Tag Archives: blues

The Sham and the Shimmy!

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The Shim Sham Shimmy at the Salt Box in Kingston is the newest addition to the Pete Pop DJ hustle. It is supposed to take place on the first Saturday of the month—but for two months it has been on the second, due to conflicting DJ schedules. Mr. Pop is a very busy man. In December it was the Benny Trokan show at Tubby’s. So for this month the event was held on the 14th, the day after Do The 45 in Beacon—another wild weekend!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and DJ Pete Pop swing at the Shim Sham Shimmy!

For the Shimmy, Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus bring out their rockin’ stuff: early R&B, rockabilly, rock’n’roll, doo wop, rockin’ blues and all sorts of reet music. They trade off playing sets of three records the whole time. Sometimes the three records played are related in some way. Often they are not. However, the music was boisterous and folks were jumping all night long. Somehow the old building didn’t crumble to the ground!

Pete and Phast were pleased that several of their friends came by to swing; plus there were plenty of other locals who ventured up the stairs to the famous Salt Box Rumpus Room and they all joined in on the fun and excitement, which went into the wee hours of the next morning.

Here is a list of records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the December Shim Sham Shimmy:

None of these records are for sale.

Bonus Shimmy!!

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The inner workings of The Salt Box–upstairs in the Rumpus Room!

Our pals Peter Aaron and Sean McDJ have a cool night at the Salt Box in Kingston called Smash! Crash!! Bash!!!. It takes place on the last Friday of the month. At this gig, these guys plays some fabulous rockin’ records that can go from rockabilly to punk to funk, to new wave, to garage rock to who knows what. Whatever they play, it is always rockin’, that’s for sure!

For The Bash!!! on September 27, neither DJ could make the scene, due to more pressing events elsewhere, so they asked Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus to step in. Instead of trying to imitate The Bash!!!, Pete Pop decided to throw a special bonus Shim Sham Shimmy. Mr. Pop called for a new Shimmy format: R&B, rockabilly, rockin’ blues, rock’n’roll, so that’s what was played at the Salt Box that night. The place was jumpin’!!! Pete and the Boog mixed it up pretty good, trading twenty-minute sets all night.

DJ Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus goof at the Shim Sham Shimmy!

For this event, Miss Nancy made some banana bread and sliced it up ready to eat.
Our friend Tim Broun has a dog named Rosie. Mr. Broun was coming to the Salt Box that night with his dog in tow, so Miss Nancy made some cookies in the shape of a Scottish terrier in Rosie’s honor!

Dog cookies!
Rosie!

We were very happy that a bunch of our friends showed up to swing…including Peter Aaron, whose other event got cancelled due to complications of the hurricane Helene. Shame about his event, but we are always happy to see him in the room—playing records or not!

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at this bonus Shim Sham Shimmy:

Earl Bostic and His Orchestra–Lester Leaps In (King)
Bobby Lee Trammell–Sally Twist (Atlanta)
Huey “Piano” Smith and His Clowns—Don’t You Know Yockomo (Ace)
Cora Woods–Ooh La La (Federal)
Chuck Wiley–Shake Up the Dance (United Artists)
King Curtis & His Orchestra–Rockabye Baby (Groove)
Googie Rene–Big Foot (Class)
Eddie Kirk–Hog Killin’ Time (King)
Fabian–Got the Feeling (Chancellor)
The Champs–Sombrero (Challenge)
Eddie Bo–Hey Bo (Apollo)
The Bey Sisters and the Duke Anderson Orchestra–Sugar Cookie (Jaguar)
Lee Dresser and the Krazy Kats–Wiggly Little Mama (Robin)
Joe Houston and His Fabulous Tenor–Hush Your Mouth (KEM)
The Coasters–Teach Me How to Shimmy (Atco)
The Exceptions–Down by the Ocean (Pro)
Ko Ko Taylor–(I Got) All You Need (Checker)v
The Empala Six–Empala Rock (Blue Moon)
Albert Collins–Sno-Cone (Part I) (TCF-Hall)
The Creations–Shang Shang (Jamie)
Professor Longhair–Looka No Hair (Deltone)
Lula Reed–Puddentane (Federal)
Rusty York–Shake ’Em Up Baby (King)
The Roaches–Rat Fat (On Rye) (Guyden)
Count Popeye–Nosey Rosey (Kent)
Jimmy McCracklin—What’s That (Pt. 1) (Mercury)
The Sisters–Ooh Poo Pa Doo (Del-Fi)
Rico Rodriques–Luke Lane Shuffle (Blue Beat; UK)
Owen Gray–Dolly Baby (Aladdin; UK)
Harvey–Mama (Chess)
J.B. Lenoir–Do What I Say (Vee-Jay)
Bobby Bland—Don’t Cry No More (Duke)
Hollywood Hurricanes–Have Love Will Travel (Prima)
Rudy Greene–Juicy Fruit (Ember)
Lattimore Brown—Chick, Chick, Chicky Chick (Zil)
Roger & the Gypsies–Pass the Hatchet Part 2 (Seven B)
The Marathons–Peanut Butter (Arvee)
Elvis Presley–Mystery Train (RCA-Victor)
Wanda Jackson–Rock Your Baby (Capitol; Canada)
Hank Blackman & the Killers–Itchy Koo (Brent)
The Fabulous Playboys–Nervous (Daco)
Sil Austin (vocal by Lester Young)–Say Lou (Mercury)
Bob Riley–Big Dog (York)
The Rocking Brothers – Jason and Wilbur–Rock It (R and B)
The Carnations–Scorpion (Tilt)
The Debelaires with Al Allen & the Skyscrapers–The Wa-Wabble (Lectra)
Diane and the Darlettes–The Wobble (Dunes)
The Ly-Dells–Doing the Wiggle Wobble (Roulette)
Tony Conn–Like Wow (Decca; USA)
Mac Rebennack–Storm Warning (Rex)
Earl Bostic and His Orchestra vocal by Clyde Terrell–I Got Loaded (King)
Jack Bedient and the Chessmen–See the Little Girl (Fantasy)
Willie Loftin & the Discords–Bad Habit (Smoke)
Billy Adams and the Pedal Pushers–Bicycle Hop (Koko)
The Concertones–Just One More Time (Legrand)
Owen Gray–Running Around (Blue Beat; UK)
Willie Wright and His Sparklers–Gibble Gobble (Federal)
Al Duncan–Bawana Jinde (Stacy)
Ivory Joe Hunter and his Ivorytones with orchestra–I Got to Learn to Do the Mambo (Atlantic)
Kai Ray–I Want Some of That (Norton)
Little Walter (Washboard Sam)—Diggin’ My Potatoes (Checker)
Piano Red–Comin’ On (RCA Victor)
Jerry McCain–Juicy Lucy (Jewel)
The School Belles–Cool It Baby (Dot)
The Hot Dogs–Shave, Shine and Shampoo (Crest)
The Twilighters—Scratchin’ (Chess)
Dusty Springfield–Do Re Mi (Forget About the Do and Think About Me) (Philips)
The Apaches–Hey Sorrento (Mercury)
J.L. Tri Five–Oh Baby (Varbee)
Hot Lips Page and His Orchestra–Let Me In (RCA Victor)
Big Mama Thornton–Swing It on Home (Arhoolie)
Lenny Welch–Changa Rock (Cadence)
Roy Montrell and His Band–Oooh-Wow (Specialty)
Smiley Lewis–Down the Road (Imperial)
Leon Peels–Cottonhead Joe (Whirlybird)
Ola V. Harper–Resisting (Jewel)

None of these records are for sale.

June swoon at Do The 45!

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Rainbow over Beacon!

On June 14, another fantastic Do The 45 took place at Quinn’s in Beacon. Host DJ Pete Pop and his regular guest DJ Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus were delighted when so many of their lovely friends showed up to bop to the slop that they presented—all on 45 RPM records, mostly original pressings. It had rained earlier in the evening, and as folks were showing up to Quinn’s a rainbow appeared over Beacon! Surly a sign that the night would be a gas.

And it was!

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus and DJ Pete Pop swing at Do The 45!

As usual, Pete Pop played some fantastic records. Also as usual, Go-Go dancers Sheba Shake and Bella Bombora induced much dancing around by the folks who were in attendance. Pete Pop‘s fabulous videos had folks fascinated and much merriment took place. Our pal Stuart Millman showed up, and whenever he does, the Do The 45 DJs play more rockabilly 45s than usual in order to keep him coming back! He’s a rockabilly cat from way back and the DJs dig it when he’s in the house so they can show off their boss rockin’ jams.

Here’s a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the June edition of Do The 45:

None of these records are for sale.

Blues Wailin’ at the Sunday Soul Scream!

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Robert Kimbrough, Sr. & his band.

Jonathan Toubin is considered the most successful DJ of reet music in the country. His New York Night Train brand stages the Soul Clap & Dance Off that has travelled the country, bringing the reet sound to other towns. Also, Mr. T has a hand in such boss night clubs as 96 Tears and TV Eye. His hustle is boss and we try to attend his shows whenever possible.

Jonathan Toubin swings at the Sunday Soul Scream!

During the summer months he hosts the Sunday Soul Scream, a wild happening that takes place on the rooftop of a venue called Our Wicked Lady, located in industrial East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. On June 2, this event included performances by Howlin’ Hurd, Harlem Slim and Robert Kimbrough, Sr. Guest DJ was Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus.

Howlin’ Hurd swings at Sunday Soul Scream!

Howlin’ Hurd is our buddy Brian Hurd—lead screamer of the great rockin’ blues combo Daddy Long Legs. Here he was joined by a drummer and a stand-up bass player and the trio performed some rockin’ blues wailin’. Fookin’ fantastic!

Harlem Slim swings at Sunday Soul Scream!

Harlem Slim did a solo act with his National steel guitar. He literally kicked up quite a noise by banging his foot on the stage to create a boss beat that had attendees boppin’ around. At one point, Brian Hurd joined him on harmonica for some cool blues harp action.

Robert Kimbrough, Sr. swings at Sunday Soul Scream!

Robert Kimbrough, Sr. is a son of the legendary Mississippi bluesman Junior Kimbrough. The elder Kimbrough worked a style of blues music known as Cotton Patch Soul Blues. It is a rather simplistic style, similar to early John Lee Hooker records, that sets a groove and that groove is worked for the duration of the composition. In the proper setting—such as a small club or juke joint where the band can play all night long—the song can last for ten to twenty minutes, creating a hypnotic beat similar to that of such African musicians as King Sunny Adé, Fela Anikilapo Kuti or the sufi vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Junior Kimbrough’s son, who played in his band, has continued this tradition in the years since his father passed away. On this night, however, Robert Kimbrough, Sr. was restricted by time limits and his songs were abbreviated—but the message came across: this is boss stuff.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus played some jumpin’ blues and R&B records before and in between the acts. After Robert Kimbrough, Sr.’s set, Jonathan Toubin played some fantastic records for a while. There was a change-over of some sort—perhaps the DJ booth was hooked up to the performance public address system and needed to be switched to the house system, or something—and soon after that was completed, The Boogaloo Omnibus took over for nearly an hour as he played some of his favorite party records. He had a long drive back to Dutchess County that night and had to cut out soon after midnight. However, the dance portion of the show was left in the more than capable hands of Mr. Toubin, who, no doubt, played more of his fantastic records.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swings at Sunday Soul Scream!

Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at the Sunday Soul Scream:

None of these records are for sale.

Rock ‘n’ Ramen on a Saturday Night!

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DJ Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus hang in front of Quinn’s after another successful DO THE 45!

April’s Do The 45 was a unique one. Host DJ Pete Pop called for a mostly fifties music hustle: rockabilly, R&B, doo wop, blues, twist, etc. He called it The Shake ’n’ Twist Edition. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus, who has somehow become a regular DJ at these events, was able to dig deep into his boxes and pull out some choice biscuits.

This Do The 45 was scheduled for Friday the 12th. However, due to some technical difficulties in the Quinn’s kitchen, the establishment couldn’t open that night so The 45 had to be moved to the Saturday. DJs Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus had to wait twenty four hours before they could deliver their explosive sounds at Beacon’s favorite rock ’n’ ramen joint. Right as the Quinn’s folks were ready to call it a night, a bunch of folks walked in and Mr. Pop and Mr. Phast ended up going an extra hour, alternating record playing. Go-Go dancers Bella Bombora and Sheba Shake were lined up to exhibit their fabulous dance moves, but Miss Sheba was already booked that night for a gig in Newburgh and couldn’t swing—so Miss Bella danced alone.

The electric Bella Bombora swings at the DO THE 45!

Although some folks still came out for the gig, many of the regulars couldn’t make the scene. The many folks who came for Quinn’s famous ramen noodles stayed extra long to dig the boss sounds. Miss Nancy made her signature vegan brownies and a new dish—chocolate chip cookies! Those things disappeared pretty quickly.

Speaking of sweet things, while at Quinn’s, The Boog sampled a desert item: Choco Monaka. It’s a sort of vanilla ice cream sandwich in a waffle crust with a thin layer of chocolate. Yummy!

Here’s a list of all the records played at the April Do The 45 by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus:

None of these records are for sale.

Sunday Soul Screeeeeeeeeem!!!!

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OurWickedLady

Our pal Jonathan Toubin, truly a premier DJ of reet music if ever there was one, hosts the groovy Sunday Soul Scream on the rooftop of Our Wicked Lady through the summer months. He is a very busy man. On Sunday July 1, he was scheduled to be in Los Angeles for a series of events and could not make the Scream. To host the night, he roped in Haley Griffin and Bailey Leiter to make sure the evening ran smoothly. One of Brooklyn’s bossest bands The Othermen agreed to appear. Our new  friend The Wig Doctor was signed on to spin records before the band played. Post band DJs picked for this occasion were Avi Spivak of Rebel Rouser and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus. The night was warm and humid–indeed, everyone was sweatying–and Our Wicked Lady responded with an assortment of frozen cocktails. The moon was out and a lot of our friends showed up to swing with us.

The secret of the evening is the room on the ground floor which is air conditioned. The music from the rooftop is piped in, so no one missed a single needle-drop. Phast Phreddie‘s favorite thing: they have an excellent ginger beer on tap!

On the Googles, Our Wicked Lady is noted as a “hip music venue, arts complex & roof bar.” And so it is. Although the bar itself is of average size, the rooftop area is fairly sizable, allowing for a stage on one end and a bar, with DJ setup, on the other. It is situated in a very industrial area of East Williamsburg where few people live. Thus it can have loud music playing well into the night with nobody complaining. At about five minutes from the Morgan Avenue L Train stop, it is in a very convenient location.

BaileyHaley

Bailey & Haley swing at the Sunday Soul Scream

As Mr. Toubin so aptly put it, Haley and Bailey are “two snazzy babes.” After being on the scene and witnessing things going down for several years, they started their own event Je T’Aime Oh No, which takes place every Monday at Berlin. These gals know how to party, that’s for sure.

BH_Othermen

Bailey & Haley introduce The Othermen at the Sunday Soul Scream.

The Othermen is a grunge rock band in the pure sense of the word (having absolutely nothing to do with the so-called grunge rock movement of the early Nineties). At dictionary.com, “grunge” is defined as “dirt, filth, rubbish.” That’s exactly what this group sounds like, in the most fabulous way imaginable. With every instrument played at levels that achieve stunning audio distortion, this group makes a righteous, rockin’ noise unlike any other–with the optimal word being “noise” and the noise is boss! Highly recommended.

Othermen

The Othermen in action!

The Boogaloo Bag writers first met The Wig Doctor when they DJed together at one of DJ Rata’s Shake It Up Sundays last summer. He played some heavy, heavy mambos and cumbia records that we all dug. He is often seen working on Thursdays at Friends and Lovers in Prospect Heights and spins at Our Wicked Lady fairly regularly. He also pals around with Drew Redmond and they often DJ together, such as their Gettin’ Ugly night at the Beauty Bar. On this night, The Wig Doctor mixed it up with an eclectic set of rock, soul, funk, mambo and several other exotic styles. It was a gas.

WigDoctor

The Wig Doctor swings at the Sunday Soul Scream.

Besides being an incredible artist, Avi Spivak is a cat with a bunch of boss trash. He swings at the Rebel Rouser, a cool record and groovy stuff store. LPs, 45s, books, horror magazines, underground comix, and weird cult movies are all there for the buying. Located on Broadway, near the edge of Bushwick, it may seem small, but everything the place sells is gear. Rebel Rouser has hosted Rebel Rouser Club House nights at Ceremony with Josh Styles, William Martin, usually a rockin’ band and always Avi Spivak. A solid good time.

Avi

Avi Spivak swings at the Sunday Soul Scream.

The rooftop space was place was full of folks to dig The Othermen, and most of them stayed to dance to the solid sounds laid down by the two late-night DJs. Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus did not fool around by playing any lukewarm jive. Every record he played had super Go-Go Beat excitation. He must have gotten hungry around three quarters through the night as he played five food records in a row. Six if you count the Phil Flowers record (“…having to scrounge your next meal”)!

Boog

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus swings at the Sunday Soul Scream.

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

None of these records are for sale. Some of them have links to the youtubes for you to dig.

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