East End Rockabilly Riot – second anniversary show!

It’s June, and it’s time for another East End Rockabilly Riot! I’ll be spinning rockabilly tunes at the second anniversary edition of the Riot, at the Dominion on Queen, Saturday, June 19th. The Riot needs no introduction in The Mysterious Vault (coincidentally, the EERR and the MV both started around the same time!), but I wanted to post the latest poster artwork and the press release for the show. This should be a great night of live rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll with an extra dose of swing, so come out and jump, jive an’ wail!

I will also be dropping by the Catwoman Radio show on CIUT 89.5 FM in Toronto on Wednesday, June 16th (5-6pm) to spin some tunes in advance of the show, so tune in, or you can listen online. The show will be available as a podcast on the CIUT site for a week after broadcast.

East End Rockabilly Riot #6!
Second anniversary show

Live at The Dominion on Queen
One night only!
Saturday, June 19th, 2010

featuring knockout performances by:
Buzz Deluxe
and
Tennessee Voodoo Coupe
with special guests
The Hi-Tones (from London, ON)
and spinning red hot rockabilly platters
DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris and DJ Evilpainclown

$10 cover, doors 9 pm, showtime 10 pm
500 Queen St. E., (416) 368-6893
Sponsored by Mill St. Brewery

There’s a riot goin’ on at the Dominion on Queen on Saturday, June 19th, as the East End Rockabilly Riot returns to celebrate its second anniversary with a knockout triple-header! The 6th installment of the wildly popular rockabilly event will be headlined by hi-octane rock ‘n’ roll sensations Buzz Deluxe, joined on the bill by EERR host band Tennessee Voodoo Coupe, and in town from London, ON, The Hi-Tones. Keeping the joint jumpin’ between live acts will be EERR resident DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris and guest DJ Evilpainclown, spinning red hot rockabilly and ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll throughout the evening. EERR kicks it into overdrive for this special anniversary edition, so don’t miss the action!

Buzz Deluxe heat up the stage at EERR#3 (June 2009)

Headlining the second anniversary Riot are T.O. “hot rod death swing” combo Buzz Deluxe. Powered by the restless driving beats of standup drummer Kerry Dale, and the intense Gretsch twang of Jesse James Dale, Buzz Deluxe embrace the raw power of rock ‘n’ roll in its most direct form. Buzz Deluxe are 100% blood, sweat and rhythm, merging a variety of edgy roots influences, from rockabilly, surf and garage to gypsy swing, arriving at their own powerful sound. Since their last EERR appearance (the 1st anniversary show in June, ’09), Buzz Deluxe have successfully toured in the U.S. and Australia/New Zealand, released a smokin’ new album, Songs for the Hanged Man, and most recently have augmented their close-knit 2-piece guitar/drums/vocals lineup with the addition of bass player Patty Quake. Buzz Deluxe blew the roof off the Dominion at EERR#3 last June, so be prepared for a blast of road-tested and refined rauch ‘n’ roll.

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe host the East End Rockabilly Riot

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe are set to rock the joint with their “100 proof reckless hillbilly jive.” With special guest Alistair Christl on vocals and guitar (filling in for frontman Big Rude Jake), and Steve Good on doghouse bass, TVC round out their lineup with Colonel Gary Edwards on a standup drum setup, and Stevie “Six String” Abrams on the twangy Gretsch guitar. With this classic rockabilly arrangement, TVC tackle a mix of early rockabilly, country, and ’40s jump blues, along with some originals and a few unexpected surprises. TVC launched the EERR in 2008, and are the host band of the series. Joining the Riot for the first time are London, Ontario-based combo The Hi-Tones. The Hi-Tones formed in late 2007 as Duke Sedan and the Hi-Tones, gaining success with their amped-up rockabilly sound. When Duke Sedan moved on, the group reshuffled their lineup and incorporated more swing material into their set, resulting in the current sensational jumpin’ and jivin’ sound of The Hi-Tones. The night is guaranteed to kick off on a high note!

DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris and DJ Evilpainclown will be spinning revved-up rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll tunes to set the stage for the live action. Rockin’ Dave Faris hosted his monthly “Rock and Roll Riot” night at The Cameron House for over 7 years, and he is the resident DJ at the “East End Rockabilly Riot” nights. DJ Evilpainclown (aka DJ Johnny for you veterans of the scene!) has been stirring up trouble behind the turntables for a number of years, and was a DJ and live music promoter as part of John and Jenny’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Party for almost a decade. Expect some floor stompin’ rockabilly boogie and hillbilly rock all night long!

The East End Rockabilly Riot was launched in June of 2008, in an effort to create a unique event in a historic venue east of the great dividing line of Yonge St., showcasing rockabilly and vintage rock ‘n’ roll (with a nod to related sounds such as hillbilly, country, psychobilly, and instrumental twang). In a brief two years, EERR has already established itself as one of Toronto’s top rockabilly events, hosting top-notch acts such as Three Blue Teardrops, The Royal Crowns, Lori Yates, The Greasemarks, Burnin’ Ethyl, and Ancient Chinese Secret. Following the successful East End Rockabilly Weekend in September of 2009, EERR continues in high gear for 2010, and the second anniversary show is primed to be a memorable night of loud, fast, out of control rock ‘n’ roll. This is no nostalgia trip, it’s a vital injection of the music here and now, while channeling the excitement and energy found in the music’s infancy.

For more information, contact: eastendrockabillyriot@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/eastendrockabillyriot
www.buzzdeluxe.com
www.myspace.com/tennesseevoodoo
www.myspace.com/rockabillyball
www.myspace.com/djdavidfaris
www.dominiononqueen.com
www.millstreetbrewery.com

Surf and Turf 2 – January 22nd at the Cadillac Lounge

Following in the footsteps of 2009, my first DJ set of 2010 will be at The Cadillac Lounge, as part of the second Surf and Turf night. Surf and Turf was launched in January, 2009, as an effort to present some great surf and rockabilly music on one bill, and it was a blast (see my Jan. 25, '09 post with some photos from the event). This year will feature a similar approach, one surf band, one rockabilly band, and myself as the resident DJ. Tennessee Voodoo Coupe provide the hopped-up rockabilly set, and local instrumental hotshots The Calrizians will deliver the sizzling surf sounds to kick off the night (see my Dec. 14, '08 post on The Calrizians). Hope to see you there! Here is the press release with all the details:

Surf and Turf 2
The second annual surf and rockabilly rumble!
Live at The Cadillac Lounge
Friday, January 22nd, 2010

featuring performances by:
Tennessee Voodoo Coupe
and The Calrizians
with DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris

$10 cover, doors 9 pm, showtime 10 pm
1296 Queen St. W.
For more information, contact: bluemercurycoupe@yahoo.com

Rev up your engines, wax your surfboards, and make The Cadillac Lounge your destination on Friday, January 22nd, for Surf and Turf 2, the first hot ticket of 2010! Returning for a second lively installment, Surf and Turf is a raucous surf and rockabilly showdown, bringing together top-notch live entertainment along with a well-stocked DJ for an evening of musical thrills. Hosted by Toronto’s Tennessee Voodoo Coupe, Surf and Turf 2 welcomes contenders The Calrizians, offering up the instrumental portion of the evening. DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris rounds out the bill, spinning wild rockabilly and wave-riding surf tunes throughout the night.

Tennesee Voodoo Coupe live at the first Surf and Turf, January, 2009

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe are an offshoot of Toronto’s garage punk rockers Blue Mercury Coupe, although they have been making a name for themselves with their “100 proof reckless hillbilly jive.” With BMC’s Big Rude Jake on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and Steve Good on the doghouse bass, TVC round out their lineup with Stevie “Six String” Abrams on the twangy Gretsch guitar, and Colonel Gary Edwards on a minimal standup drum setup. With this classic rockabilly arrangement, TVC tackle a broad mix of music, leaning heavily on early rockabilly, country, and some ’40s jump blues, along with some originals and a few unexpected surprises. TVC have been rocking stages across town for a couple of years, and in 2008 launched the East End Rockabilly Riot series at The Dominion on Queen, most recently expanded to a successful weekend event in September, 2009.

The Calrizians onstage at The Cadillac Lounge, June, 2009

The Calrizians are a Toronto-based instrumental trio, one of the top names on the local surf scene. Featuring the formidable talents of Ben Jewer on death-defying guitar, deft bass wrangler Oscar Laguan, and Jason Sproule pounding out the surf beat, The Calrizians are a force to be reckoned with. Cutting a stylish figure onstage, the group have an impressive repertoire, covering a wide range of classic instrumental rock and surf material and offering up some unexpected surprises throughout their set. The group are regulars at venues around town, such as The Dakota Tavern and The Cadillac Lounge, and were participants in the annual Great Lakes Surf Battle surf music festival in June, 2009.

DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris joins the excitement, spinning red hot rockabilly and surf tunes to set the stage for the live action. Faris has hosted his monthly Rock and Roll Riot night at The Cameron House for 7 years, spinning a wide variety of music from rockabilly to punk, garage, surf, country, blues and much more. In recent years he has spun at BMC/TVC’s Greezefest and Surf and Turf events, John and Jenny’s 2008 Rock’n It Up III rockabilly weekend, and he is the resident DJ at the East End Rockabilly Riot nights. Expect some sizzling surf and rockabilly boogie all night long!

www.myspace.com/bluemercurycoupe
www.myspace.com/thecalrizians
www.myspace.com/djdavidfaris
www.cadillaclounge.com

East End Rockabilly Weekend – September 18th-20th, 2009

This weekend, I will be doing a DJ set at the latest edition of the East End Rockabilly Riot. I've written about the EERR before in The Mysterious Vault, and have had a great time participating in these shows over the last year and a half. The upcoming EERR will be the first full weekend event, the East End Rockabilly Weekend, taking place over 3 days. We have expanded the scope of the event to include films, as well as a vintage bike and auto "Show and Shine", and a Sunday matinee Honky Tonk brunch to end off the weekend, in tribute to Hank Williams' birthday (Sept. 17th). Rather than elaborate more, I will just let the press release do the talking. Hope to see you there!

East End Rockabilly Riot presents:

East End Rockabilly Weekend

Friday, September 18th - Sunday, September 20th

at The Dominion on Queen

500 Queen St. E., Toronto

This fall, the East End Rockabilly Riot stages its most ambitious show to date, the East End Rockabilly Weekend. Taking over The Dominion on Queen for three solid days of rockin’ entertainment, the East End Rockabilly Weekend will be the place to be from September 18th–20th. The previous three successful East End Rockabilly Riot nights at the Dominion have set the stage for this exciting weekend event, which features a rock-solid lineup of live rockabilly acts, DJs, and rock ‘n’ roll movies, as well as a vintage car and bike “Show and Shine” and a Honky Tonk Brunch in celebration of Hank Williams’ birthday. The East End Rockabilly Weekend is the only event of this nature happening in Toronto all year, so mark your calendar and make your way down to the Dominion for a stellar weekend of rockin’ and rollin’!

Live music has always been the primary focus of the East End Rockabilly Riot, and for this fourth installment, the band lineup is our best yet, including some returning favourites, and some out-of-town attractions. EERR showcases live rockabilly acts, along with related genres such as psychobilly, instrumental rock, and country, and September’s bill offers a varied cross-section of artists to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Kicking off the weekend on Friday, Sept. 18th will be The Greasemarks, a three-piece group from Guelph who have been causing a stir with their traditional approach to wild rockabilly mayhem. Joining the Greasemarks and headlining Friday night are the Three Blue Teardrops, a Chicago-based trio known for their frantic stage energy, and high-octane mix of rockabilly, psychobilly, and rock ‘n’ roll. This will be The Three Blue Teardrops’ first Canadian appearance in over two years, so catch them at The Dominion!

Saturday, Sept. 19th, the live music begins early with a matinee performance, and continues on deep into the night. Local 4-piece Big Ass Cracker bring their driving rock’n’roll sound to The Dominion as the live matinee band during Saturday afternoon’s vintage car and bike “Show and Shine”, onstage between 3-6pm. The evening’s live triple header of Toronto groups opens with the phenomenal instrumental sounds of Ancient Chinese Secret (featuring Brian Connelly on guitar), providing a set of eclectic covers and a heavy dose of guitar twang guaranteed to please. EERR host band Tennessee Voodoo Coupe follow, bringing their own unique blend of music to the Riot. Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Big Rude Jake, TVC are an offshoot of Toronto’s garage punk rockers Blue Mercury Coupe, and have been making a name for themselves with their “100 proof reckless hillbilly jive”. Toronto’s premier rockabilly combo, The Royal Crowns, headline Saturday night, and are set to shake the joint with their revved-up high-energy live show. The Royal Crowns will be joined by special guest Lori Yates for this show. Finally, to round out the weekend, Sunday afternoon’s Honky Tonk Brunch will be highlighted by a live performance by Hank Williams on the Lost Highway, in honour of Hank Williams’ birthday.

In addition to the action-packed live lineup happened over the weekend, EERR has also booked some red hot rockin’ DJs, and will be screening two rock ‘n’ roll movies to keep things hoppin’. Friday night, DJ Rock’n’Roll Jenny will be in the house to get the crowd movin’ for The Greasemarks and The Three Blue Teardrops. DJ Rock’n’Roll Jenny has gained a following in T.O. as a rockabilly promoter and DJ, and has just returned from spinning at Montreal’s renowned “Red Hot and Blue Rockabilly Weekend”. DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris rocks the joint on Saturday night, and has been the resident DJ at all of the EERR events so far. He has also hosted his monthly “Rock and Roll Riot” DJ night at The Cameron House for over a half decade, playing a wide variety of music from rockabilly to punk, garage, surf, country, blues and more. And on the big screen, EERR has booked two exciting rock ‘n’ roll movies to add a cinematic angle to the weekend’s activities. Friday night, original ‘50s Alan Freed rock ‘n’ roll film Rock, Rock, Rock! (1956) will be shown, including filmed performances by Chuck Berry, Johnny Burnette Trio, The Moonglows, and more. Saturday, we are proud to present an exclusive screening of the film Rockabilly 514, a 2007 documentary directed by Patricia Chica and Mike Wafer, focusing on Montreal’s rockabilly and vintage lifestyle community.

The East End Rockabilly Weekend hits Toronto September 18th–20th at The Dominion on Queen. Advance tickets are now on sale at Penguin Music (256A Queen St. W.), Sunrise Records (Yonge & Dundas/Yonge & Bloor), and at The Dominion on Queen. For Hotel accommodations, contact the Days Inn (1684 Queen St. E.) for a special rate (ask for the “Rockabilly Rate”). Presented by Mill St. Brewery and Exclaim.ca. Don’t miss it!

For more information, contact: eastendrockabillyriot@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/eastendrockabillyriot
www.dominiononqueen.com
www.millstreetbrewery.com
www.exclaim.ca

East End Rockabilly Riot – 1st anniversary show!

The East End Rockabilly Riot returns to The Dominion on Queen on Saturday, June 13th, for a first anniversary celebration. I am very excited to once more be a participant in this unique rockabilly showcase in Toronto’s east end. While I have my own monthly DJ night (see DJ playlists for details), I really dig spinning records as part of a live music night, and the EERR shows have been great fun over the past year. The initial EERR event was held on June 7th, 2008, featuring live sets by The Royal Crowns and Tennessee Voodoo Coupe. One year later, another exciting lineup hits the stage at The Dominion, with Tennessee Voodoo Coupe returning, joined by rockin’ 2-piece combo Buzz Deluxe. Here is the official press release with all the details:

East End Rockabilly Riot!
First anniversary show

Live at The Dominion on Queen
One night only!
Saturday, June 13th, 2009

featuring performances by:
Tennessee Voodoo Coupe
and
Buzz Deluxe
with
DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris

$10 cover, doors 9 pm, showtime 10:15 pm
500 Queen St. E., (416) 368-6893, www.dominiononqueen.com
Sponsored by Mill St. Brewery

Kick off the summer early, as the East End Rockabilly Riot rocks The Dominion on Queen, Saturday June 13th. The Riot celebrates its first anniversary as it returns for its third edition, featuring live appearances by high-octane local combos Tennessee Voodoo Coupe and Buzz Deluxe, along with DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris providing red hot tunes throughout the evening.

The East End Rockabilly Riot was launched in June of 2008, in an effort to create a unique event in a historic venue east of the great dividing line of Yonge St., showcasing rockabilly and vintage rock ‘n’ roll (with a nod to related sounds such as hillbilly, country, psychobilly, and instrumental twang). Following two successful shows in 2008 (including the Halloween-themed “Night of the Living Rockabillies”), EERR is back for another round in 2009, and all participants are primed to deliver a memorable night of loud, fast, out of control rock ‘n’ roll. This is no nostalgia trip, it’s a vital injection of the music here and now, while channeling the excitement and energy found in the music’s infancy.

Headlining EERR#3 is local 4-piece Tennessee Voodoo Coupe. TVC are an offshoot of Toronto’s garage punk rockers Blue Mercury Coupe, although they have been making a name for themselves with their “100 proof reckless hillbilly jive.” With BMC’s Big Rude Jake on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and Steve Good on doghouse bass, TVC round out their lineup with Stevie “Six String” Abrams on Gretsch guitar, and Colonel Gary Edwards on drums. TVC tackle a mix of early rockabilly, country, and ‘40s jump blues, along with some originals and a few surprises. TVC have been rocking stages across town for a couple of years, and host the EERR series.

Joining the Riot for the first time are T.O. sensations Buzz Deluxe. The duo of Jesse James Dale (guitar, vocals) and Kerry Dale (drums, vocals) have stripped down their setup to the bare essentials, embracing the raw power of rock ‘n’ roll in its most direct form. Buzz Deluxe are 100% blood, sweat and rhythm, slicing fingers on guitar strings, chipping teeth on microphones, and bludgeoning knuckles on drum rims, all in the service of rock ‘n’ roll. They merge a variety of edgy roots influences, from rockabilly and surf guitar to gypsy swing and garage rock, arriving at their own powerful, loud and raunchy sound. Powered by the pounding, driving beats of standup drummer Kerry Dale, and the intense Gretsch twang of Jesse James Dale, Buzz Deluxe will tear the place up and keep audiences movin’ and shakin’.

DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris will be spinning revved-up rockabilly and rock ‘n’ roll tunes to set the stage for the live action. Faris has hosted his monthly “Rock and Roll Riot” night at The Cameron House for over half a decade, spinning a wide variety of music from rockabilly to punk, garage, surf, country, blues and much more. He has spun at all of the East End Rockabilly Riot events, and at John and Jenny’s 2008 “Rock’n It Up III” Rockabilly weekender at The Cadillac Lounge. Expect some floor stompin’ rockabilly boogie and hillbilly rock all night long!

For more information, contact: eastendrockabillyriot@yahoo.com

www.myspace.com/bluemercurycoupe
www.myspace.com/buzzdeluxe
www.buzzdeluxe.com
www.dominiononqueen.com
www.millstreetbrewery.com

The sound and fury of Surf and Turf

My first DJ set of 2009 was at The Cadillac Lounge on January 17th, as part of Surf and Turf, an evening of surf and rockabilly music. I posted the full press release on The Mysterious Vault a few weeks ago, for more background information on the show (see Jan. 7th posting). Surf and Turf was a simple concept – one surf band (The Vondells) and one rockabilly band (Tennessee Voodoo Coupe) facing off onstage – and I was thrilled to be part of the action, spinning tunes to set the stage for the live acts. Anyone who knows me, or who has followed this blog, will no doubt be aware of my enthusiasm for both surf and rockabilly music, so an event like this was right up my alley! Since I’ve been posting snippets of my DJ setlists on The Mysterious Vault, I thought I’d continue with a selection of songs from Surf and Turf. In keeping with the theme, I’ve assembled a list of 10 surf and 10 rockabilly songs from the night (the list appears at the end of the post).

The Cadillac Lounge was a natural setting for Surf and Turf, being a venue that regularly features both types of music. The evening’s festivities got off to a bit of a hectic start, as there was a matinee show booked earlier the same day that ran late, but things quickly fell into place and both bands got in decent sets.

The Vondells kick off Surf and Turf 

at The Cadillac Lounge

Guitarist Danny Bartley takes the Gretsch 

into surf country

The Vondells (l to r): Neil Bartley (drums), 

Danny Bartley (guitar), Ken Badger (bass)

The Vondells power through some dazzling instrumental workouts

The Vondells opened the proceedings with a solid set of surf instrumental pyrotechnics. This mysterious 3-piece unit were making a rare appearance with this show, and although they aren't a fixture of the live circuit, their performance was quite impressive and consistent throughout. The Vondells are comprised of Danny Bartley on guitar (better known as the frontman for The Royal Crowns), brother Neil Bartley on drums (ex-Shotgun Shack), and bassist Ken Badger (who I learned was a member of Toronto first-wave punk band The Scenics). Even if The Vondells is just a casual side project, these guys perform with a great deal of intensity and purpose. The setlist was all originals (with great titles like “Calling All Cars” and “Lakeshore Boulevard”), other than a cover of the themesong to the ‘60s exploitation film Beat Girl! This selection surprised me, as very few people I know are even aware of this great John Barry soundtrack. The title song is a menacing, twangy guitar-led piece, and should be a standard right up there with "Peter Gunn" and the James Bond theme as far as I’m concerned. The Vondells brought this classic to life and made it their own, and played a full set of wicked epic instrumentals. I’m hoping that this gang is back on the scene sooner than later!

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe onstage at the Cadillac Lounge (l to r):

Steve Abrahms (guitar), Big Rude Jake (vocals, guitar), Col. Gary Edwards (drums), Steve Good (bass)

 

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe deliver a shot of their "100 proof reckless hillbilly jive"

The rockabilly quotient of Surf and Turf was provided by Tennessee Voodoo Coupe, a local quartet that is a spin-off of garage punk-abilly rockers Blue Mercury Coupe. I’ve mentioned these two bands on a number of occasions in The Mysterious Vault, in part because I’ve spun records at quite a few of their shows over the past two years, and also because I dig both groups. TVC put this event together, and rounded out the evening with a fun set of rockabilly, country, jump blues, and inspired covers. Their show got off to a delayed start due to some technical glitches (even bare-bones rockabilly setups can have technical problems!), but it kicked into gear with a nice cover of “Mystery Train”, and picked up steam from there. The vibe onstage was casual, and lead singer Big Rude Jake kept a running gag going on the theme of Mill Street Tankhouse Ale… Might seem a bit odd, but TVC guitarist Stevie “Six String” Abrams is one of the men behind the fine local brewery, so it all makes sense. At least I think it does... TVC's setlist covered a lot of ground, mixing in stripped-down versions of Blue Mercury Coupe songs “Hot Rod Racer” and "Trans American", rockabilly numbers like “Driving Wheel", "Ubangi Stomp" and "Just Because", a spirited “Folsom Prison Blues”, and rockin’ takes on punky classics “Brand New Cadillac” and “Rockaway Beach”. While this wasn’t necessarily the best show I’ve seen by these guys (that would be their date at The Dakota Tavern last November), they certainly played a good set and ended Surf and Turf on a positive note. In retrospect, I was somewhat disappointed by the overall turnout, but considering the cold and snowy weather that night, I wasn’t that surprised. January shows are always a bit of a risky prospect, but Surf and Turf was a nice place to be on a blustery winter’s night. If all goes well, Surf and Turf will be back for another round when you least expect it.

TVC rock some Sun classics on a cold January night

20 songs from Surf and Turf at The Cadillac Lounge

Los Twang! Marvels “Queen Gipsy Witch”
Dick Dale & The Deltones “Let’s Go Trippin’”
Wes Dakus & The Rebels “Surfs You Rite”
The Shutdowns “Four In The Floor”
The Von Drats “Church Key”
Los Straitjackets “San Diego Shutdown”
Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet “Bennett Cerf”
Huevos Rancheros “Diamond Head”
Peter Wave & The Silver Arrows “Silver Arrows Stomp”
The Saints “Wipe Out”
Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps “Race With The Devil”
Buddy Knox “Rockhouse”
Danny Gatton “Elmira St. Boogie”
Swing Cats “Viva Las Vegas”
The Cramps “The Way I Walk”
Handsome Ned “Put The Blame On Me”
Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Trio “Hold Me”
Joe Clay “Sixteen Chicks”
Jack Scott “Baby She’s Gone”
The Royal Crowns “Give It To You”

Surf and Turf – January 17th at the Cadillac Lounge

From my final DJ set of 2008, to my first booking of 2009. I will be spinning some prime surf and rockabilly cuts at this event at The Cadillac Lounge, featuring live music by Tennessee Voodoo Coupe and The Vondells. I'm really looking forward to this one! Here is the official press release with all the details:

Surf and Turf
a surf and rockabilly rumble

Live at The Cadillac Lounge
One night only!
Saturday, January 17th, 2009

featuring performances by:
Tennessee Voodoo Coupe
and The Vondells
with DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris

$10 cover, doors 9 pm, showtime 10 pm
1296 Queen St. W., www.cadillaclounge.com

The Cadillac Lounge is the place to be on Saturday, January 17th, for Surf and Turf, the first hot ticket of 2009. Hosted by Tennessee Voodoo Coupe, this event brings together live surf and rockabilly acts for a showdown that is sure to be dynamite! Surf and Turf will heat up the Cadillac Lounge in the dead of winter, and rock the house with some killer tunes. Joining TVC on the bill will be instrumental surf trio The Vondells, making a rare appearance, and DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris spinning red hot sounds throughout the evening.

Tennessee Voodoo Coupe are an offshoot of Toronto’s garage punk rockers Blue Mercury Coupe, although they have been gradually making a name for themselves on the local scene with their “100 proof reckless hillbilly jive.” With BMC’s Big Rude Jake on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and Steve Good on the doghouse bass, TVC round out their lineup with Stevie “Six String” Abrams on the twangy Gretsch guitar, and Colonel Gary Edwards on a minimal standup drum setup. With this classic rockabilly arrangement, TVC tackle a broad mix of music, leaning heavily on early rockabilly, country, and ‘40s jump blues, along with some originals and a few unexpected surprises. TVC have been rocking stages across town for a couple of years (most recently at Graffiti’s and The Dakota Tavern), and in 2008 launched the East End Rockabilly Riot series with two memorable shows at The Dominion on Queen, joined by The Royal Crowns. Surf and Turf is the Coupe’s latest endeavor, and is just the beginning for 2009.

The Vondells provide the surf on this exciting bill, and are not to be missed! This is a rare opportunity to see The Vondells in action, as they play very infrequently, but have more than enough credentials to make it an occasion. The instrumental trio is fronted by Danny Bartley, moonlighting from his main gig as the lead vocalist/guitarist for Toronto’s premiere rockabilly combo, The Royal Crowns. It would not be an understatement to declare Bartley one of the top rockabilly guitarists in the nation, and his resumé also includes time with Shotgun Shack, The Razorbacks, and Robert Gordon. While the Crowns have a surf number or two in their set, The Vondells allows Bartley to shift gears and cut loose on some instrumental mayhem. Bartley’s brother, Neil Bartley, will provide the essential surf beat, and Ken Badger will hold down the bass duties, completing The Vondells lineup. The trio have a long history together, having played as a rockabilly group in the mid-‘80s in Markdale before moving to Toronto, and Neil and Danny performed in Shotgun Shack before the days of The Royal Crowns. Check out their latest incarnation and get ready for some death-defying surf thrills!

DJ “Surfin” Dave Faris joins the excitement, spinning revved-up rockabilly and surf tunes to set the stage for the live action. Faris has been a DJ since the late ‘80s, and has hosted his monthly “Rock and Roll Riot” night at The Cameron House for over half a decade, spinning a wide variety of music from rockabilly and psychobilly to punk, garage, surf, country, blues, lounge and much more. He has joined Blue Mercury Coupe and Tennessee Voodoo Coupe for numerous events over the last 2 years, including Greezefest and the East End Rockabilly Riots, and recently spun at John and Jenny’s “Rock’n It Up III” Rockabilly weekender at the Cadillac Lounge. Expect some sizzling surf and rockabilly boogie all night long!

Adios to 2008 with the Camp Combo

Fred Spek's Camp Combo live at The Local, December 30th, 2008

As 2008 draws to a close, I thought it would be appropriate to post some photos from the last show that I saw this year. The year in live music closed out for me last night at The Local, a cozy little pub within walking distance of home, with a live performance by Fred Spek's Camp Combo. This was a great night out, an intimate venue and an upbeat, swingin' set from a highly entertaining alt-jazz outfit. Fred Spek leads the Camp Combo, a unique quartet on the Toronto jazz scene in that they operate almost as a novelty act, selecting obscure and unusual numbers from the distant past to complement their own off-kilter originals. They sound a bit like a circus sideshow act, a ramshackle group of players belting out songs heard on scratchy old 78s and LPs found at garage sales, but behind all the wacky fun are some serious chops to back it up.

The Camp Combo (l to r): Fred Spek (sax), Nichol Robertson (guitar), Great Bob Scott (drums), and Rachel Melas (bass)

I've known Fred for two decades now (has it been that long?!), and he's always known how to deliver a good performance with an edge. I first met him when he was playing with an underground experimental art/jazz/punk group known as Blank Crowd. This St. Catharines-based project (eventually relocating to Toronto) were quite original at the time, particularly on the Canadian scene, maybe distant cousins to The Lounge Lizards or some of the post-punk bands flying under the radar in the mid-'80s. Fred played an angular, art-damaged sax, banged a snare drum, snarled vocals, and programmed stark beats on a drum machine within the context of Blank Crowd, and it was something to behold. From there, he moved on through various other groups, including Braino, D.E.A. (Dub Enforcement Agency) and The Mood Swingers (the precursor to the Camp Combo), away from the angst and into a jazzier world. Fred even spent a brief amount of time in my own project, post-industrial electro-pop group Parade, back in the early '90s, before figuring out that jazz was where it was at. He has continued to chart out original territory on the jazz scene with his latest endeavor.

Sharp-dressed man Fred Spek takes the mic

One more for the road...

Spek and his band of merry jazz pranksters were in good form at The Local, spreading some holiday goodwill and revelry to send out 2008 on a positive note. The Local has to have one of the smallest stages around, but the Camp Combo didn't seem to mind, and they treated the audience to two sets of unpredictable song selections to confound and delight. Opening with their signature tune, the vaudvillian "Camper Fanfare", and tackling other originals such as the moody "Cairo", "Rock Paper Scissors", and "Irony Rhumba", the Camp Combo proved to have some composititional talents behind the novelty front. A colourful assortment of song filled out the remainder of the setlist, including (from my hazy memory) "Baby Elephant Walk", "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise", "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", "Animal Crackers In My Soup", "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)", and the themesong to TV show "The Hilarious House of Frightenstein". How's that for entertainment? Some good light-hearted fun, occasionally veering into debauched and bawdy songs (something about a burlesque dancer named Tanya Cheex!). The Camp Combo's lineup tends to change from show to show, and this evening's group consisted of Fred Spek on sax and vocals, guitarist Nichol Robertson, bassist Rachel Melas, and the legendary Great Bob Scott on drums. This was the first time I'd seen the Combo with Scott in the drum seat, and he was a great fit for the group, adding his usual wild and crazy charm and impeccable chops to the performance.

That was my final taste of live music in 2008. From there, it was off into the night, to navigate my way home through snow-covered streets, echoes of old jazz songs and irresistible melodies ringing in my ears. This is what it's all about.

The Calrizians' seasonal surf heats up the Cadillac Lounge

Last night, local surf/instrumental sensations The Calrizians warmed up the newly-expanded Cadillac Lounge with some holiday cheer, spiking their set with a few Christmas classics in the spirit of the season. The sleek four-piece instrumental outfit are relative newcomers on the Toronto scene, although they tear through an impressive repetoire of material with a confident swagger that would have you thinking that they'd been playing together for years. Despite the fact that surf rock is considered a bit out of fashion these days, having seen an explosive revival in the mid-'90s in the wake of Quentin Tarantino's massively successful Pulp Fiction, only to fade in popularity by the turn of the century, Toronto has a pretty strong community of bands keeping this sound alive (if you have any doubts, check out the annual 2-night Great Lakes Surf Battle festival), and The Calrizians are one of the top torchbearers of the scene. I'd only seen The Calrizians play once before, last summer at The Dakota Tavern, and was an instant convert, so I was eager to see them perform again.

The Calrizians rock the instrumentals onstage at the Cadillac Lounge

Last night's gig was billed as "Christmas with The Calrizians", and a festive spirit was certainly in the air at the Cadillac Lounge, which has recently opened up a whole new section, significantly increasing the venue's capacity. The Calrizians performed three sets of music, with a heavy leaning on covers of instrumental rock standards, spiced up by a couple of Christmas tunes given a surfy twist. Christmas songs translate remarkably well to the surf format, and the Calrizians were game with their interpretations of holiday favourites such as "Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bell Rock". Anyone who has listened to The Ventures' Christmas Album or 'Tis The Season for Los Straitjackets! (two of my favourite Christmas albums!) will have heard similar surf/Christmas tune mashups before, such as The Ventures' clever fusion of "Walk Don't Run" and "Sleigh Ride". The Calrizians weren't necessarily breaking any new ground here, but they did capture the lighthearted spirit of these songs and put a nice surfy spin on some old chestnuts.

The Calrizians take care of some business at the Caddy 

The bulk of The Calrizian's show consisted of familiar instrumental numbers, which they took on with considerable success. The group dress in matching black suits (and sneakers!), putting forth a slightly menacing image onstage – they look like they just stepped out of Reservoir Dogs, and took to the stage to take care of some "business." Indeed, they open the proceedings with "Surf Rider", a moody surf classic used in the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, and later on in the set tackle two more songs associated with the film. Any surf band willing to take on "Misirlou", Dick Dale's ferocious signature tune, has got guts, and The Calrizians rip through it with gusto, guitarist Ben Jewer shredding with the best of 'em. Other Dale material is performed, along with several tracks made famous by The Ventures ("Walk Don't Run", "Perfidia", "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue"), and much more over three sets. 

A few other memorable covers from the evening include "Apache" (a true instrumental standard recorded by too many bands to mention), "Harlem Nocturne" (in the spirit of The Viscounts), and Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet's slinky "Shake Some Evil". These guys have got some taste when it comes to selecting material, but any band doing Shadowy Men justice gets extra points in my books. Adding further character to The Calrizians' sound is Chip Snider, who contributes both saxophone and rhythm guitar. The sax component is an element that is missing in so many instrumental bands. It is really used to good effect in The Calrizians, adding a raw and raunchy undercurrent to the music, in the tradition of bands like The Champs, The Lively Ones, or twangy guitar king Duane Eddy. In addition to the above-mentioned titles, the group performed quite a few songs which I didn't recognize, either covers I was not familiar with, or more likely originals. Overall, the evening was great fun, and The Calrizians certainly provided ample musical thrills to ring in the holiday season. A tip of the hat must go to Sam, the owner and music booker at the Cadillac, for supporting instrumental groups like the Calrizians. Whether intentionally or not, this was the third night in a row of live instro music at the Cadillac Lounge, the previous two evenings featuring appearances by Ancient Chinese Secret (an all-covers offshoot of Atomic 7) and surf/garage unit The Von Drats. Cowabunga, and to all a good night!

Chip Snider blasts the sax

Guitarist Ben Jewer works out the Gretsch