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Pat Capocci (reviews)

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Pat Capocci hot hot heat

Pat Capocci – Hot Hot Heat

Pat Capocci Hot hot Heat

Sleazy Records – SR169
Hot Hot Heat / Where the Eagles Fly

Released in 2019 on Sleazy Records, this is another incendiary record by Pat Capocci. On this single, he’s backed by Lieven Declercq on drums, Clark Kenis on double bass and Walter Broes (Ratmen, Seatsniffers, Smokestack Lightning) on acoustic guitar.
The A-side is mean Bo Diddley-tinged number, whereas the b-side is more Country-Rockabilly-American, not that far from some of the best Lee Rocker’s recordings. Both come from the pen of Capocci and are excellent. It also comes in a superb package, beautifully designed by Chris Wilkinson.

Pat Capocci - Coming In Hot
Pat Capocci – Coming In Hot

Pat Capocci – Coming in hot / Burn it down Baby

Ruby Records RR 45 102 

Ruby Records did it again! After launching the label with none other than Big Sandy and the Fly Rite Boys they joined forces with Australia’s number one rocker, mister Pat Capocci and the result is another killer single.
Side A is a crazy rocker with wild drums, rockin’ piano and Pat’s guitar all over. Side two is bluesier, with a bit of Jimmy Reed’s Shame, Shame, Shame on the beat, and a perfect dirty guitar sound.

 

Pat Capocci - Delinquent Beat
Pat Capocci – Delinquent Beat

Pat Capocci – Delinquent Beat

Press-Tone Music PCD 17 {2009}
Leave The World Behind – All My Fault – Delinquent Beat – Barebones Barber Shop – Devil At My Door – Trapped In A Cage – Sally Ann – Dynamite – Devil Got My Baby – All Night Long – Capocci’s Crawl – Pinch Me Quick – Half-Way Dead – I Promised I’d Never Fall In Love Again

This is Pat Capocci’s second lp and third release if you count Preston Rockabilly vol. 2. And once again it’s been recorded by Graeme Thomas one of the most talented man when it comes to record roots music.
Capocci is backed by the finest musicians you can find on the Aussie’s scene, namely John Flynn and Cal Robinson on bass, Ezra Lee on piano, Ricky ‘the goet’ on drums and Danny Wegzryn on harmony vocals.
This album marks a slight departure in Pat’s sound and shows the young singer/guitarist focusing on his harder stuff. Thus one can hear on a majority of songs the influence of Dale Hawkins (and his two guitar players the great James Burton and Roy Buchanan) as well as Roy Hall. This is for the core of the lp, but one will also find a Texas blues shuffle (Sally Ann), a Bo Diddley Beat (Delinquent Beat) and a jazz ditty (Barebones Barber Shop). The latter made me think how good it would be to hear Pat and Ezra Lee doing an album worth of King Cole inspired material. All My Fault evokes the sound of Carl Mann. Talkin’ about Sun pianists, the listener will also hear in Lee’s piano shades of Charlie Rich too.
Capocci’s Crawl is a fine instrumental with a swamp mood while Clifton Chenier’s All Night Long(the sole cover of the album) is turned into a mean rocker.
Believe me when I say that “Delinquent Beat” is without a doubt one of the best rockin’ record released this past decade.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Pat Capocci - Steppin Out
Pat Capocci – Steppin Out

Pat Capocci – Steppin’ Out

Press-Tone Music PCD 11 {2008}
Dead End Track / The Pickle / Way Too Long / Gonna Have Me Some Fun / Shake Me Up / Mary Jane / Sick And Tired / Steppin’ Out / Hillbilly Girl / Give Me A Break / Blue Skies Turn Grey / Chasin’ My Tail / Free And Easy / News Travels Fast (And So Do You).

Pat Capocci is nothing else than one of the best thing to happen to modern rockabilly in years. “Modern” is probably not the right word to describe the sound of this rockin’ cat. He often sounds as if he came straight from the fifties. And this guy has the whole package that would make more than one envious: he has the look, the songs (he penned all songs but two on this album), the sound, the voice and he’s more than able when it comes to deliver a hot (or a smooth) guitar solo.
On Steppin’ Out, his debut album, he shows the wide range of his style and skills. Needless to say that Rockabilly stands in good position with songs like Dead End Track, Steppin’ Out or the excellent Blues Skies Turn Grey that reminds me a bit of Al Ferrier (yes, he is THAT good). There’s also a couple of wild rockers like Free and Easy, Give Me A Break (with a Grady Martin-esque baritone guitar) or the frantic Mary Jane.
Pat is also more than able to deliver some hot blues songs, like the Pickle, an instrumental with piano in the style of Johnny Guitar Watson, and Shake Me Up.
Gonna Have Some Fun leans more on the jazz side, but is equally successful.
At this point, I can believe what you’re thinking: It would be too good to be true if this young cat could also play country music. You bet he can! And with style! Just listen to the hillbilly bop of Hillbilly Girl and Chasin’ My Tail (both featuring Rick Dempster of the Dance Hall Racketeers on steel guitar) the latter having a touch of Buddy Holly’s Gotta Get You Near Me Blues. News Travels Fast (And So Do You), an excellent country shuffle that seems to come straight from the 60’s, rounds up the set with class.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Preston Rockabilly - Vol. 2 - Out Of The Valley
Preston Rockabilly – Vol. 2 – Out Of The Valley

Preston Rockabilly Vol. 2 – Out Of The Valley
Press-Tone Music PCD 13
Pat Capocci, Ezra Lee and Danny Wegrzyn (Danny & the Cosmic Tremors) are three Australian cats who play in each other bands. For this album they went to Graeme Thomas’ Preston studio with Cal Robinson on bass, Paul Hainey on drums and Dave Cantrell (the Wildcats, Toni & the Tomcats) on steel.
Pat Capocci performs six songs, all self penned. Full Grown Woman is one of his wildest track, almost garage, Second Best is a traditionnal rockabilly, Burnin’ the Candle is a solid rocker. He also performs a country shuffle (Try To Forget Me), a Jerry Lee type of number (Til I Get to You) and a superb instrumental (After Hours) that has shades of T-Bone Walker and Johnny Guitar Watson.
Danny & the Cosmic Tremors perform five songs (four origiuals and one cover) including two classic rockabillies (my Baby Wants to Rock’n’Roll, So Long). Much wilder is the cover of Bill Johnson’s You Better Dig It. Little Darling, as its title indicates, is a smooth ballad and Feel Allright With You is a hot bopper that reminds me the style of Rip Carson.
Last but not least, Ezra Lee, the piano pumpin’ man, is present here with two rockers (Abby Jane and Goodbye Astrid Goodbye), a strong Rockabilly number (Werris creek Devil). I’m Gonna Kill Your Daddy sees Capocci playing a mean slide guitar that evokes Elmore James and Coalfire Man is more in the style of memphis Slim.
Without a doubt this trio counts among today’s hottest rockabilly/rock’n’roll acts

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Cherry Divine

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cherry divine

cherry divineCherry Divine – Rockabilly Chicks vs. Mean Evil Women

Catty Town
Queen of Rockabilly – Crazy – Mean Evil Woman – Don’t Ya – Vintage Pin up Girl – Baby Plays Bass – Ain’t No Fool – Juniors in Love – I Need a Man – Rockabilly Dancers – Special – Fakin It – Brand New Tattoo – Rockabilly Chick

When a female singer introduces herself as the “Australian Imelda may” I don’t expect much of her album. When that same person, still in her liner notes, has the pretention of “bringing back original female Rockabilly roots music to Australia and to the World” she has to be good. And I’m sorry to say that this is something that Cherry Divine is clearly not. Not only her songs are far from being originals (is that still possible to write songs like Rockabilly Queen, Vintage Pin-Up girl or Rockabilly Chick today?) but her voice is full of cliches and mannerism. This is obviously someone who’s trying to jump on a trend despite the presence of a musician like Peter Baylor who played on far better albums.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Various artists – Underbilly

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Underbilly

Various artists – Underbilly

Tedesco BAR-002
Wes Pudsey & The Sonic Aces – There’s Gonna Be A Rumble / The Rechords – Take the Line / The Retro Rockets – Hey! El Diablo / Warren Earl – Real Cool Cat / No Brakes – Jump From 6 to 8 / The Satelites – Have Mercy / The Flattrackers – Devils Playground / Atomic Hi-Tones – Wolf Cat / Hank’s Jalopy Demons – Hot Rod Spaceman / The Infernos – Heart of Stone / Paulie Bignell – Busted / The Rattlesnakes – Johnny Suede / Sin & Tonics – Down he Goes / Jump & Jive – Batmobile / Flatfoot Shakers – Greasy Hair / The Ten Fours – Midnight Mover / The Sugar Shakers – Ain’t My Girl No More / The Exotics – Locomotive / The Flattrackers – Swapmeet / Warren Earl – Hot Rod Queen / Rockbottom James & The Detonators – Close The Book / Sin & Tonics – Lucky 7 Bar / The Satellites – Wrong Move / Manic Pistoleros – Wrong Side of Town / The Fireballs – Real Evil

Underbilly is another killer album to come from Australia. This one has been released by Tedesco a label that also released the Rechords’ debut album. This compilation gathers with 21 bands and 25 songs the whole spectrum of the “billy” related musics.

At one end you’ll find the hillbilly sound of the Rechords, on the other there’s the modern brand of psychobilly with heavy metal guitars of the Fireballs’Real Evil. In between one will find authentic rockabilly with Warren Earl (his two songs are the highlights of the album), Hank’s Jalopy Demons or the Flatfoot Shakers, neo-rockabilly with the Retro Rockets, the Atomic Hi-Tones and the Rattlesnakes ‘whose sound has a very strong 80’s feel), modern rockabilly (the Ten Fours, the Exotics), High octone rockabilly (the Flattrakkers), jump blues with saxes (No Brakes ) without forgetting psychobilly, some with an old school feel like they played it in the 80’s (the infernos) other clearly influenced by the Reverend Horton Heat (Sin & Tonics). The talented Paulie Bignell plays an amazing cover of Johnny Cash’s Busted and also performs solid country rock with Rockbottom James & the Detonators.
It’s a very well made compilation full of good surprises and it’s a great way to discover new bands. One can only regret the absence of a detailed booklet to give more infos (websites, line up etc.) about the bands.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Peter Baylor

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Peter Baylor - I Hear The Road

Peter Baylor - I Hear The Road
Peter Baylor – I Hear The Road

Peter Baylor – I Hear The Road

Preston PEP5100
Roadhouse Romeo – If That’s Not Wrong, It Must Be Right – I’ve Got Troubles On My Mind – All Night Long – Tarcutta – I’m Going To See My Baby – I Hear The Road – When Grandma Got High – Two Hearts – My Baby Was Born To Rock – Strange Boogie – Don’t Mind Me When I Cry – I’m Going To Move To The Country – Hillbilly Rhythm
If the name of Peter Baylor is not familiar to you, you have probably heard his guitar before. He played with bands like The Dancehall Racketeers, The Starliners and the Flatfoot Shakers. You can hear him on Deke Dickerson’s ep “Deke’s Down Under” recorded during his tour of Australia. This is his first album under his name but he’s playing for more than 20 years now.
The album opens with the infectious rhythm of “Roadhouse Rodeo” with amazing guitar work, and superb bass and drums. “I’ve Got Troubles On My Mind” is another uptempo hillbilly jazz tune featuring a Jimmy Bryant type of solo from Peter.
There’s also a good dose of Honky Tonk, from the rural “If That’s Not Wrong, It Must Be Right” to “Don’t Mind Me When I Cry” that could have been sung by Ray Price via the Hank Williams influenced “All Night Long”. My favourite being “Two Hearts”. But Peter can rock, the title track proves it (the rocking steel guitar on this one is amazing) as does the frantic “My Baby Was Born To Rock”. There are many more gems on this platter for you to discover, a cajun song (When Grandma Get High), tasty instrumentals (going from Les Paul / Arthur Smith to Eddie Cochran) and if that’s not enough to convince you (what else do you need?), it’s been recorded at the legendary Preston studio to get that warm and authentic sound we all love. Highly recommended.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Preston Rockabilly – Vol. 2 – Out Of The Valley

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Preston Rockabilly - Vol. 2 - Out Of The Valley

Preston Rockabilly - Vol. 2 - Out Of The Valley
Preston Rockabilly – Vol. 2 – Out Of The Valley
Vol. 2 – Out Of The Valley
Press-Tone Music PCD 13
Pat Capocci, Ezra Lee and Danny Wegrzyn (Danny & the Cosmic Tremors) are three Australian cats who play in each other bands. For this album they went to Graeme Thomas’ Preston studio with Cal Robinson on bass, Paul Hainey on drums and Dave Cantrell (the Wildcats, Toni & the Tomcats) on steel.
Pat Capocci performs six songs, all self penned. Full Grown Woman is one of his wildest track, almost garage, Second Best is a traditionnal rockabilly, Burnin’ the Candle is a solid rocker. He also performs a country shuffle (Try To Forget Me), a Jerry Lee type of number (Til I Get to You) and a superb instrumental (After Hours) that has shades of T-Bone Walker and Johnny Guitar Watson.
Danny & the Cosmic Tremors perform five songs (four origiuals and one cover) including two classic rockabillies (my Baby Wants to Rock’n’Roll, So Long). Much wilder is the cover of Bill Johnson’s You Better Dig It. Little Darling, as its title indicates, is a smooth ballad and Feel Allright With You is a hot bopper that reminds me the style of Rip Carson.
Last but not least, Ezra Lee, the piano pumpin’ man, is present here with two rockers (Abby Jane and Goodbye Astrid Goodbye), a strong Rockabilly number (Werris creek Devil). I’m Gonna Kill Your Daddy sees Capocci playing a mean slide guitar that evokes Elmore James and Coalfire Man is more in the style of memphis Slim.
Without a doubt this trio counts among today’s hottest rockabilly/rock’n’roll acts

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Rechords

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The Rechords - On the Wagon
The Rechords – On the Wagon

The Rechords – On The Wagon

Bundoora – BRA001
Easily Loved – Save It – Don’t Be Mad – Think It Over Baby – It’s Been Awhile – Saddle Up – It Won’t Be Long – Boogie Blues – Hocus Pocus – Fireball Mail – Bordertown – Take the Line – Could’ve Been Worse – No Help Wanted – Long As I Am Around
The Rechords are Tyron Shaw on upright bass and vocals, Leo Francis on acoustic guitar and vocals and Felix Potier on lead guitar and vocals. This excellent drummer less trio comes straight from the land down under, Melbourne to be precise. They play a brand of fresh and exciting music that borders on Rockabilly but would better be described as hillbilly bop, you know the last limit before the bands went full time rockabilly in the early 50’s. They particularly work hard on the melodic sides of things and have great harmonies inspired from the great “brothers” combo of the past (Louvin, Stanley, Delmore, Everly…).
The seven songs they had on the Press Tone Rockabilly #3 compilation album impressed me a lot, but they totally blew me away with their long player. It’s been a while since I’ve been that impressed by a trio like that (who said Roy Kay?). Each member can sing lead and double on harmonies and the three of them penned solid originals that stand proudly next to carefully chosen covers. What distinguishes them from the vast majority of other combos that play (or try to play) this music lays in the fact that they have assimilated their influences (bluegrass, honky tonk, western swing, blues, rhythm’n’blues, rockabilly) and created their own style rather than slavishly copying anybody (no “oh this riff sounds like Johnny Burnette” or “hey they borrowed this one to Gene Vincent” here). Most of all, they have listened to what have influenced the artist they like, that’s why they came naturally to an authentic and natural sound.
The set is varied mixing ballads, country weepers to more uptempo tune and they have invited a piano and a fiddle player to play on some tunes to add even more diversity. I won’t go too much into details, but give them a chance and you won’t be disappointed.
The whole thing comes in a nicely designed digipack, so what are you waiting for cuzzin?

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

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