it or not this was the band's
FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE (or so I was told). This was their FIRST,
and they were so dynamic? Folks, watch out for this band! Members
are: JOEY TARANTINO on drums, BRIAN TARANTINO on keyboard, TRICIA
TARANTINO on bass, PAULIE TARANTINO on guitar (especially love the
tone he got off his neat-looking jet-blue DeArmond). The band
featured music from so many sources...especially loved the BOOKER T
& THE MG'S "covers"; 5,6,7,8's; Morricone; Link Wray. Powerful i
tell ya, powerful! Especially loved watching PAULIE crank it out.
The evening finished off in rockabilly style with the TRUCKSTOP
PLAYBOYS. No website yet, but I'm told it's coming soon. First
time I saw them live....3 piece rockabilly boogie folks. Andy on
bass (regular for this night, not slap stand-up), Jeff (guitar),
Mike (drums) {hope i got those names right}. These guys played the
gamut of the genre...Rev. Horton Heat, Stray Cats were stand-outs.
Their twang was a perfect blend with 2 bands thar preceded them and
really rounded out the evening wondrously. Jeff's amp blew out
after the first number, and there was Mike 'Staccao' Rosado on the
scene, jumping on stage, exchanging amps, rewiring Jeff, even
throwing hima pedal for distortion...the dude does it all. I told
the audience they do a one-song set, and a 45 minute encore (I
thought it was funny). For the encore, yours truly was given the
opportunity to belt out the opening lines, "My GIRL IS RED HOT, YOUR
GIRL AIN'T DOODLY-SQUAT" - and they were off and jangling to "RED
HOT" (especially love ROBERT GORDON's version of that tune). Way
way too much fun.
Great night, amazing music, wet and twang-drenched goodness for over
3 hours. It doesn't get much better than this.
Or does it?
Swing by LILLIE'S BAR tomorrow night in Red Hook to see 3 amazing
surf bands in one of my SURF-ROCK SHINDIGS -- starts at 10 pm with
THE OUTPATIENTS, followed at 11:30 pm by VENICE BEACH MUSCLE CLUB,
and closing out with THIS SPY SURFS at 1:00 am. LILLIE'S has
a 'tiki bar' set up, a BBQ - only $5 cover charge! Here's a link
for LILLIE'S:
Gotta scoot, maybe get a little sleep after last night's adrenilin
drain, 'cause it's gonna happen all over again in a little over 24
hours! yeah baby!
Unsteady Freddie
