Virgil

Randy Rich

Randy Rich

Randy RichThat’s a classic one I often ask, but I’m always curious to know how you discovered the music you play now ?
Randy Rich: Well, in one way we were lucky growing up in the 80’s. There was still a lot of Rock’n’Roll in TV and radio even in East Germany. One day I saw some Teds in my hometown and thought that’s the coolest look I’ve ever seen. Next thing was I started to comb my hair like Elvis and bought me a 50’s style suit. At least I thought it would look 50’s. Anyway I got more and more interested in the whole thing and realised that I liked a whole lotta stuff from that era without knowing it. One day a friend of mine teased me, that we’re not a real rockabilly gang without a band. I thought about it, bought me an Elvis songbook, and started to play guitar. A czech Les Paul model was my first instrument. Some weeks later weformed our first band “The Crazy Boys”

Tell us how you formed the band. Did you play in other bands before?
Randy Rich: As mentioned before “The Crazy Boys” were my starting point. We played mainly 50’s covers, some originals and even a few songs by modern rockabilly bands like Stray Cats or Dave Philips. In 1995 we split up and I formed the “Shakin Hoppers” where I played the piano. The drummer left us pretty soon and we put the trio “Randy Rich and The Poor Boys” together. In 2000 I moved to England where I joined the “Blue Star Boys”. But 3 years later I moved back to Germany and put Randy Rich and The Poor Boys back together in a different line up though.

I believe you had some changes in the line-up. You even had a guest vocalist.
Randy Rich: Yes we had many line up changes. On the second CD Ike Stoye is singing some harmonies on one song, but apart from that it’s just the band members singing. I always liked the idea of different people singin in a band, that gives much more variety. That is important especially if you are a trio where you’re stuck pretty much with just one solo instrument.

What about the Poorboys?
Randy Rich: Michael Kielas is on drums who played also in “The Crazy Boys” and “The Shakin Hoppers” with me. On the upright bass is Juergen Lange. He also plays with “Eddy and The Backfires”

Who are your favourite artists, your influences?
Randy Rich:  I have to say the “Million Dollar Quartet” are my heroes. Jerry Lee Lewis is probably my all time favourite, but Elvis and Carl Perkins right behind. I love the SUN Sound from Blues, Gospel to the Country side of it. It’s just amazing. I also admire Sam Cooke, Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, Charlene Arthur and so many more….
For guitar playing, I’m of course influenced by Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Reggie Young, Al Hopson, James Burton and a dozend other great pickers

You have played, and even recorded, with rockabilly and rock’n’roll legends. How is it to “cross the line”. I mean from the fan position to the backing band.
Randy Rich: It’s absolutely fantastic. I’m so thankful that I was fortunate enough to have made those experiences. To play the songs you love together with the original artists onstage gives you real goosebumps. How can you not be thrilled to play with Janis Martin, Glenn Honeycutt or Eddie Bond. The stars I played with were also just great people and talking to them about the old times is real fun for me.

For those who didn’t have the chance to experience Randy Rich and The Poor Boys on stage, how would you describe it?
Randy Rich: Well, we try to make it as diversified as possible. I like to mix fast and slow songs, instrumentals and harmonie songs, country and rock’n’roll. We’re still using our vintage mics, amps and instrument to give the people the best possible sound for our kind of music. I even restored an old PA that we’re using for small club gigs. You’ll hear some classics, some old songs you haven’t heard before and many of our own compositions. We don’t follow a trend we just love the rock’n’roll the way it was played in the 1950’s and that’s what we’re trying to do now.

A word about your discography?
Randy Rich: So far we’ve released two CD’s on Rhythm Bomb Records, 1 EP on Part Records and last year we’ve put out a single on our own Emerald Records label. We are also the backing band for Glenn Honeycutt on his Rhythm Bomb CD.

A last word
Randy Rich: My biggest wish is, that rock’n’roll gets one day the presence on TV and radio back that it deserves. It’s the best music in the world

by Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Randy Rich

Randy Rich and the Poorboys

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Randy Rich and the Poorboys
Randy Rich and the Poorboys
Randy Rich and the Poorboys

Randy Rich & the Poorboys – Hillbilly Cat

Emerald Records 209
Hillbilly Cat / If I Knew
Two great songs recorded on vintage material in Germany. Side one is a pure Rockabilly gem with piano to give you that superb Sun sound.
Side two features a steel guitae and is a killer country ballad in the vein of Carl Perkins’ Let the Jukebox Keep On Playing or Turn Around or Charlie Feathers’I’ve been Deceived. This one will haunt you for hours.

Johnny Carlevale / Johnny Carlevale and his Rollin Pins

Johnny Carlevale and his Rollin' Pins

Johnny CarlevaleJohnny Carlevale – That Ain’t No Way To Spend A Friday Night

JC02
Give it up – My Baby Aint Home – Hi Tail, Then Boogie – Mean mean Thing – Tongue Tied – Alabama Woman Blues – Whiskey Like Water – Love Me – You Wore Me Out – You Talk Too Much – Put Out The Lights – The i-80 Blues – That Ain’t No Way To Spend A Friday Night – You Ain’t Puttin’ Out Nuthin’ But The Lights
Known for his stint with rockabilly bands (Dana Stewart & The Old Howards, Ace Brown) Johnny Carlevale is also an avid blues and rhythm’n’blues fan (he also wears some of the greatest sideburns I’ve ever seen). After one mini album recorded in 2005, he’s back with a full length which is, paradoxically, more varied and less repetitive.
Almost all aspects of blues music can be find on this platter. The opening track one of the two covers of the album is a tasty and groovy jump blues ala T Bone Walker with appropriate sax and guitar licks. Also backed by saxes is “You Ain’t Puttin’ Out Nuthin’ But The Lights” – a six minute tour de force with a nod to “Loveless Love” in the sax solo – which brings a bit of New Orleans style. The harmonica led “My Baby Aint Home” is reminiscent of the Chicago Blues style and so is “You Wore Me Out”. Carlevale’s vocals is always true and never sounds fake like many who tries to sing the blues but are only caricature of what they think a bluesman is… This guy is the real deal and he proves it with two Delta Blues influenced acoustic tunes “Alabama Woman Blues” and “The I-80 Blues”. Both of those songs sure awake the hobo that sleeps in you. “Hi-Tail, Then Boogie” is a jumpin’ boogie with a rockabilly beat perfectly supplied by the slappin bass of Jack Hanlon (The Stumbleweeds) and guitarist Greg Burgess (ex Amazing Royal Crown) literally jumps in his chorus. This guy is really amazing on songs like “You Talk Too Much”, a fast paced swing tune about a girl who cant stop talking which he illustrates with brilliant and fast guitar licks. And his job on “That Ain’t No Way To Spend A Friday Night” reminded me, not exactly the same style maybe but the same virtuosity, of Little Charlie Baty. Another fine song is “Mean Mean Thing” . Have you heard about Rumba blues? Probably not but I haven’t found any other word to describe this one and I guess you can imagine how it’d sound. And last but certainly not least, coming from the all girl garage band “Ghouls Night Out”, Amy Latka tries herself at blues singing on “Love me” and she’s more than convincing. A faultless album rounded in a damn fine packaging, who could ask for more?
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Johnny Carlevale and his Rollin' Pins
Johnny Carlevale and his Rollin’ Pins

Johnny Carlevale and his Rollin Pins – That’s Life

Roppin’ records
Cry Baby – Love Sick Spell – Baby Names – Evening Time – Love Me – I Think I’m Goin’ Crazy – Black & Blue Baby – Just One Kiss – The Tunnel Of Love – Tease Me – That’s Life – Rollin’ Pin Mim – She Gives Me Love – You Better Stop – Madi Jane
Wild, frantic, desperate, that’s the words that come to mind when you hear Johnny Carlevale’s latest output with his new band The Rollin’ Pins (Ace Brown on guitar, Derek Moniz on bass and Jeremy Kroger on drums). The name of the band is an indication of the music you’ll hear: raw rockabilly / rock’n’roll in the great tradition of the North Eastern artist like Gene Maltais and the Event label roster like Scotty McKay, Curtis Johnson and of course Ricky Coy who recorded “Rollin’ Pin Min” (see That’ll Flat Git It vol 20 on Bear Family). This song and McKay’s Evenin’ Time are the only two covers here, the remaining 13 are Rollin’ Pins’ originals. Carlevale’s voice, that I previously knew in a more bluesy vein perfectly suits the genre, reminding sometimes of Billy Lee Riley, and Ace Brown guitar on fire is the perfect complement. More recommended to those who like their rockabilly served hot rather than the Ricky Nelson’s afficionados, this album grabs you by… (do I need to say where) from start to finish.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

 

 

Uncle John Trio

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Uncle John Trio
Uncle John Trio
Uncle John Trio

Uncle John Trio – For Your Pleasure

Goofin – GRCD6170
Beer Me – Hey Good Lookin’ – Tall Tall Trees – If You Are Lookin’ For Love – Lonesome Tears – All My Ex’s Live In Texas – The Song (I Wish I Never Wrote) – Honky Tonk Man – Guitars, Cadillacs And Hillbilly Music – In The Middle Of The Night – Once Again – Sixpack To Go – Country 24/7 – Blue Blue Day

This is the debut album for this drummerless trio from Finland but playing for 20 years they are far from being beginners..
Eight of the songs are covers and the remaining six are from the pen of singer John Peter Lemstrom (aka Uncle John). His songs are very good and never suffer from the comparison with the covers which is a good point considering that they come from the pen of Hank Williams, George Jones, Johnny Horton, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Burnette and Don Gibson.
Musically you could compare them to High Noon, especially in the way the instruments are recorded. I suppose that Janne Haavisto who mixed this album and also produced the Texas rockabilly trio is no stranger to that. But Uncle John Trio are more on the Honky Tonk side of things (though there’s a bit of rockabilly here and there too). If another comparison could help you to define the sound, I’d say that they sound in places like a stripped down and acoustic version of Dale Watson.
Good songs, good band, good singer… good buy!

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Atomic Sunset

Atomic Sunset - Hot Rods & Pin Ups
Atomic Sunset - Hot Rods & Pin Ups
Atomic Sunset – Hot Rods & Pin Ups

Atomic Sunset – Hot Rods & Pin Ups

Ceklin Music
Hot Rod Cat – Teenage Queen – Proud Hawk – Chatanooga Choo Choo – Lost Generation – Bloodhouse Worms – Behind The 8 Ball Man – Hot Rods & Pin Ups – Shakin All Over – Devil Woman – Atomic Boogie – Honey Hush – Train In Vain – High Octane Gal – Rock That Galaxy
Formed in 2003 by slap bass extraordinaire Djordje Stijepovic (also lead singer), guitarist Drazen Skaric (both from Havana Whisper) and drummer Sinisa Jovic, Atomic Sunset is a wild modern rockabilly band. Let be honest, if you’re stuck in the 50’s this one has every chances to disappoint you, but if you’re open minded you’ll enjoy it a lot. The album kicks off with 2 Setzer/Stray Cats like tunes. “Hot Rod Cat” wouldn’t be out of place on Setzer’s Ignition and Teenage Queen sounds like Buddy Holly once given the Stray Cats treatment (think “Gina”). “Proud Hawk”, with a bowed bass intro, is a solid surf instrumental on which Skaric’s skill shines. Chattanooga Choo Choo, though good, is a little less convincing partly due to Skaric who doesn’t seem totally at ease as a lead singer. With “Lost Generation” they harden their sound with good backing vocals and made me think a bit about The Quakes. I really enjoyed “Bloodhouse Worms”, a threatening song with a jungle beat played on the toms and a jazzy dialog between the bass and the drums in the middle. With a title like “Hot Rod & Pin Ups” you’d expect a neo-rockabilly tune, but this is more a hardcore tune with syncopated drums, effects on the voice and heavy distorted guitar. To my surprise I liked it a lot. “Devil Woman” is a heavy psychobilly song with a Balkan feel. “Atomic Boogie” is Stijepovic “tour de force”. It’s a jazzy instrumental with a fantastic double bass solo in the middle. If you haven’t seen the video, make yourself a favour and go to Youtube. Skaric plays bottleneck guitar on the boogie blues “High Octane Girl”. This fine album ends on “Rock That Galaxy” a more traditional rockabilly. They also play a couple of covers. “Honey Hush” and “Shakin’ All Over” are modernized and customized to their sound while The Clash’s Train In Vain brings a touch of funky glam pop but finally this cover gives the key to this album. If you’d have to compare Atomic Sunset to a band you’d compare them to The Clash. I mean they are to Rockabilly what the Clash are to Punk music. They try to push the boundaries and dont want to limit themselves to just one type of music. A good and refreshing state of mind.

Southerners (the)

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The Southerners – Barstool Rodeo
The Southerners – Barstool Rodeo
The Southerners – Barstool Rodeo

The Southerners – Barstool Rodeo

Bandoleros -. Barstool Rodeo -. I Want A Love -. Let The Teardrops Fall -. Reachin For The Bible -. Lonesome Love -. Ripped In Two -. I’m Moving On -. Lovesick Man -. Forget To Remember -. The Dance -. Goodbye ’53 -. Little Devil -. Blues Medley
The Southerners were a young American (California) combo that played authentic and drumless rockabilly.
On the album, female vocalist Celeste Gilstrap is very well supported by the tight rhythm section of Justin Williams (slap bass) and Byron Williams (acoustic guitar) with fine interventions by lead guitarist Hector Mattos. They deliver a good mix of tunes, all originals but two, mostly penned by Byron Williams.,The album opens with the Mexican flavoured instrumental “Bandoleros”. “Barstool Rodeo” is a solid rockabilly where the team rhythm guitar/slap bass is perfect. Miss Gilstrap’s vocal is very personnal and you cant easily compare her to any other female singer but she would sound more like a female Johnny Cash ‘as you can hear on “Ripped In Two”. After a couple of another rockabilly tracks, you find “Lonesome Love” that slows the pace. That does not mean it’s a smooth tune but a very “threatening” rockin’ one with a nice “dirty” guitar. “Lovesick Man” is a “train song” with the adequate rhythm where both Celeste and acoustic guistarist Byron Williams sing. Gilstrap penned two song “Forget To Remember” and the beautiful “The Dance” another slow and haunting tune. “Goodbye 53” shows the acoustic side of the Southerners with just the vocal and a guitar. This good album ends with a rockin medley of “Saint Louis Blues/Basin’ Street” that starts with just the voice, the guitar and a mandolin and then turns into a wild rockin’ tune before slowing a bit for “Basin Street” and then ends even faster.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

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