One of the best bands I saw at last May’s Ponderosa Stomp in Memphis was an original garage band from Ohio called the Alarm Clocks. They only issued one rare single back in 1966 (No Reason to Complain b/w Yeah!) but it’s become a classic since it was first rereleased on a Back From the Grave compilation on Crypt Records in the 80s. Earlier this year they decided to get back together with all 3 original members plus a new lead guitarist, 40 years after they last played together! They played in Cleveland and sold out the hall, and then played in Memphis in May. They played fairly early in the evening so it wasn’t a big crowd but they blew us all away. They did their old numbers and some new ones, and all the songs were great! They didn’t just do an “oldies” set like so many reformed 60s garage bands do these days.
For those lucky folks in New York and environs, they are playing tonight in Brooklyn at the Dot Dash Festival at Southpaw at 125 5th Ave. For those unlucky ones who can’t be there tonight they played on Thursday night on the world’s best radio show Music to Spazz By with Dave the Spazz on the world’s best radio station WFMU, and the archive can be heard here.
They also have recorded a bunch of new songs in Detroit at Freddy Fortune’s studio which will be released soon on Norton Records, along with a cover of The Last Time on one of Norton’s Rolling Stones covers split singles!
Today Tom Ingram announced the scheduled acts for the Tenth Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. I can’t believe it’s been going this long. I missed the first one, but went to the second one in 1999 and every one afterwards except this year, because I decided to finally go to the Ponderosa Stomp festival (in Memphis this year) instead. Some people go to VLV primarily to socialize but for me it’s mostly about the great music. This year I just felt that I could see far more veteran musicians that I had not seen before, and with a bigger variety of musical styles, at the Ponderosa Stomp. I was not disappointed - it was a great event with some of the best performances I’ve ever seen. Still, I missed going to Viva Las Vegas this year because, well, it’s Vegas! So, I already have my hotel room for the Gold Coast booked for Viva Las Vegas 10 (all rooms are already sold out).
Also in 2007 is the return of the Rockin’ 50s Fest in Green Bay, Wisconsin. It has occured every 2 years (making this one the third), probably because it takes so long to plan such a huge event. It lasts over 7 days with an amazing array of talent, old and new, on several stages at the Oneida Indian Reservation Casino. I missed the first one because I chose to go to VLV instead but in 2005 I went to both VLV and Green Bay, and they were both in the month of April! Next year I’m going to Green Bay again for sure, but luckily the event is about one month after VLV and it’s in May so I hope it will be a little warmer in Wisconsin this time. Only a few acts have been announced so far but what a lineup! - Little Richard, the Collins Kids, Jack Scott, Sun artists Carl Mann and Billy Lee Riley (who always puts on a great show), and the Cadillacs.
WWJD? Go to both VLV and Green Bay!
Viva Las Vegas - VLV Rockabilly Weekender
Green Bay Rockin’ 50s Fest III
I can’t think of anyone but Paul Weller that could sell me a new shirt,
as I usually only buy vintage clothes. But I signed up for this. No idea
how much it will cost yet.
I’ll be offering up some intoxicating sounds in the tropical splendor of the Forbidden Island Tiki Lounge on Tuesday July 18th from 7:30 on. Expect to hear plenty of exotica and instrumentals from the 50s and 60s, plus a bit of rockabilly, some hillbilly hula, and 60s soul and garage.
Enjoy a delicious cocktail from the menu of 38 tropical drink specialties and you’ll feel like you’re in paradise.
What Would Jab Do? Come early for happy hour drink specials (from 5:00-7:00) and stay for the tunes!
Forbidden Island
1304 Lincoln Ave (at Sherman)
Alameda, CA
510-749-0332
www.forbiddenislandalameda.com
Ray Davies is on tour, and some nice friends offered me a ticket for tonight’s performance at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. I’m looking forward to it as the word is out that is his band is good and he’s been doing long sets with plenty of Kinks songs mixed in with new songs from his recent album Other People’s Lives.
Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster for the hefty price of $35.
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