On May 5, The WHAM-O WATUSI blew into the Bootleg Bar in picturesque downtown Bushwick, Brooklyn with a very special guest DJ: Lenny Kaye.

WHAM-O host Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus has known Mr. Kaye for more years than anyone cares to count. Mr. Kaye has been a hero, an inspiration and, most importantly, a friend. As guitarist in the Patti Smith Group, an author of books, a producer of records, and a singer of his own songs, he is often very busy. He enjoys DJing, and has recently started to take it a little more seriously than usual, but he rarely has the chance to do so. Mr. Kaye has a standing offer to DJ with the Phast Man whenever he wants, but the last time he was able to do so was December 2016–almost a year and a half ago.

Often, when these two DJ together they follow a theme. At first it was the Doo Wop Hop, which usually took place on or around Valentine’s Day. Then they did a night or two of all instrumentals. Once there was a reggae night and there may have been a girl group night–if not, there should have been. This time, at the WHAM-O, there were no restrictions. Boy, did Mr. Kaye take to that!

Mr. Kaye’s sets were heavy on the garage rock, with some sixties pop, rockabilly and doo wop sprinkled in. After a few beers and perhaps a couple of margaritas (well, it was Cinco de Mayo), he played a Madonna record and followed it up with “Mona” by The Iguanas!!! That was wild, to say the least.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus had his own little salute to Cinco de Mayo: He played three records in a row by East Los Angeles Chicano artists. These three rare recordings have been recently re-released in the form of a 10-disc set of seven-inch singles in a box by our friends at Vampi Soul in Spain (for which The Boog wrote the liner notes). Only 500 of these collections were manufactured, so if one is interested in obtaining this fabulous collection (entitled Takin’ Care of Business: Soul R&B and garage from the Rampart, Faro, Gordo and Linda labels 1963 – 1971) one should act soon. Locally, the good people at Earwax Records in Williamsburg may still have it available. Tell them you heard about it in the Boogaloo Bag.

It was great to see so many of our friends come out and hang with us, too. Ace DJs Drew Redmond and Josh Styles, as well as Bootleg Bar owner Bobby Rich all came by to get their photo snapped with Mr. Kaye.

Another thing made this WHAM-O WATUSI more special than usual: our friend and ace photographer Lauren Krohn celebrated her birthday. All night her friends dropped by to wish her well. Boogaloo Bag photographer and baker Miss Nancy “Jeannie” Gardner baked some very delicious vegan cupcakes with creamy chocolate frosting for the occasion, along with her signature cinnamon-infused brownies. It was a chocolate overload kind of night.

Toward the end of the night, Mr. Kaye ran out of records and sat to chat with the birthday girl for a spell. Luckily, our friend DJ Rata showed up with the Wig Doctor. They had come from some other party where they were DJing mambo records. As the Wig Doctor sat in the corner and made out with a lovely young lady, DJ Rata joined the Phast Man in the DJ booth to add a Latin tinge that spiced up this most perfect evening.

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the WHAM-O WATUS:

• The Crystals–Brother Julius (Philles)
• Sounds, Incorporated–In the Hall of the Mountain King (Liberty)
• The Rondels–Back Beat No. 1 (Amy)
• The Ho-Dads–Honky (Imperial)
• The Carnations–Scorpion (Tilt)
• The Secrets–Twin Exhaust (Swan)
• Jan Tanzy–That New Boy in Town (Columbia)
• The Midnight Rebels–Groovin’ Is Easy (Mr. Records)
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe–Walking Up the King’s Highway (Savoy)
• Vikki Carr–Big Hurt (Columbia)
• Little Caesar and the Romans–Fever (Del-Fi)
• Winston Groovy–What You Gonna Do (Pama Supreme; UK)
• Jessie Hill–Chip Chop (My Fair Lady) (Downy)
• Dion–The Majestic (Laurie)
• Tennessee Guitars–Trophy Run (Sun)
• The Shaprels–Rock-A-Boo (Chess)
• The Upsetters–Draggin’ the Main (Autumn)
• Fleetwood Mac–Stop Messin’ Around (Blue Horizon; UK)
• The Others–Oh Yeah! (Fontana)
• The Upsetters–Jaywalking (Fire)
• The Third Bardo–I’m Five Years Ahead of My Time (Roulette)
• Harbinger Complex–I Think I’m Down (Brent)
• Q ’65–The Life I Live (Decca; Netherlands)
• The Zombies–Don’t Cry for Me (Date)
• Lesley Gore–Run Bobby Run (Mercury)
• The Remo Four–Peter Gun (Star-Club; Germany)
• The Jaguars–The Gorilla (Dot)
• The Ideals–Go Get a Wig (St. Lawrence)
• The Dukays–Please Help (Vee Jay)
• Goerge Kirby–(I Want Some) Meat on My Tomatoes (Cameo)
• The Dukays–The Girl’s a Devil (NAT)
• The Tyrones–(She Wants) Candy and Flowers (Wing)
• Bobby Charles–No More (I Ain’t Gonna Love You No More) (Chess)
• Don & Dewey–Heartattack (Highland)
• Meep Meep and the Roadrunner–Justine (Boomerang)
• Carl and the Commanders–Farmer John (Cameo)
• Paul Revere & the Raiders–Louie – Go Home (Columbia)
• Enchantments–I’m in Love With Your Daughter (Part 1) (Faro/Vampi Soul; Spain)
• The Premiers–Get on This Plane (Faro/Vampi Soul; Spain)
• Sunday Funnies–Watcha Gonna Do (When the Dance Is Over) (Valhalla/Vampi Soul; Spain)
• The Librettos–She’s a Go Go (Sunshine; Australia)
• The Rebels–Mother Little Helper (Top 4; Iran)
• The Rolling Stones–Surprise, Surprise (Decca; UK)
• Laruis–Frere Jacques (Carrousel; Canada)
• Los Locos Del Ritmo–Avientense Todos (Dimsa; Mexico)
• Los Rockin Devil’s–Gloria (Orfeon; Mexico)
• The Surfaris–Hey Joe Where Are You Going (Decca)
• Traffic Sound–Fire (Mag; Peru)
• Wilson Pickett–Let Me Be Your Boy (Correc-Tone)
• Preston Epps–Rockin’ in the Congo (Embassy)
• King Coleman–Do the Hully Gully (Part I) (Atlantic)
• Christine Kittrell–Call His Name (Federal)
• Kitty Lanier–(Come on Home) Everything’s Alright (King)
• Daddy ‘G’ and the Church Street Five–Sing a Song Children (Legrand)
• The Corvells–He’s So Fine (Lu Pine)
• Charles & Walter–Kissin and Huggin (Chene)
• Camille Bob–2 Weeks 2 Days Too Long (Soul Unlimited)
• Bobby Byrd–I’m Lonely (Smash)
• The Rattles–Souki-Souki (Philips/Star-Club; Japan)
• David Clayton Thomas–Boom Boom (Atca; Canada)
• The Hound Dogs–Gloria (Ariola; Germany)
• The Feelies–Louie Louie (Jerden)
• The Surfaris–Tequila (Dot; Japan)
• Tapper Zukie–Viego (Mer; UK)
• Prini–Boogaloo (Beverly; Brazil)
• Rocky Roberts e Os Airedales–The Bird is the Word (Barclay; Portugal)
• Carl Malcolm–No Jestering (Leo)
• Ronny Kae–Caravan (Band Box)
• Mikis Theodorakis–The Jet (20th Century Fox)
• Rhet Stoller–Ricochet (Windsor; UK)

None of these records are for sale. Many of them have links to the Youtubes for your home listening pleasure.