dancing | boogaloobag

The Ninth Annual Keystone State Northern Soul Weekender took place on the 24th, 25th and 26th of October. As has been reported in previous Boogaloo Bags, this is one of the most fantastic weekends imaginable! A bunch of great DJs—friends, all (or soon to be!)—playing great records almost non-stop for three days in a row. Plus, folks selling records. Plus, folks dancing to records. Plus, the new location is right next door to a really good Mexican restaurant. You couldn’t get closer to heaven if you said the Hail Mary a hundred times a day for the rest of your life!! It is held in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the Moose Lodge, which has a fabulous wooden dance floor.

Julio Fernandez is the most gracious host imaginable. There were several first-time DJs at this year’s event—so many that Julio cut his own DJ time in order to make room for them.

Please note that the new DJs are not new to DJing—just new to DJing at the Keystone event. Each of them have had plenty of DJ experience in their respective home towns, as well as nationally and internationally. Among those who worked the Keystone for the first time were Gabe Besaw (Nor’easter Soul Club, Albany, NY), Jon Friesen (Santa Ana, CA), Kenneth MacDonald (Scotland), Michael Chriestzberg (Wig Out, Seattle), Marc Muller (Emerald City Soul Club, Seattle), Gordy Greenawalt (Title Town Soul Party, Pittsburgh) and Kevin Higham (Rare Music Direct, UK).

Returning DJs included Scott Boyko (Garden State Soul Club, NJ), Debbie Benjamin-Koller (Heart of Chicago Soul Club), Sean Connors (Philly Soul Club, Philadelphia), Aret Sakal (Windy City Soul Club, Chicago), DJ Bywell (Soul Buzz, San Diego), Mr. Fine Wine (Downtown Soulville, WFMU), Eric Svirida (Long Island), Yana Lil’ Jerk (Strong G+, Brooklyn), Connie T. Empress (Empire State Soul Club, NYC) Mikey Post (Daptone Records), Jay Boxcar (Garden State Soul Club, NJ), Chey Frazier (Easton Vinyl Assassins, Easton, PA) and, of course, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus (he and Mr. Fernandez are the only DJs who have appeared in all nine events).

Another fellow who has become a regular at the Keystone Weekender was Brother Weems, who has been the MC for at least 7 or 8 years. He’s a friendly chap who, when not announcing the DJs, is on the floor dancing.

This year’s event was very well attended and folks were on the dance floor nearly the entire time—especially during the two evening periods. All of the DJs did such a swell job that, if one were to put a gun to the Boogaloo Bag writers’ heads and ask who was best, they’d end up shot!!!

Although she was unable to make the scene, Miss Nancy baked some very delicious cookies that were properly devoured: Double chocolate cookies and pumpkin flavored cookies.

***The Keystone Soul Weekender family!***

[try clicking on the photos and they may big-o-fi magically!]

FRIDAY NIGHT

Although he was a late add to the Friday night roster, Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was able to round up a few good records to play:

The Four Larks–Groovin’ at the Go-Go (Tower)
Roy Handy–Baby That’s a Groove (Stephannye)
Cliff Nobles–Your Love Is All I Need (Atlantic)
Maurice McCallister (formerly of The Radiants)–Baby Hang On (Chess)
The Cavaliers–Hold To My Baby (RCA Victor)
Carl Carlton–I Can Feel It (Back Beat)
Shirley J. Scott–Goose Pimples (Stephanye)
Sidney Barnes–You’ll Always Be in Style (Red Bird)
The Jay Walkers featuring Mickey Holiday–Can’t Live Without You (Swan)
Don Covay–Fat Man (Atlantic; France)
Claudine Clark–Buttered Popcorn (Jamie)
The Wailers–The Jerk (Island; UK)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

During the daytime events, DJs double up on their 30 minute sets. The Phast Man was paired with Gordy Greenawalt from Pittsburgh. This was a reunion of sorts, as Mister Greenawalt was enlisted to be a special guest DJ at a New Year’s Eve Subway Soul Club event many years ago. They hadn’t seen each other since. They traded off playing records and it was a gas. Dig Phreddie’s selections here:

The Honey Drippers–Impeach the President (Alaga)
Kenny Gamble–The Jokes on You (Arctic)
Junior Wells–(I Got A) Stomach Ache (Vanguard)
Ellie Greenwich–Niki Hoeky (United Artists; Philippines)
Herb Fame–You’re Messin’ Up My Mind (Date)

SATURDAY NIGHT

This is the big night. Folks were arriving at the venue early, so Phast Phreddie, who was the first DJ of the night, started a little early and was able to sneak in a few extra spins:

Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers–Queen of the Go-Go (Tower)
Lydia Marcelle–Everybody Dance (Atco)
Joe Medwick–Whatever It Takes (Westpark)
The Soul Twins–It’s Not What You Do It’s the Way That You Do It (Karen)
The Charmaines–Eternally (Date)
The Willows–Hurtin’ All Over (M-G-M)
Amanda Humphrey–Power of Love (U.S.A.)
Jewel Akens–A Slice of the Pie (Era)
Isley Brothers–Got to Have You Back (Tamla)
The Happy Cats–These Boots Are Made for Walking (Omack)
Millie Small–Carry Go Bring Come (Fontana; UK)
Jun Mayuzumi–Black Room (Capitol; Japan)
Pal Rakes and the Prophets–Can’t Deny the Hurt (Verve)
Theresa Lindsey–I’ll Bet You (Golden World)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Once again, Phreddie was teamed with Mister Greenawalt for this brunch-time event. This is a time when the DJs get a little crazed with their selections. Also once again, folks were arriving early so they started spinning early and thus had some extra time on the air. Hence these jams:

Lyn Taitt–Out on a Funky Trip (Randys)
Timmy Thomas–Have Some Boogaloo (Goldwax)
Nino Ferrer–Les Cornichons (Monkey) (Riviera; Canada)
Little Bob–I Got Loaded (La Louisianne)
J.J. Jackson and the Jackaels–Oo-Ma-Liddi (Prelude)
Dave Bartholomew–Shrimp & Gumbo (Imperial)
La Tribu–Para Que (El Eclypse)
The Tammys–Egyptian Shumba (United Artists)

None of these records are for sale!

The Boogaloo Bag writers urge all of its readers to join the Keystone Northern Soul Weekender group on Facebook in order to become aware of the next event—and make sure you be there. You won’t regret it.

For the September Do The 45 Rock’n’Soul Dance Party—which was held on Friday the 13th at Quinn’s in Beacon, NY,–host DJ Pete Pop invited our friends Marty Shane, Nina Day and Vince Vincent to come play some of their bossest records—and they did!

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

Marty Shane is a Mod scooter enthusiast who is the proprietor of The Mod Tiki Market, a stall in the Bennington Antique Center in Montgomery, New York. He sells all sorts of cool things, including tiki mugs, Hawaiian shirts and Ben Sherman clothing. For The Do The 45, he played
some totally rockin’ stuff. He’s kind of a mild-mannered person in real life, but as a DJ he knows how to rock.

***Marty Shane cues up another boss jam at Do The 45!***

Nina Day is also known by her Go-Go dancer name, Sheba Shake. At this Do The 45 she filled both rolls fantastically: she jumped around up on the raised dance floor with Bella Bombora and she spent about 30 minutes behind the turntables playing records. She played Pete Pops’ records, so you know the records were terrific, and she really knows how to pick them.

***Miss Nina Day swings at Do The 45!***

For many years, Vince Vincent was a Hudson Valley celebrity when he was a DJ at WVKR—Vassar College’s listener supported radio station. He was also the lead singer for Poughkeepsie’s last Rock’n’Roll band—The Greyhounds. Mr. Vincent’s 30 minutes spinning records was quite possibly the most raucous half hour of wild beat music ever heard in the town of Beacon.

***Vince Vincent digs the scene at Do The 45!***

Speaking of Hudson Valley celebrities, Pete Pop and Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus were pleased that radio personalities Paula Grace and Amanda Lay dropped by to bless the proceedings. They host a fabulous show on WVKR called The Paula and Amanda Show. If you dig crazy people playing boss records, this show is for you. In fact, we were listening to the show on our way to Quinn’s. Just a few minutes after entering the establishment, Paula and Amanda walked in. How do they do it? These people are amazing!!

***Phast Phreddie, Amanda Lay, Paula Grace and Pete Pop swing at Do The 45!***

Miss Nancy—AKA Bella Bombora—baked some great vittles for this event: fudge, banana bread and two kinds of chocolate chip cookies—one that had low sugar content for friends who have issues with that sort of thing.