Rebel Beat : The Story Of LA Rockabilly This is the DVD you need if you’re into today’s “authentic” rockabilly. Professionally filmed it recounts the story of Californian and more specifically Los Angeles rockabilly with many testimonies from key figures from the 50’s to today, you have musicians (Glen Glenn, Janis Martin, Big Sandy, Ray Campi, Dave Gonzales), producers and promoters (Reb Kennedy, Tom Ingram of Viva Las Vegas, Bob Timmers of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame). All of them try to describe what rockabilly is (and it is not that easy) and how it evolved. The side aspects are also covered like the dance, the cars, the pinstriping, the clothes, the tattoos and the hairdo. Don’t miss the “You gotta have grease” advice given to a newcomer. This leads to a discussion about the Stray Cats and their giant pompadours, and it’s kinda bad that a sort of fashion police dismisses the Stray Cats influence just because of a non-conventional look. I don’t think rockabilly is a matter of uniform, but I may be wrong, who knows. The best part is the Ronnie Weiser segment. Man, you could do a full movie about this colourful character. He has so much passion when he talks about the music, that’s incredible. Friends of him (DJ Bonebrake, Skip Heller, Ray Campi) talk about the huge influence he had on the scene in the 70’s and the 80’s revival. One full chapter called Los Rebeldes is dedicated to the new blend of latino bands (Omar Romero, Lil’ Luis…). And this could be one of the minor reproach I could do about this DVD. It’s okay to talk about new bands but the point of view of someone like Deke Dickerson who’s been there for many years now and was a big part of the revival with The Dave and Deke Combo, the Ecco-fonics and as a producer would surely have been interesting. The other reproach is the lack of live performances. But this documentary is great all the same and it’s so rare to find such a casting on one support. Don’t miss the Ray Campi video clip in the bonus footage, straight from the 70’s. Now Betty, we’re waiting for volume 2. Get it at www.rebelbeat.com. Fred "Virgil" Turgis         Psychobilly - Behind The Music CRDVD143 A very interesting documentary about the early years of that musical monster created in the late 70’s, often poorly described as a mix of punk and rockabilly. Although the shooting and the editing is not very dynamic, and you can regret the lack of archives footage, the interview are really well done and make you feel the excitement of these early days of a bunch of kids who wanted to push the boundaries of Rockabilly toward something new. Interviewed witnesses are well chosen too. You have musicians from influential bands that all helped defined the genre in their own way : Nigel Lewis (Meteors), Alan Wilson (Sharks), Steve Whitehouse (Sharks and Frenzy), Chuck Harvey (Frantic Flintstones), Eric and Jeroen Haamer (Batmobile), Mark Harman (Restless), Mark Pennington (Caravans), Humungus (Coffin Nails) and some more. Another point of view is given by labels bosses Dell Richardson (Fury who also held the Big Rumble) and the Sam Phillips of Psychobilly : Roy Williams (Nervous Records) himself. One can only regret the absence of Paul Fenech (The Meteors) and Pip from The Guana Batz. The second part of the DVD about funny stories between bands is more anecdotic but shows that behind the horror themed songs, Psychobilly is all about fun. As a bonus you have six songs. Three promo videos : the classic Frantic Flinstones’ anthem Alley Cat King, The Sharks give a great rendition of Lord Sutch’s Jack The Ripper and Chuck & The Hulas featuring Alan Wilson on guitar. The remaining three are recent live performance from The Coffin Nails (Plasmapool) and Frenzy performs two of its classic “I See Red” and “Clockwork Toy” (which made me think how good a DVD from Frenzy would be). This DVD will please “old school psychobilly” fans like me and the younger ones will be interested to learn about the roots of the music they’re listening to. I can only hope there’ll be a follow up about the late 80’s/early 90’s with bands like The Quakes, Guana Batz, Scum Rats, Demented Are Go, Krewmen etc. The Radioactive Kid         Deke’s Guitar Geek Festival 2004 DVD Self Released Another DVD from Deke Dickerson recorded last year. If you like guitars this one’s for you. It opens with the great Gary Lambert (Glen Glenn) showing that time didn’t alter his skill. Great Atkins and Travis picking with classics like «Cannonbal Rag» and «Mystery Train». Second band on the bill «Venturesmania» featuring Deke, Chris Sprague, Garret Immel (The Ghastly Ones) and Pete Curry (Los Straitjackets), recreates the sound of the Ventures and most specifically the «Live In Japan» album. They even have a japanese MC. Very good and powerful versions of «Penetration», «Walk Don’t Run» and «Bumble Bee Twist». Next TK Smith (Big Sandy, Smith’s Ranch Boys) and Jeremy Wakefield (the steel guitar wizard) pay tribute to Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant. Improvisation, skill and speed : this is country jazz at its best. A special mention must be done to the rhythm section : Deke, Wally Hersom and especially Chris Sprague who played with everybody but Gary Lambert. The big surprise for me came from Brian Lonbeck. I’ve seen his name here and there but never really heard him play. Oh man, he can play the best Joe Maphis guitar you can imagine, always with a smile on his face and it seems effortless to him. This the real discover of this DVD as I already knew the talent of the other guys. His rendition of «Flying Finger» or «Fire On the Strings» worth the price of this DVD. The sole regret is the Deke’s segment. This is exacly the same you can find on «West Coast Ramble 2». Fred "Virgil" Turgis         Deke Dickerson & The Ecco-Fonics - Show-o-Rama Vol 1 DVD Self Released This 2 hours videotape of Deke Dickerson is now available on DVD on his website. Okay, this is not a 15 cameras show or a dolby surround sound. This is Deke on tour, with shows taped by friends and curiosities you can find while on tour filmed by Deke. The best (in term of shooting) segment is the TV show in Japan. This first (on three) live part shows the Ecco-fonics with the saxophone line-up playing «Red Headed Woman», «El Cumbachero», «Beat Out My Love», «Headin’ On The Road» and a few other. It’s followed by an interview and a quick guitar lesson. Before the second live segment, you travel accross the USA with Deke and the boys : from the celebrity car sales to the weirdest museum I’ve ever seen (the now famous «thing», see the interview). Second show, second line up. This time this is the «country» line up with Jeremy Wakefield on steel, Dave Biller on guitar and Billy Horton on slap bass. The repertoire comes mainly from the «In 3 Dimensions» album like «Gambler’s Guitar», «Pinball Boogie» or «Gentlemen Prefer Blondes». As I said the shooting is not the dreaming one, but it doesn’t have to stop you because this version of the Ecco-fonics is one of the best I know. Don’t miss JW singing «Sweet Sue» with Deke on the bass saxophone. Next stop : Spain. This time Bobby Trimble and Wally Hersom are playing with Deke for a rockabilly/ rock’n’roll incarnation of the Ecco-fonics. Songs performed are «All Dressed Up», «Snatch It and Grab It», «Chrome Dome», George Jone’s «White Lightnin’», «It Would Be A Doggone Lie» and Wally sings «Booze Party» previously heard on the Fly-Rite Boys album. A great and wild show with a lot of doubleneck baritone guitar. The DVD ends with Deke presenting his collection of Duke Of Hazard’s related stuff (socks, lunchbox, 45s and many more). Fred "Virgil" Turgis         The Paladins - Powershake DaViD Music Group Let ‘er Roll - Power Shake - Goin’ To The City - Hot Rod Rockin’ - Lookin’ For A Girl Like You - Slippin’ In - Lil’ Irene - Treat Me Wrong - Slow Down - It’s Too Late Baby - Tore Up - Going Down To Big Mary’s - You Make It They Take It - Make Me Feel So Good - Kiddio - Follow Your Heart - Let’s Buzz - 15 Days Under The Hood - El Matador - Bad Case Of Love - She’s Fine - Mercy. Very good DVD recorded in Holland and good value for money too : 22 songs and 101 minutes. And as the band takes a break and each member is involved in various project (most notably The Hacienda Brothers with Dave Gonzales and Chris Gaffney) it’s a chance to see them live in your living room. Well no big surprise here you’ve got the usual mix of styles the Paladins usually play : blues, rockabilly, rock’n’roll, country and a hint of surf here and there. If you’re familiar with the band you can see that they drew songs from all their albums, with all their classics (Big Mary’s, 15 days, Let’s Buzz…). The DVD itself is very well filmed with a lot of camera and not too much effects (the kind of camera movements that give you seasick). So, two choices for you : you’re already a fan and this one is a must have for you, you don’t know the Paladins and this DVD is the best best-of you could ever dream of. Fred "Virgil" Turgis         West Coast Ramble - Episode 1 The Blue Suedes : Everybody shake it - Through with your jivin Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys : Honky tonk queen - Miss Tracy - Jumpin’ from 6 to 6 - Greatest story ever told - Chica abortada The first volume of this great serie starts with an unknown band to me : The Blue Suedes. Honestly, even if I don’t dislike what they do, I must admit that their sound seems a little bit «young» to me. Then Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys (with Jimmy Roy on steel) open their set with a good rendition of Honky Tonk Queen. Next you have a western-swing version of Miss Tracy (from the «Fly Rite Trio» era of the band). «Jumpin’ from 6 to 6» gives each member of the band the occasion to shine. I especially loved the intervention of Bobby Trimble (great as usual) and the simple but effective «harmonic» solo by Jimmy Roy. After the romantic «Greatest story...» the set ends with the rockin’ «Chico Abortada», previously sung by Big Sandy with Los Straitjackets on record but never with the Fly Rite Boys. On this song Jimmy Roy takes the second guitar to trade licks with Ashley Kingman. In between songs, the camera follows Big Sandy and Jeff West in his home where they talk about records and music. You even see and hear them play accoustic versions of «Man like me» and the superb «Betwen darkness and dawn» closes the show. Fred "Virgil" Turgis         West Coast Ramble - Episode 2 The Bonebrake Syncopators : Sweet Georgia Brown - Dark eyes Viva Las Vegas 2003 Car Show Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-fonics : Don’t push me too far - Wear out the soles of my shoes - I might not come home at all - I got a boogie-woogie feelin’ Here we go with episode 2, to start the show we have The Bonebrake Syncopators. Maybe the name is not too familiar with you, but the players surely are : TK Smith on guitar, Wally Hersom on bass, Dave Stuckey on drums, Jeremy Wakefield on steel and DJ Bonebrake on vibes. How can you go wrong in such company ? You can’t ! This band has been describe as «Red Norvo meets Speedy West» and it fits them very well. Don’t forget to add a pinch of Django Reinhardt, Benny Goodman and the coolness of the Californian western swingers and that’s it, you’ve got the perfect combination. They start their (too short, only two songs) segment with a great rendition of Sweet Georgia Brown. Long intro with questions and answers from each solist. Behind, Stuckey and Hersom provide the beat and show they are the perfect swing team (no wonder they both play in The Lucky Stars). Then after 3 minutes, JW starts to sing with an easy-going style that fits perfectly with the band. The second tune is Dark eyes and is as good as the first. I don’t know if they will release some recordings, but if they do put me first on the list of the buyers. The second part is a trip to Viva Las Vegas with Amber Foxx as a guide. Great cars and great flashy clothes. The third part shows Deke Dickerson at home with his records, mikes, amps... collections and on stage at the Doll Hut with Chris Sprague and Wally Hersom. It was taped during Deke’s Guitar Geek 2004. You’ve got the usual mix of rockabilly, hillbilly and rock’n’roll you can expect from Deke, and he’s good as usual. The last song is the «grand final» with the help of Ashley Kingman, Brian Lombeck, TK Smith, Jeremy Wakefield and Buddy Dughi for the «3 guitars, 6 necks, 12 hands boogie». Like Episode 1, bands members talk between the songs (DJ Bonebrake and JW talk about the genesis of The Bonebrake Syncopators, Deke talks about almost everything and explains why he’s the luckiest SOB that ever lived - don’t miss that). Fred "Virgil" Turgis         West Coast Ramble - Volume 3 Carl Sonny Leyland Trio : Low Down Dog - Wine Spodee O Dee - Margie - Trouble In Mind - Streamlined Train Amber Foxx - 1234 Tires - Look This Way - I Just Can’t Take Rory Justice : Hip Shakin’ Mama - Sugar Mama - Mad Man - Railroad Mama The Lucky Stars - Real Good Lookin’ - Chisel To My Heart - Ding Dong Daddy - It’s All Your Fault - Hot Potato - Oklahoma Stomp Rockin’ Ryan Bonus Track Volume 3 of this fine serie and one more time you’ve got the best of the Californian scene. Hosted by Jeff West the show opens with Carl Leyland Trio (with Hal Smith on drums and Marty Eggers on bass). Blues and boogie woogie at their very best, with a special mention to my favorite one «Margie», and its great drum solo by Mr Smith. What makes the quality of these serie is the «behind the scene» shootings. You can hear Leyland talking about how he became interested in Jazz and Boogie Woogie and visit the Museum of the West with Sage Guyton (and almost see the Bob Wills’s saddle). Second artist on this DVD is Amber Foxx, a newcomer, and I must say she was a very good surprise to me. Excellent rockabilly, backed by a efficient band with Bobby Trimble on drums and a bunch of good songs penned by Tom Almanzar, the guitar player. Hope she’ll release an album soon as these 3 songs were too short for me. The following artist is Rory Justice, The Rockabilly Kid. I must confess that this is not the kind of rockabilly I’m keen on. I think he should choose between singing and playing the lead guitar. Or maybe it’s too wild for me, who knows?? You then have a fashion show with Nicole and Amber Foxx. Very fun to watch even if I’m not very concerned (don’t know why, but western dresses don’t fit me well). Last but not least, here comeThe Lucky Stars. Sage and the boys deliver the best western swing you can hear and they prove it one more time. On the set list, 2 songs from their first album (Chisel To My Heart and Hot Potato), a new one from «Stay Out Late...» (Real Good Lookin’) and 3 tunes you can’t find anywhere else. «Ding Dong Daddy», a classic western swing number played by Bob Wills among many others, is sung by Dave Stuckey. Nice to see and hear him sing again. Steel guitarist Jeremy Wakefield takes the vocal on Cindy Walker’s It’s All Your Fault with his elegant and easy going style. Their set ends with Oklahoma Stomp (Spade Cooley) and gives every musicians a brilliant solo. Here appears one of the failing of this DVD : the editing. It’s too bad to hear a great drum solo by Dave Stuckey and all you can see is... a couple of dancers. I know it’s a detail and I’m focusing on drummers but... An advice : don’t stop your DVD player after the Lucky Stars segment, there’s a Rockin’ Ryan song after the credit titles. This DVD’s are available at www.westcoastramble.com Fred "Virgil" Turgis