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OH
MY
GOD!!!!!!!
2004 has been such a special year for me
This past late Sept-early Oct., I got to Barcelona and nearby Calella Spain for
the Wipe Out Festival -- what a treat that was! Sight-seeing all day in the
most incredible city -- followed by 4 nights of surf rock, garage, rockabilly,
and twang! Davie Allan & The Arrows, The Neanderthals (starring Eddie Angel),
Hawaiin Astro Boys, Bitch Boys, Lost Acapulco, Not of this Earth, Les Playboys,
Imperial Surfers, and more....
And going back to just December 4th thru last night, I was part of the traveling
Los Straitjackets road show....and my life will never be the same (I meant that
in a positive way!). I have already reported on the first 2 nights -- Williams
College Dec. 4th and NYC's Bowery Ballroom Dec 5th. Went back to work Dec 6 and
7, and then caught up with Los Straitjackets, who also took 2 days off, for 3
succesive nights--December 8, 9 and 10.
Dec 8 - Boston, The Paradise -- haven't been to the Paradise since my days at
Chrysalis Records, I believe. Same ol' wonderful club...great vibe in there.
Think this may have been my favorite of the 5 shows. Ran into a dear old friend
there from my Chrysalis days -- love ya Suky! (And great to meet her other 1/2
"John", or, if you have a "Boston accent", "Jawn"). Lots of laughs and tears
over wonderful and some not-so-wonderful memories. The Hi-Risers again were in
top form! I'd say more than anything they're a 3-piece rockabilly band, but
with a "splash" of Beatles, spy-fi, and blues thrown in the mix. Clean sound,
happy-go-lucky stage presence. Really got to get to know these 3 gentlemen over
the next few days. Especially love their songs "Freeze", "Goin' Mad" (killer
track), "One-Note Joe", "Bigfoot".....Los Straitjackets came out and almost tore
the roof off. Eddie's amp gave him no problems this time around. The
"choreography" of the band still gets tremendous
response (in particular, "Itchy Chicken"). The Pontanis changed costumes more
than Cher! Re-emerging quickly over and over, with those perpetual smiles in
place, looking beautful and festive. Kaiser George MC'd, sang and danced his
bleedin' bloody ass off....a great idea to have him tour with the entourage.
"Peppermint Twist", the big finish, was a howl each and every night. After the
show, Jimmy Lester, the band's drummer, sat down with me for a wonderful
interview. Hope to play it on Twang Shebang Internet Radio Show real soon!
Thanks Jimmy, for being so damn cool, coming over to me, plopping down at the
foot of the stage, and sharing with me your thoughts and views on some
wide-ranging topics. Ran into members of some great surf bands - The Come
Arounds, The Undertows (thanks for the CD Chuck--sounds totally wet and twangy
-- like I said, kinda Beatles meets Ventures at times). Happy happy happy me
then headed back to my hotel in Newton, Mass., for some shut-eye, and then
off to Providence Rhode Island.
December 9th - The Call, Providence Rhode Island ---- a great oversized bar with
a decent sized stage. Tonight's interview: Dan the Merchandise Man. A sweet
kid, felt like we bonded on this mini-tour quite well....the perfect guy to be
selling Los Straitjackets and related merchandise at the shows. The interview
was quite humorous...you'll be hearing it soon. I really loved this room
actually...crowd was quite receptive. The personal highlight was when I yelled
out "Pacifica" for the encore, and Eddie turned to his band-mates and said,
"let's do 'Pacifica' for Unsteady Freddie". Do I really need to describe that
moment? I didn't think so!! They also closed the Philadelphia show with
'Pacifica'. Unsteady Freddie was at the foot of the stage for all 5 shows, akin
to where I positioned myself in Calella. Kaiser George in "Peppermint Twist",
complete with Fred MacMurray-like sweater, pipe in mouth, skinny tie .... well,
was that a pisser! During my interview with Jimmy the
night before, he had asked me, "don't you have a job?", to which I broke the
news, "dude, I'm a lawyer." You'll hear that exchange in the interview. By the
time I got to Providence, the rest of the band members individually asked me,
with some slight disbelief, "I hear you're a lawyer?". I told Pete ("Pedro") he
"has the right to remain silent", which got great laughs all around. And when
Eddie asked, "you mean this Unsteady Freddie thing is an act?" I responded
with, "and this is coming from a guy who makes a living wearing a Mexican
wrestling mask?" -- again, the response was pure hilarity. Unsteady Freddie's
improv skills were right-on this mini-tour. I was also moved with Eddie asking
me to evaluate and compare and contrast each show. Back to the hotel in
Lincoln, Rhode Island for next day's journey.
Friday, December 10 - T.L.A. in Philadelphia --- long grueling drive, dark cold
constant rain most of the way. God Bless mapquest.com by the way -- exactly
right to the most minute detail. Got to Philly ahead of the entourage. Then
one by one the 4 vehicles started to arrive. Helped them unload some
merchandise, equipment (Unsteady Freddie just does it all!). Caught some fish n
chips down the block (wasn't up for a Philly Cheese Steak...maybe next time).
The TLA venue is a big concrete-floored space, with a small mezzanine that was
roped off most of the evening. Told it holds 800 people, and by curtain-time it
looked pretty full. Warm, loud, receptive crowd greeted the audience.
Hi-Risers were called out for an encore...probably the best show I saw them
give. Los Straitjackets were again just unreal. Standing at the foot of the
stage is, in my opinion, the greatest vantage point. Watching the strumming,
the intricate chords, double-picking of the 2 lead guitarists was a
complete treat for me. Especially Eddie...my Lord can that dude strum! And in
any style is A #1 top-of-the-line..I am dumbfounded by what i saw. Eddie was
nursing a cold/slight flu/blahs, and so more power to him for getting out there
and giving it his all. Here's hoping your health improves Eddie! After the
show Kaiser George was sweet enough to give me 5-10 minutes to speak with me for
Twang Shebang ... so watch for that real soon. It was hard to get interviews
b/c either the band was loading in - or performing - or breaking down and
loading out. And Unsteady Freddie has a very strong personality, so it took a
great effort on my part not to be intrusive duing this process. In the audience
were members of surf bands The Sharkskins and the Surf Daddys - both NESMA
artists--sweet guys.. I headed back to NYC via the NJ Turnpike around 1 a.m.,
arrived safe-and-sound in the Unteady Freddie 5-story walk-up tiki lounge around
2:30 am.
Folks, if there's anyway you can get out to see Los Straitjackets on this tour
before it finishes, or the dtaes already announced for next year -- don't think
twice, it's all right! Just do it, you won't regret it. I can safely say
there's no better rock n roll band out there touring these days. They give it
their all. They thrive on their "unsteadiness", but are totally professional
about it all. The audience's joy and reaction is an important part of the
experience. The band totally gets off on this interaction.
Special thanks to The Hi-Risers, Dan the Merchandise Man, Kaiser George, the
lovely and vivacious Pontani Sisters, and Los Straitjackets for making me feel
like a "blood family member" and not just an "adopted son". I'm sitting here as
I write this with tears in my eyes - as Procol Harum sang in "Salty Dog" -- "our
tears were tears of joy". I feel totally blessed, blitzed and full of bliss. I
assume I got some spectacular photos -- watch for announcements where I am gonna
post them -- probably rotate them on 1 or 2 or even 3 of my websites. The
interviews will also run soon. Very special thanks to Danny Amis and Eddie
Angel for the luv and attention, and putting me on the band's guest-list the
last 3 nights. Danny in particular, who always asked me after he saw me in the
venue if I had any problem getting in on the band's list. Very hard for me to
try and re-adjust back to my "civilian life", but hey, U do what U gotta do!
Seriously thinking of going to Cleveland for New
Years Eve to bring in 2005 in style with Los Straitjackets (dudes you've been
warned!).
I should add that "Tailspin" and "Itchy Chicken" in particular each of the 5
nights were works of intensity and magnificance .... not only didn't I want to
leave the boys last night, I don't want to stop writing about them here! My
soul has been stirred to new heights -- these last few days will stay with me
forever.
Most greateful to all of you for putting up with me for 5 days (and Big Surfer
Dude in the Sky, my Higher Power, you rock!).
Exhausted, happy, adreneline still flowing at high-speed...pinching myself that
I can be so lucky to have such a great moment in my life.
Unsteady Freddie
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