The Unrehearsed swing with Christina Caira at the Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets IV!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus is the go-to DJ when it comes to the Copycat Cover Song Night annual tribute to the great Nuggets compilation of boss garage rock records. On September 13, he worked his fourth one–of four Nuggets tributes! That’s fine with the Phastman, as he digs the Nuggets album the most, as he digs swingin’ at any Copycat Cover Song Night, hosted by our pal DJ Xerox at Otto’s Shrunken Head on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.

Nuggets, of course, is the coolest two-record set of twitchen Sixties garage rock, compiled by Lenny Kaye. Issued in 1972, it has since become legendary and influential. Mr. Kaye himself appeared as a guest DJ at the first two Copycat tributes. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend this one, however his spiritual presence was definitely felt.

And what bands: The Unrehearsed, The Flying Insects and The Serpentones all played.

The Unrehearsed in action at the Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets IV!

The Unrehearsed is comprised of some local Sixties music aficionados who happen to be excellent musicians. They never rehearse, but they know this music so well that they can just get up and play it. Their repertoire consisted of all sorts of Sixties garage rock nuggets, which they played with authority. The Boogaloo Bag writers were especially wowed when the group played “Fight Fire,” the excellent Golliwogs song (not on the original Nuggets, but included in the incredible four-disc Nuggets box set; a sort of tribute to the original, right?). Our pal Christina Caira (of Quitty & the Don’ts) sang lead on “Stop Get a Ticket” and banged tambourine on another song.

The Flying Insects swing with a decidedly British Beat at the Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets IV!

Nuggets II is a four-CD compilation of mostly British recordings from the same era–1964 to 1969. Like its predecessor, it is packed full of the sounds of flash and pow! These days the kids call it Freakbeat. We can dig that. Apparently, so can The Flying Insects, who performed songs from that box set. Stand out song was The Smoke’s “My Friend Jack.”

The Serpentones swing at the Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets IV!

The Serpentones opened their set with “Sweet Young Thing” by The Chocolate Watch Band–one of the all time favorite songs here at the Boogaloo Bag. The band proceeded to play mostly original songs, occasionally spicing things up with a track or two from Nuggets, as per the event demanded. The Serpentones were a bit unusual for a modern rock band, as it incorporates a tenor saxophone into its sound. But it was cool and those in attendance seemed to dig it.

DJ Xerox and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus enjoy frothy beverages at the Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets IV!

For his part, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played all cover songs; songs from the era performed by other acts from the era. The only exception was the record by The Searchers, which is the first version of “Sugar and Spice,” which was performed by The Cryan Shames on the original edition of Nuggets. After the bands played and DJ Xerox was able to get the bands sorted and his records delivered to the DJ booth, the Phastman handed it over to the host, who always plays the most unexpected cover versions of songs imaginable.

Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Fourth Annual Copycat Cover Song Night Tribute to Nuggets:

• Velvett Fogg–Teslstar ’69 (Pye; UK)
• The Thyme–Time of the Season (A-Square)
• Noel Deschamps–A Six Heures C’est Fini (Five O’Clock World) (RCA Victor – Canada International; Canada)
• The Doors–Back Door Man (Gamma; Mexico)
• Les Bel-Air–Restons Ainsi (You’re So Good to Me) (Télédisc; Canada)
• Skip Battyn–She Acts Like We Never Have Met (Groove)
• Grace Slick and the Great Society–Sally Go ’Round the Roses (Columbia)
• The Goodies–He’s a Rebel (HIP)
• Four Coins–La La La La La (SN Teichiku; Japan)
• The (St. Thomas) Pepper Smelter–In. A. Gadda. Da. Vida (Virrey; Peru)
• The Ventures–Wild Thing (Dolton)
• Los Johnny Jets–Un Poquito de Alma (Little Bit O’ Soul) (CBS; Costa Rica)
• Vivian Reed–Shape of Things to Come (Epic)
• Johnny Johnson & His Bandwagon–Mr. Tambourine Man (Stateside; Netherlands)
• The Soulful Seven–Double Shot of My Baby’s Love (M-G-M)
• Ohio Players–Proud Mary (Top Hit)
• Henry Shed–Bend Me Shape Me (Cream)
• Otis Clay–She’s About a Mover (Cotillion)
• Assemblage–Satisfaction (Westbound)
• The Isley Brothers–Good Things (Tamla/Motown; UK)
• Los Freddy’s (canta: Javier)–Me Siento Bien (I Feel Fine) (Anahuac; Mexico)
• Los Hitter’s–Siempre a La Moda (Orfeon; Mexico)
• Los Yaki–Agente Secreto (Capitol; Mexico)
• Alan Copeland–Mission: Impossible Theme / Norwegian Wood (ABC)
• Willie Hobbs and the Dirte Four–Gloria (Mercury)
• The Shevelles–Oo Poo Pa Doo (World Artists)
• Fabulous Flippers–Turn on Your Love Light (Cameo)
• Johnny Green and the Green Men–Something You Got (Emerald)
• Shadows of Knight–Gloria ’69 (Atco)
• The Wrongh Black Bag–Wake Me Shake Me (Mainstream)
• The Searchers–Sugar and Spice (Pye; UK)
• Nancy Sit–Shakin’ All Over (Squirrel; Singapore)
• The Staccatos–C’mon Everybody (Capitol Canada)
• Danyel Gerard avec Les Champions–Sugar Shake (Vogue; Canada)
• Swamp Rats–It’s Not Easy (Co & Ce)
• Them–Don’t Start Crying Now (Parrot)
• Cathy Young–Spoonful (Mainstream)
• Sonny & Cher–Leave Me Be (Atco)

None of these records are for sale. Some have links to the youtubes for your personal listening pleasure!