Got up early enough on Saturday to do some shopping with the many, many vendors - indoors and out - and got a few items before the morning poolside show started with Italian surf cats, the Bradipos IV. They are a talented surf instrumental quartet who were joined by a female singer (never found out her name) who added a dash of rockabilly'n'garage to their show. Her raw, rockin' voice took 'em through "Funnel of Love", "Baby PLease Don't Go", and quite a few others - they pretty much did a second set as the Bradipos V! Really fun!
Think we had a quick lunch break then over to the car show to catch Boss Fink. With members from the Ghastly Ones, the Cormans and the Huntington Cads, the rock the Big Daddy Roth swag, from matching shirts to Rat Fink German helmets. The bassist was highly animated as they blasted through twin-guitar surf, culminating in Davey Allen's "Blue's Theme".
Back at the main stage for the Mission Creeps, from Tucson, AZ, opening up the evening's festivities. Aided and abetted by Rikki Styxx (The Two Tens) and Dusty Watson (the Sonics) on additional drums and percussion, the band consists of drummer George Palenzuela, guitarist James Arr and bassist Miss Frankie Stein. They had a thunderous low end (loved Stein's raucous bass tone mixing with the percussiveness), wild theremin swirls, swingin' guitar lines (from some wacked-out guitar) and some goddam great songs! I screwed up by not picking up any of their CDs, but will certainly be on the prowl for them. There was also plenty of eccentric theatrics - costumes, masks, go-go dancers, etc. - but it all just enhanced the music rather than replacing it. Cool cover of "Paint It, Black", as well! Definitely another fave of the weekend!
San Diego's own "scariest band in the world", Deadbolt, put up their caution tape, pulled out their Aqua Net hair spray, and revved up their twin bass, "wall of thunder" surf attack. Led by guitarist/singer/karate expert Harley Davidson and long time bassist 3rd Degree Burns the band now has a second bassist whose name I didn't catch and drummer Max (sorry, don't know his stage name) from Vooduo, Lords of Altamont and innumerable other groups. They handled snakes, broke boards with fists and heads, hair-sprayed their pompadours and frightened the crowd with songs from their decades-long career. They wanted to just keep going, but were cut by the TO's stage manager, who kept a timer running off to the side of the stage! The crowd wanted more but it was time to move on to...
The Lampshades - a comedy duo starring Kate Flannery (from The Office TV show) and Scot Robinson (Anchorman), who sang songs and did goofy comedy skits to backing tracks. People loved them, but I thought they were a bit much, myself...
Back to the live rock'n'roll with the masked men in the Creepy Creeps - a trashy sax'n'keys garage combo that tore up the stage with their sweaty antics. The lead singer's keyboard was enclosed in a coffin that he wrestled'n'wrangled and stood on during the set. Very energetic stage shenanigans backing the punk rock/garage noise and insulting songs, goofy lyrics, a frantic cover of "Do You Wanna Dance", some instro work, cool sax playing and a rave up with a Planet of the Apes-themed song!
Headlining Saturday night were the mighty Sonics, although now they are down to one original member - sax/harmonica man Rob - though still with great bassist/singer Freddie Dennis, drummer Dusty Watson, and now with Jake Cavaliere replacing Gerry Rosalie and Evan Foster doing his best to fill Larry Parypa's shoes. Unfortunately, without Larry and Gerry some of the magic is gone, as talented as Jake and Evan are, but the band still gives a vicious bite to the prototypical garage songs like "He's Waiting", "Strychnine", "Boss Hoss", "Cinderella", "Money" and lots more, including their first ever song, "The Witch". Jake got to sing lead on one - maybe one of his own? - and played fine organ and electric piano throughout. Rob was blowing great, Freddie's singing is top-notch, Dusty is a monster, though Evan lacked Larry's tone and bite on guitar. Not the same, but still a great time.
Up to San Diego's Casbah room for an over-flowing rock'n'soul party with the Schizophonics Soul Revue! The Schizophonics were definitely a highlight of last year's festivities and this time out singer Pat put down his guitar so he could concentrate on his James Brown moves, while drummer Lety pounded out the primitive beat along with 2 guitars, bass, 2 horns and backing vocals from Birdy (the Rosalyns) and the fabulous El Vez! This combo put on a soul-filled SHOW with James Brown/Sly and the Family Stone tunes, "House Party", and so much more that is all becomes a blur. Every member was a terrific musician and showman and the shoulder-to-shoulder congregation did its best to dance in the miniscule space allotted. For "Please, Please Me", Pat and El Vez did the James Brown skit with Pat being walked off the "stage" only to return as a gyrating shrieker agan and again - appropriate because it seemed like he gave every ounce in the first set, but returned refreshed and did it all again once more! It really doesn't get any better than this!
