Last year, Phast Pheddie the Boogaloo Omnibus moved to Dutchess County in Upstate New York. On the east side of the Hudson River, he has found few kindred spirits. However, on the west side, he has plenty of friends up and down the river—old friends in Kingston, Woodstock, Saugerties, New Paltz, etc. Recently he has become better acquainted with DJ Pete Pop. Mr. Pop is Newburgh’s chief proponent of reet music—especially as played on 45 RPM records. Well that’s the way we like to swing, isn’t it?

Mr. Pop has been a resident of Newburgh since 1967 when his family moved there from Greece. Little Pete was all of six years old. Now, big Pete runs a Greek diner in Newburgh and collects boss records, which he recently (as of about six or so years ago) started playing out at clubs. Before the Trump Plague hit early last year, Mr. Pete had a regular night at a joint called Quinn’s in Beacon. That gig may be starting up again soon—it may help if more folks get themselves vaccinated. We trust that every Boogaloo Bag reeder has gotten his or her shots by now. Thanks for not being stupid.

So where were we… oh, yeah, so Pete Pop contacted Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus to see if he wanted to DJ with him at a New Orleans-themed restaurant in Newburgh called Mama Roux on Sunday August 8. This would be a late morning-early afternoon Funky Brunch event held in the Mama’s deluxe patio setting. Would the Phast Man want to do this?

Does the pope shit in the woods? Uh, how does that saying go? No matter—The Phast Man wanted to swing.

…and swing they did. When The Boogaloo Omnibus showed up with his bodyguard, the lovely Miss Nancy Gardner, Mr. Pop was already in full-on discotheque mode. The place was filling up with happy brunchers and the owner, the vivacious Miss Sterling, was smiling through her covids mask! The Mama Roux had only been open for about six months when everything had to close down. With things slowly opening back up, it was time to try a Sunday brunch event, so Miss Sterling asked DJ Pete Pop if he’d like to bring his records to spice up the aural vibe. Mr. Pop, in turn, invited the Phast One. The only way the event could have gone better is if Santa Claus had come and distributed presents!!

The nice folks at Mama Roux were kind enough to feed the DJs and it must be reported that the food was most excellent. The Boogaloo Bag writers had some salmon thing and a quiche; both were extremely tasty. The food ain’t cheap at The Mama’s—it’s a double $$ on the google maps—but you definitely won’t get cheated on flavor, that’s for sure!!

As for the music… The DJs played a mix of funky New Orleans rhythms, organ grooves and jumpin’ R&B. At one point, DJ Pete Pop got into a Latin Soul groove that he couldn’t quite get out of. As one may attest to by reading his set list below, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus added a Jamaican touch with a few reggae records. Dig it all here:

• Ron Berridge Orch.–2001 Spougue (Straker’s)
• The Merced Blue Notes–Mama Rufus (Galaxy)
• Jessie Hill–Chip Chop (My Fair Lady) (Downy)
• Funkadelic–Funky Dollar Bill (Westbound)
• Isaac “Redd” Holt Unlimited–I Shot the Sheriff (Paula)
• J.J. Caillier with Dalton Francis & the Flaming Arrows–I Got a Groove (Maison de Soul)
• Philip & Lloyd (The Blues Busters)–Here I Am Come and Take Me (Scepter)
• Richard Groove Holmes—Don’t Mess With Me (Blue Note)
• Russell Evans and the Nite Hawks–Send Me Some Cornbread (Atco)
• Joe Quijano and his Orchestra–Fun City Shingaling (Cesta)
• Dave & Ansel Collins–Doing Your Own Thing (Techniques; UK)
• Louis Chachere–The Hen (Pt. 1) (Paula)
• Jimmie Willis–Soul Power Pt. 1 (ORR)
• Georgie Woods – The Guy with the Goods–Potato Salad Part I (Fat Back)
• Oliver Morgan–Who Shot the Lala (GNP Crescendo)
• Maytals–Funky Kingston (Shelter)
• Babatunde Olatunji–Takuta (Paramount)
• The Marquees–Christmas in the Congo (Warner Bros.)
• Afrosound–Cumbia en la Jungla (Fuentes; Mexico)
• Cher–I Walk on Guilded Splinters (Atco)
• The Happenings Four–Alligator Boogalo (Capitol; Japan)
• The Embers–Peter Gunn Cha Cha (Ynne)
• Pucho & Latin Soul Bros.—Freddie’s Dead (Zanzee)
• Booker T. & the M.G.’s–Melting Pot (Stax)
• The Slickers–Papa Was a Rolling Stone (Ice; Jamaica)
• Phil Flowers & the Flower Shop–Like a Rolling Stone (A&M)
• Jimmy Smith–Chain of Fools (Part I) (Verve)
• Betty LaVette–A Little Help From My Friends (Karen)
• Jackie Thompson–Fool on the Hill (Columbia)
• Brother Jack McDuff–Hot Barbecue (Prestige)
• The Radors–Finger Licking Chicken (Leoso)
• Gunga Din–Crabcakes (Valise)
• The New Happiness–Good Vibrations (Columbia)
• The Time Zone–Space Walker (White Whale)
• Lalo Schifrin–End Game (Paramount)
• Curtis Mayfield–Get Down (Curtom)
• Dramatics–Get Up and Get Down (Volt)
• James Brown–Good Foot – Part 1 (Polydor)
• The Meters–Hey Pocky A-Way (Reprise)
• Betty Harris—There’s a Break in the Road (SSS International)
• Clarence Reid–Master Piece (Alston)
• Aretha Franklin—Pullin’ (Atlantic)
• Windston and the Dynamics–Dynagroove (Boss)
• The Slickers–Johnny Too Bad (Dynamic; UK)
• Junior Wells–(I Got A) Stomach Ache (Vanguard)
• Sugar Boy–Jock-A-Mo (Checker)
• The Hawketts–Mardi Gras Mambo (Sapphire)
• Earl King–Street Parade Pt. 1 (Kansu)
• Eddie Bo–Check Your Bucket Pt. I (Bo-Sound)
• The Marvels–Rock Steady (Pama Supreme)
• Aretha Franklin–The House That Jack Built (Atlantic)
• Allen Toussaint–Tequila (Bell)
• Preston Epps–Bongo in the Congo (Original Sound)
• Jimmy Smith–Mission: Impossible (Verve)

None of these records are for sale.