Monthly Archives: November 2014

DYNAGROOVE, now with Peanut Butter!

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Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Peanut Butter Brown swing at the DYNAGROOVE!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Peanut Butter Brown swing at the DYNAGROOVE!

November 14 is the birthday of our pal and fellow DJ Peanut Butter Brown. For the last year or so, he has been busy organizing a cool soul music party in Harlem called The Uptown Getdown. In fact, one was held the night before this (the 13th—see previous Boogaloo Bag entry). The 14th happened to fall on a DYNAGROOVE night, so a Peanut Butter Brown birthday bash featuring all soul music all the time was most certainly called for.

The evening at Teddy’s Bar & Grill commenced with host DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swingin’ with the soul music as Mr. Peanut Butter dined on the excellent fish tacos, newly added to the menu. Then, Mr. Peanut Butter took control of the room by playing many of his favorite soul 45s, including the one by Carl Carlton.

During the evening several local DJs were on hand to dig the scene, including Nogood Nick, Jumpy, Mr. Fine Wine and One Mint Julep. Some came to salute Mr. Peanut Butter, others to eat Teddy’s fine food and everybody dug the great music.

Here’s a complete list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus (some with links to the yootubes for the Boogaloo Bag reader to dig):

None of these records are for sale. Photos by Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner.

Nogood Nick and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus discuss one of the finer points of soul music at the DYNAGROOVE!

Nogood Nick and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus discuss one of the finer points of soul music at the DYNAGROOVE!

Boogaloo Goes Uptown!

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Uptown Getdown DJs: Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, Honey Dew Sue, Peanut Butter Brown.

Uptown Getdown DJs: Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, Honey Dew Sue, Peanut Butter Brown.

The Uptown Getdown is a fairly recent excursion into the soul dance scene, hosted by our pal Peanut Butter Brown. It is held uptown in Harlem and, although it is a groovy thing, it has had about four or five different locations each time it has taken place. On Thursday November 13, it swung at a bar called Camaradas way up First Avenue at 115th Street. It’s a very hip joint that serves very excellent empenadas, along with the usual frothy drinks. On this cold and rainy evening, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was guest DJ, along with Honey Dew Sue and the host, Mr. Peanut Butter—who, at midnight celebrated his birthday! The DJs kept the room warm by playing hot soul records all night long.

And because we were in Spanish Harlem, our pal Alex De Laszlo dropped by to play some sweet Latin Soul records, which spiced up the evening considerably.

Here’s a list of all the songs played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Uptown Getdown (some with youtubes links!:

None of these records are for sale.

The Boog swings at the Uptown Getdown!

The Boog swings at the Uptown Getdown!

Photos by Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner.

Finger Lickin’ Spook-a-Loo!

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Los Straitjackets swing at The Bell House on Halloween!

Los Straitjackets swing at The Bell House on Halloween!

Halloween night can be a drag. Or it can be the most fun in the world: especially when The Fleshtones, Los Straitjackets and Finger Lickin’ Friday are involved. On Halloween night, 2014, all of these ingredients were most definitely in full effect: The Fleshtones and Los Straitjackets split a bill at The Bell House, and Finger Lickin’ Friday also took place that evening at the Grand Victory, with Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus signed on as guest DJ.

Deke Dickerson swings with Los Straitjackets at The Bell House on Halloween.

Deke Dickerson swings with Los Straitjackets at The Bell House on Halloween.

The fun and excitement commenced upon walking into the main show room of The Bell House, where our pal Todd-O-Phonic Todd was spinning spooky records as the crowds waited in anticipation of the appearance of the world’s greatest Super Rock band, The Fleshtones. The ‘Tones did not disappoint—the group played a super fine set of favorites and new songs and rockin’ stuff and all sorts of great-googly-moogly! Included in the show was the Boogaloo Bag favorite “Dance With the Ghoul Man” that was resurrected just for the occasion.

The be-masked Los Straitjackets are one of America’s greatest Rock ’n’ Roll instrumental groups of all time. Their brand of souped-up, super-sonic surf music is simply sensational! When a fabulous vocalist augments the group, such as the case on this night in the personage of Deke Dickerson, the group just takes off into outer space. Mr. Dickerson was in the guise of an undead Elvis and added blood-curdling screams in the night!

The festivities at The Bell House came to an end when Peter Zaremba and Keith Streng (donning a wolf’s head mask) of The Fleshtones sang “Que Monstrous Son” with Los Straitjackets. What can top that?

C.Gaskins

Charles Gaskins swings at Finger Lickin’ Friday!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus wings at Finger Lickin' Friday!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swings at Finger Lickin’ Friday!

Then it was off to Williamsburg and the Grand Victory for Finger Lickin’ Friday, which was already in progress. For those unhip to the scene, Finger Lickin’ Friday is a cool DJ night hosted by our pals Charles Gaskins and Drew Redmond. These two boss jocks play the wildest in rock’n’roll, R&B and such all night long, as Brooklyn Babydoll shakes her thing on the stage. Not only was this event happening on Halloween (several people were dressed as animals!), but it was also billed as a tribute to The Cramps. Indeed, as the Boogaloo Bag writers entered the venue, guest DJ Señor Dos Platos was blastin’ a Cramps track and then one that they covered.

Since Finger Lickin’ Friday takes place on the last Friday of the month, it often conflicts with Phast Phreddie’s nights at the Commodore. However, with no Commodore action in October, The Phast Man was able to make the scene with a box of 45s, including a couple with a distinct Cramps-like vibe, spooky Halloween thrillers and some out-and-out rockers. Here’s a list of all the records Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played (with links for you to dig most of them!!:

Peter Zaremba of The Fleshtones does the Frankenstein Walk at The Bell House!

Peter Zaremba of The Fleshtones does the Frankenstein Walk at The Bell House!

None of these records are for sale.

Peter Zaremba swings with Los Straitjackets at The Bell House!!!

Peter Zaremba swings with Los Straitjackets at The Bell House!!!