Host DJ Xerox and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swing at the Tenth Anniversary of Copycat Cover Song Night!

Copycat Night is a night of fun and excitement that is held twice a month at Otto’s Shrunken Head and hosted by our friend DJ Xerox. It involves Mr. Xerox picking an act to hail and asking some bands to come play and include several songs by said act in their sets; and by inviting some DJs to play records of artists interpreting other artists’ songs. (Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus has been such a guest many times over the years.)  This activity apparently has been going on for a long enough time for it to celebrate ten years on Wednesday August 13.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, Jonathan Toubin and DJ Xerox celebrate ten years of Copycat Cover Song Night!

For the Copycat Night Tenth Anniversary Extravaganza, DJ Xerox booked Emma Craig and her band to play songs from the movies Grease, Grease 2, Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shock Treatment. DJs selected to select records included Drew Redmond, Jonathan Toubin, Captain Heartlock, MC Huge, Greg-Gory and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus. Cat videos played on the TV screen all night and the excellent bar tenders poured rum drinks adorned with plastic monkeys and umbrellas.

Captain Heartlock, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Drew Redmond swing at Otto’s Shrunken Head!

DJ Xerox is congratulated by Captain Heartlock and Jonathan Toubin for presenting ten years of Copycat Night!

Mr. Redmond was first on the scene, and the Boogaloo Bag writers were hoping to catch his set, but the slowest R Train in the world made sure that this would not happen. The Boogaloo Omnibus arrived just in time to start his set, then proceeded to let it rip, playing all New Wave records (ie, records made after 1975), many with involvement by close personal friends. As his allotted thirty minutes were coming to an end, he was asked to spin a little longer as the band had not yet arrived. This he was able to do for a while, but since he didn’t bring very many records–and the last one played was the B-side of an earlier spin–Drew Redmond was asked to return to the turntables. Mr. Redmond always packs plenty of records, and the Boogaloo Bag writers were delighted that they were able to dig him in action after all. He did not disappoint. He played his coveted original pressing of the MC5’s magnificent version of Them’s “I Can Only Give You Everything” on AMG. What a boss record!

Finally, the band appeared and played its 45 minute set, during which our friends Jonathan Toubin, Captain Heartlock and Matt Clarke also showed up and the Boogaloo Bag writers were so busy discussing things with them that not much of the Emma Craig show was experienced. Whaaahhh! But we did get this fine photo…

Emma Craig and her band swing at Otto’s Shrunken head!

After the bands set, Mr. Toubin wowed everybody with Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life” as played by the contemporary bluegrass band The Bad Livers. His fabulous set also included an MC5 song–“Ramblin’ Rose,” a song first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun records, but mostly known by the great soul singer Ted Taylor.

Unfortunately, the Boogaloo Bag writers couldn’t stay much longer than halfway, and through Mr. Toubin’s set they went home (via the F Train).

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus displays his groovy Freddy Cannon with the Gears record!

Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Copycat Night 10 Year Cataversery:

• Screaming Dizbüsters–This Ain’t the Summer of Love (Amigo; Sweden)
• The Zeros–Pushin’ Too Hard (Planet of Noise; Sweden)
• The Zippers–He’s a Rebel (Back Door Man)
• The Fleshtones–Ride Your Pony (I.R.S.)
• Hüsker Dü–Love Is All Around (SST)
• Sea Monkeys–Food Emporium (Vital Music)
• Eli “Paperboy” Reed & the True Loves–Ace of Spades (Q-dee)
• Minutemen–The Red and the Black [from EP Tour-Spiel] (Reflex)
• The Long Ryders–I Want You Bad (Island; UK)
• Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon & the Gears–Move It On Over (Wondercap)
• The Rosalyns–Destroy That Boy [from EP Hide and Seek] (Ugly Things)
• Patti Smith Group–My Generation (Arista)
• The Fall–Victoria (Beggars Banquet; UK)
• Scientists–Clear Spot (Munster; Spain)
• The Dirtbombs–No Expectations (Norton)
• The Pointer Sisters–Wang Dang Doodle (Blue Thumb)
• The Love Supremes–Sing This All Together (Norton)

None of these records are for sale.

DJ Xerox circulated buttons for the event! The top one is courtesy of Juke Joint Jonny.

Connie T Empress does the boogaloo in front of the Robert Bar, emphasizing the magnificence of her tiara. Photo montage by Luis Zuluaga.

On July 27, Joshua White, an owner of the tastefully appointed Robert Bar in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, posted on the Facedog that he needed a DJ for Saturday August 19. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus–living up to his name, for once–saw it and pounced. Maybe a second or two later, Connie T Empress, the Empress of Soul Records, also saw it and asked for the night. Thus, it was decided that the tiara-wearing Empress and be-fezzed Boogaloo Omnibus join forces on this evening in order to present Tiara vs Fez: There’s Gonna Be a Showdown!

Empress at the controls!

As has been written previously in the Boogaloo Bag , Connie T Empress was the den mother of the late, great Empire State Soul Club. Also, that Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus is the resident DJ for the Subway Soul Club. So you just know that when these two get together a few soul records will be played.

And so they were.

Connie T Empress and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus display their respective headgear at the Robert Bar! Photo by Christopher Kay.

The Empress excited all the attendees with her excellent selection of favorites from the Empire State Soul Club days. Those ESSC events were so fabulous and every record that Miss Connie played reminded us all just how so. The Boog, on the other hand, played a bunch of new acquisitions along with a few old favorites and folks seemed to dig it anyway.

Brooklyn Babydoll and her man Jack swing at the Robert Bar!

Another one of the highlights of the night were the yummy oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies baked by Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner. Although she was unable to make the scene, her presence was very much felt! Thank you, Miss Nancy! It was great to see some familiar faces at the Robert Bar and we met some new folks, too, including Christopher Kay and Luis Zuluaga, both of whom took some photos that are presented here in this Boogaloo Bag post. Thank you, people!

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at Tiara vs Fezz: There’s Gonna Be a Showdown!

• Sam Wright Group–Green Onions (Curio)
• Rudy Robinson–The Mustang – Part One (Wheel City)
• The O’Jays–I Dig Your Act (Bell)
• The Spidells featuring Billy Lockridge–Hmmm With Feeling Darling (Monza)
• Bobby Newton & Tina Blount–Your Love Gets Sweeter Everyday (Intrepid)
• The Dynamics–Dum-De-Dum (Cotillion)
• Sherry Pye–Gimme a Break (Match)
• The Grandisons–Daddy Roll ‘Em (RCA Victor)
• Betty Mabry–It’s My Life (Columbia)
• Les Mersey’s–T’en Fais Pas Jacques (Hit the Road Jack) (Premiére; Canada)
• Carlos and the Rivingtons–Reach Our Goal (Baton Master)
• The Miracles–Happy Landing (Tamla)
• Joe Bataan–Es Tu Cosa (It’s Your Thing) (Fania)
• The Van-Dells–Honeydripper (Stax)
• Oliver Morgan–Hold Your Dog (GNP Crescendo)
• The Four Singing Avalons–The Yankee Dance (Atco)
• Thelma Jones–The House That Jack Built (Barry!)
• The Salem Travelers–Wade in the Water (Halo)
• The Ikettes–Make Em Wait (Pompeii)
• The Dells–There Is (Cadet)
• The Four Larks–Groovin’ at the Go-Go (Tower)
• Johnny Tame–Steak & Cake (Fontana; German)
• The Kittens–Shindig (ABC Paramount)
• Troy Dodds–Earthquake (Baytown)
• Ozz & His Sperlings–Somebody to Love (M.I.O.B.)
• Sly & the Family Stone–Ride the Rhythm [from EP Free Mini LP] (Epic; UK)
• Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez–Fiddle Sticks (Chess; Canada)
• Watson and the Sherlocks–Standing on the Corner (Soulville)
• Larry & the Mighty Storms–Eldorado Suzie (Atco)
• Eddie Bo–Just Like a Monkey (Cinderella)
• The Undisputed Truth–You Got the Love I Need (Gordy)
• Warlock–You’ve Been My Rock (Music Merchant)
• Wilson Pickett–Mama Told Me Not to Come (Atlantic)
• The Intrigues–Let’s Dance (Yew)
• The Mighty Hannibal–Get in the Groove (Loma)
• The Kickapoo Kidd and the Deputies–The Kick-A-Poo Pt. 1 (Soulville)
• Bobby Taylor–Mashed Potatoe Time (Club Long Island)
• The Honey Drippers–Impeach the President (Alaga)
• Marie ‘Queenie’ Lyons–See and Don’t See (DeLuxe)
• Kitty Montgomery–Hey Boy (Sanns)
• The Volcanos–You’re Number 1 (Arctic)
• The Peaches–Music to My Ears (Constellation)
• Kenny Bernard–Ain’t No Soul (Left in These Ole Shoes) (Compass)
• Nicoletta–Vis Ta Vie (Riviera; France)
• Jessica James–We’ll Be Makin’ Out (DynoVoice)
• Jr. Walker & the All Stars–Shoot Your Shot (Soul)
• Johnny Griffith accompanied by Billy Sha-Rae’s Band–Do It (Triple ‘B’)
• Harvey Scales & the Seven Sounds–Broadway Freeze (Magic Touch)
• James Duncan–Too Hot to Hold (King)
• Howlin’ Wolf–Pop It to Me (Chess)

None of these records are for sale. Dig the links to the youtubes and dig the soul sounds!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Connie T Empress swing at the Robert Bar!

Kid Congo and Phast Phreddie swing at the Second Anniversary of WHAM-O WATUSI!

The very first WHAM-O WATUSI took place on July 10, 2015–originally billed as a “one night only” event hosted by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus with guest DJ Rata on hand to spice up the festivities. It was such a success that the owner of the Bootleg Bar, Mr. Bobby Rich, insisted that the WHAM-O return to the club. It did, of course, eventually settling in on the first Saturday of the month–well, usually.

The WHAM-O was advertised as “a whole new scene, concocted in the Wang Dang Doodle laboratory by crazy people. It is the playing of old 45 RPM records containing all sorts of reet sounds: in other words—folks bangin’ on shit and screamin’!!!” Things have not changed since then. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and his fabulous guest DJs have done a very consistent job in spinning only the bossest, wildest, reetest of sounds–in other words, folks bangin’ on shit and screamin’! This has been going on for two years! So a celebration was in order and it took place on Saturday August 5.

Guest DJ for the Two Year Anniversary of WHAM-O WATUSI was the legendary Kid Congo Powers. As you know, The Kid was a guitarist for The Gun Club and The Cramps. Hanging out with Jeffrey Lee Pierce and Lux Interior, you can be assured he was exposed to some fabulous old noise. That is the exact sensibility that the WHAM-O WATUSI strives for and Kid Congo brought it in buckets! He played some super boss records, including some whacked-out rockabilly gassers, rippin’ R&B stompers and plenty of boppers full of East L.A. grease.

Note here that The Kid has been quietly developing his own night, called Sex Beat, at a groovy club called Cafe Nine in his present home town of New Haven, CT.  The event consists of The Kid playing “searing 60’s soul and Garage rockets, psychic surf, 70’s Glam Bam Bam, 70’s Punk peanut shells, and any other wild thing [he] can find.” Sounds like our kind of action. The next one takes place on Sunday August 13. Don’t miss it!

Oh! The Boogaloo Bag writers would be totally lame if we did not mention The Kid’s current day job: leader of a great rock’n’roll group called The Pink Monkey Birds. The band makes an absolutely wicked racket and should be checked out as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, back at the Bootleg Bar, the party was further enhanced by the wonderful and delicious Mexican brownies made by Boogaloo Bag photographer Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner. Miss Jeannie has baked several sweet items for the WHAM-O faithful over the years, so perhaps she should actually be considered as a co-host of the event.

Mexican brownies. MMMM…yummy!!

The WHAM-O Second Anniversary drew a bunch of old pals to the Bootleg Bar, too, including our dear old friend Kevin Long, an original member of the great L.A. Eighties Mod band The Untouchables (dig his story of this fine band here!). The Boogaloo Bag writers were also very pleased that several of Phast Phreddie’s fellow reet music DJs also dropped by to swing, including Mr. Vacation, Drew Redmond and Reyes Rodriguez. Mr. Redmond and his significant other Zuzia Mrozinska proceeded to do the alligator on the floor; Mr. Vacation hopped around in ecstasy; while Mr. Rodriguez was simply happy to meet Kid Congo.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, Kevin Long (Untouchables) and Kid Congo Powers.

Kid Congo Powers, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and Drew Redmond.

Kid Congo Powers and Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner.

Kid Congo Powers, Mr. Vacation and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus.

Kid Congo Powers!

For the occasion, Phast Phreddie dragged out a bunch of his favorite 45s–especially some hot garage rock blasters that, when he played a set of them, Mr. Redmond declared, “Phreddie, you are killing it tonight!” All for the sake of the WHAM!

The Boogaloo Bag writers would like to take a moment here to thank Bootleg Bar owner Mr. Bobby Rich for allowing all this “bangin’ on shit and screamin’” go on for so long. It’s been a stupendous two years. Here’s hoping for another two or so, at least!!

Below is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Second Anniversary of the WHAM-O WATUSI:

• The Sheppard Sisters–Gettin’ Ready for Freddy (Merucry)
• Frankie Olvera–Huggie’s Bunnies (N.R.M.)
• Eddie Cano & His Quintet–La Bamba (Dunhill)
• Hal Blaine and the Young Cougars–Hawaii 1963 (RCA Victor)
• ‘Frantic’ Johnny Rogers–Ramrod (Cindy)
• The Marcels–Summertime (Colpix)
• Oliver Morgan–Who Shot the Lala (GNP Crescendo)
• Eddie Lovette–Boomerang (Steady)
• The Grandisons–Daddy Roll ’Em (RCA Victor)
• Ann-Margret–Jim Dandy (RCA Victor)
• The Untouchables–Free Yourself (Stiff; UK)
• The Premiers–The Ali Shuffle Part I (Top Dog)
• The Ventures–Swingin’ Creeper (Dolton)
• Godfrey & Friends–Down Whittier Blvd. (Whittier)
• Boy’s Wonder–All Tied Up (Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace) (Lowland; Netherlands)
• The Spiders–Up-Side-Down (Philips; Japan)
• The Troll Brothers–You Turn Me On (SRT Productions; UK)
• Dick Rivers–C’est Ma Vie (It’s My Life) (Pathé; France)
• The Original Emotions–You’re a Better Man Than I (Johnson)
• The Third Rail–Shape of Things to Come(Epic)
• The Elite–One Potato (Charay)
• Freddy Cannon–What a Party (Swan)
• Debbie & the Darnels (with the Passengers)–Santa Teach Me to Dance (Vernon)
• The Fleshtones–Screamin’ Skull (I.R.S.; UK)
• Steppenwolf–The Ostrich (Dunhill)
• Antoine–Les Elucubrations d’Antoine (Disques Vogue; France)
• The Troggs–I Want You (Fontana; UK)
• The Viscounts–Dig (Madison)
• The Jokers–Danube Waves (Polydor; Japan)
• Lesley Gore–Wonder Boy (Mercury)
• Combo Kings–Batman a Go Go (Jamie)
• Don Covay–The Popeye Waddle (Cameo)
• Carl ‘Little Rev’ Lattimore–Carl’s Dance Party (Capitol)
• Bobby Taylor–Mashed Potatoe Time (Club Long Island)
• The Beatles–Drive My Car (Odeon; France)
• Los Johnny Jets–Bajate de Mi Nube (Get Off of My Cloud) [from EP Los Johnny Jets A Go-Go] (CBS; Mexico)
• Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra–Gesundheit (A-Choo! Cha-Cha) (RCA Victor)
• The Aces–Reggae Motion (The Loco-Motion) (Sire)
• Alpha Zoe–Da Doo Ron Ron (Hit)
• The Us Four–The Alligator (Rising Sons)
• The Young Executives–Everybody Do the Duck (Merucry)
• The Primitives–The Ostrich (Pickwick)
• The Velvet Underground–White Light/White Heat (Verve)
• Freddy Cannon–20th Century Fox (Warner Bros.)
• Lu Parks Singers–Zap Pow Ee Yow (Ambassador)
• The Who–Batman [from the EP Ready Steady Who] (International Polydor Production; France)
• Lincoln Chase–Miss Orangatang (Columbia)
• The Nite-Niks–Shawnee (Lawn)
• The Terri-Tones–Go (Cortland)
• The Saxons–Camel Walk (Part One) (Sho-Biz)
• Fantastic Dee-Jays–Fight Fire (Tri Power)
• The Chiefs–Tom Tom (Valiant)
• Teddy and His Patches–Suzy Creamcheese (Chance)
• The Thirteenth Floor Elevators—-Fire Engine (International Artists)
• Pepper & the Shakers–Semi-Psychedelic (It Is) (Coral)
• The Other Half–Mr. Pharmacist (G.N.P. Crescendo)
• The Squires–Going All the Way (Atco)
• Underdogs–Get Down on Your Knees (Hideout)
• The Fire Escape–Love Special Delivery (GNP Crescendo)
• The Creations–Shang Shang (Jamie)
• Them–One, Two Brown Eyes (Parrot)
• The Bunnys–Hey! You Stop! (Seven Seas; Japan)
• The Sparkles–Hipsville 29 B.C. (I Need Help) (Hickory)
• Rita Chao–Wooly Bully (Glycos; Singapore)
• Edwin Starr–Agent Double-O-Soul (Ric-Tic)
• Dick and Libby Halleman and Their Society Orchestra vs Tom and Ray–Pizza Sure Is Good (Summit)
• Link Cromwell–Crazy Like a Fox (Hollywood)
• Dale Jay acc. by The Storms–Shaken All Over (Raven)
• Henri Salvador–Mais non Mais Non (Mah-Na Mah-Na) (Rigolo; France)

None of these records are for sale. Click on the links to the youtubes and dig yourself!!

Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner distributes her wonderful chocolate chip cookies at the BIG TEN INCH.

Very often, mid-summer events are attended very poorly–due to folks going on vacation; folks not wanting to deal with the heat; too many other things to do. Not so for the BIG TEN INCH, held on July 30 at the Hi-Fi Bar in the East Village of Manhattan. There was a lovely crowd of folks, old friends and new, who came to dig the spinning shellack discs. Everybody had a great time, diggin’ the old noise, eating pizza and man, those chocolate chip cookies that Boogaloo Bag photographer Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner made were super yummy! She even went so far as to bake some gluten-free brownies for one of the regulars, who has a health issue with that sort of thing. It was really incredible of her to be so thoughtful. How many other DJ nights can boast such hospitality? Folks, if you are not making it to the BIG TEN INCH, you are not making it anywhere!!

Adam Lore swings with a hot blues on the Cobra label.

Alex De Laszlo heats up the joint with a mambo!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus searches for a disc that the crowd will dig!

First-timer Josh Mackie played some swing records, then gave them away!!

Smart-ass Juke Joint Jonny played a set of all 12-inch 78s!! Great stuff, too!

Justin CollectorScum played a bunch of new acquisitions.

Michael McMahon always plays hot Hillbilly records!

Tony Salvaje displays his cool Sonny Boy Williams 78 on Decca!

So who was there–who brought 78s to spin? Well, along with host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, there were several regulars: Juke Joint Jonnny, Adam Lore, Justin CollectorScum, Michael McMahon, Alex De Laszlo and Tony Salvaje. Newcomer Josh Mackie not only played the 78s he brought, but he gave many of them away! If you dig 78s, you gotta come by, because someone is always trying to find a new home for old discs. (The Boog scored a great calypso record and played it!)

Here’s a gallery of some of the 78s that were played:

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

• Nano Rodrigo and His Orchestra; vocal by Don Ares–Perfidia (Tonight) (Decca)
• Lynn Hope & Orchestra–Morocco (Aladdin)
• Merle Travis–So Round So Firm So Fully Packed (Capitol)
• Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra–Mambolete (Mercury)
• Sarah Vaughan–Hey Naughty Papa (Mercury)
• Dave Pell Orchestra–Root Beer (United Artist)
• Joe Holiday Quartet–I Told You So (Federal)
• The Original Calypso Boys featuring Joe Richardson–Matilda (Abbey – Calypso Series)
• Ralph Marterie and His Orchestra–Maybellene (Mercury)
• Mary Lou Williams and Her Modern Music–Yes, We Have No Bananas (Circle)
• Curtis Gordon and His Western Band–Chopsticks Mambo (Mercury)
• Arnett Cobb and His Orchestra–Chick She Ain’t No Where (Apollo)
• Washboard Sam & His Washboard Band–Diggin’ My Potatoes (Bluebird)
• Don Cherry with Ray Conniff and his Orchestra–Rumble Boogie (Columbia)
• Roy Brown–Special Lesson No. 1 (DeLuxe)
• The Treniers–Doin’ ‘Em Up (Epic)
• The Champs–Tequila (Challenge)
• Earl Bostic and His Orchestra–All On (Majestic)
• Slim Gaillard Quartette–Atomic Cocktail (Atomic Inc.)
• Moose Jackson–Big Ten-Inch Record (King)

None of these records are for sale. Some of them have links to the youtubes or the George Blood collection at the Internet Archive so you can dig the action in the privacy of your own mind.