Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with the Holy Smokes at the Double Down, Wednesday May 1, 2019

Franks'n'Deans host their Weenie Roast at the Double Down Saloon on the first Wednesday of the month and it is always a multi-faceted event with live music, DJ's, burlesque and more! This has become quite the thing to do and is always filled with revelers of all stripes and this evening was no different, with an enthusiastic and lively crowd.

The live guests for the night was non other than the Holy Smokes, making another rare live appearance since their first reunion back in December, which was also here at the Double Down. Original members Jeffrey (harp/vocals), Luke (bass/vocals) and Joel (guitar) are now joined by drummer-around-town Gerry/Turbo and are as "smokin'" as ever! Pulling songs from their two CDs - Live in the Garage and Never Give it Up - they filled out the set with "Automatic", Bo Diddley's (by way of the NY Dolls) "Pills", a newer blues, a tune Luke and Jeffrey did in the Lucky Cheats whose title escapes me and then closing with Jeffrey's "She's the Most". Terrific bluesy garage pop and very fitting band to be playing on Little Walter's birthday!

The hosts of the evening, Franks and Deans immediately announced that they were incredibly stoned and continued to remind us of this fact in between every song, but regardless they played and sang in their usual, tight fashion with ridiculously good harmonies. The basic concept is Rat Pack songs done punk rock style, but there are many variations on this theme, from mixing Danzig with the Stray Cats (with some nice dual leads between Hoss and Sampson), to a ska/punk take on "Fly Me to the Moon", to "New York New York" (they did a video for this song in the city while on tour) and "The Lady is a Tramp", among many others. The lovely Nicole Muse provided visual accompaniment and song interpretation before they brought on the first of their guests burlesque  dancers, Tricky Tatiana, who danced to a version of "Stray Cat Strut".

As it was closing in on midnight by this point on a work night, I had to depart before any further festivities, but it was another fun night, with a packed house and plenty of weenies!

BTW, DJ Atomic was also on hand to provide hip videos in between the live attractions, which is always a plus!

(Sorry - not my best night of photo taking!)