Post by CrowGizzard on May 25, 2007 14:47:53 GMT -5
I had the pleasure of seeing Lemmy and The Headcat at the Double Door with Dick Dale in Chicago, as well as at the "Rockin' 50's Fest" in Green Bay, Wisconsin last week and thought you guys might like a little rundown of the events. You'll be glad to hear that The Headcat boys are rocking even harder than on the DVD and Lemmy seemed in great spirits, healthy as can be and was a gambling fool at the Green Bay casino. He has also switched over to playing his Rickenbastard bass with the band instead of amplified acoustic guitar, a very welcome and ass-kicking change.
Following a sweaty, packed gig at the Double Door in Chicago, where the Headcat blew veteran surf guitarist Dick Dale off the stage, Lemmy and company packed up and headed north, 190 miles, to Green Bay, Wisconsin and the Oneida Casino for a 150-band, indoor rockabilly festival. The musical buffet that was the Rockin' 50's Fest over five days in Green Bay was billed as the world's greatest event of its kind and that is certainly true. In attending three of the five days, I bumped into people from southern England, Wales, Australia, Japan and Sweden. The Headcat was the most unusual act on the bill and received quite a few curious onlookers in addition to a small group of hardcore fans stacked up near the front.
The highlights of the days I attended included Robert Gordon with Chris Spedding, Johnny Powers, Hayden Thompson, Art Adams in a jam with Slim Jim, The Collins Kids, Buddy Holly's Original Crickets, Wanda Jackson, and Levi Dexter and the Original Rockats. As it pertains to this last band, a more physical and kickass live stage show may not exist.
But to Lemmy and the Headcat, because I know that's what you want to hear about ... Lemmy had been sighted hanging around the casino's gambling machines and at one point chatting up an absolute knockout of a woman in one of the casino's smaller bars. The man appeared to be doing well with the woman but I couldn't resist the urge to buy him a Maker's Mark and Coke and say hello. I wanted to do this quick and clean so as not to mess up his groove with the gal. So I just walked over to their table, told him what the drink was, that I appreciated all he had done for me in his career and tried to walk away quickly. But before I could make a quick exit, he grabbed my hand with his right, my wrist with his left and applied one of the firmest handshakes I've ever received. He thanked me for the drink and for the support and was as nice as could be.
The Headcat, of course, performed an intensely rocking 75-minute show, with a set virtually identical to the Chicago performance of earlier in the week. Highlights included a version of Robert Johnson's composition "Crossroads," "Good Rockin' Tonight," and "Fools Paradise." Any members of Buddy Holly's Original Crickets still present after their first-day show at the festival would have been proud of the latter number. In introducing "Shakin' All Over," Lemmy reminded the crowd that it was originally a number performed by "The greatest rock and roll singer Britain ever produced, Johnny Kid and The Pirates." The set closed with Slim Jim attempting to sing The Stray Cats' "Rock This Town," but his mike was turned off. Lemmy stepped up and took over, doing his best, but mostly mumbling his way through the number while wailing away on bass. It was the best version of the song I've ever heard.
As has been mentioned, Lemmy has switched back to playing bass during the Headcat sets and this really does make for a better show. He slings that thing like he is playing for Motorhead and the sound is a lot more no-nonsense. It also has Slim Jim Phantom slamming away over on the stand-up drum kit harder. Danny B. Harvey is hunkered down on guitar throughout this onslaught and overall it is just a beautifully rocking sight to behold. The band seems to be having a good time doing it.
After the show, as was the custom for almost all performers at the big stage of the event, Lemmy came down to sit at a table and sign autographs. He also posed for pictures with some of the people. It was surreal to see him standing there among all the rockabilly fans with their pompadours all jacked up and his sweaty hair hanging in the opposite direction.
For me, the remainder of the weekend was anti-climactic, but still very enjoyable. I was disappointed to hear Bo Diddley suffered a stroke just a few days before he was scheduled to close the fest on Sunday night. This cancellation had me heading out of town a day earlier than planned, so I don't know who they hired for a replacement.
Other Rockabilly Hall of Fame acts on the schedule included Vicky Tafoya, Carl Mann, Rayburn Anthony, Sue Moreno, Roddy Jackson, Charlie Gracy, Charlie Thompson, Sonny West, Dale Hawkins, The Clovers and Sonny Burgess.
Over the course of the week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Lutefisk from this board and her husband Al, my Motor-friend Tim from Chicago and, for the first time another dedicated, longtime Motorheadbanger, David, along with his wife from Boston. All were great fun to hang out with and many beers went down our hatches. What a time it was.
Following a sweaty, packed gig at the Double Door in Chicago, where the Headcat blew veteran surf guitarist Dick Dale off the stage, Lemmy and company packed up and headed north, 190 miles, to Green Bay, Wisconsin and the Oneida Casino for a 150-band, indoor rockabilly festival. The musical buffet that was the Rockin' 50's Fest over five days in Green Bay was billed as the world's greatest event of its kind and that is certainly true. In attending three of the five days, I bumped into people from southern England, Wales, Australia, Japan and Sweden. The Headcat was the most unusual act on the bill and received quite a few curious onlookers in addition to a small group of hardcore fans stacked up near the front.
The highlights of the days I attended included Robert Gordon with Chris Spedding, Johnny Powers, Hayden Thompson, Art Adams in a jam with Slim Jim, The Collins Kids, Buddy Holly's Original Crickets, Wanda Jackson, and Levi Dexter and the Original Rockats. As it pertains to this last band, a more physical and kickass live stage show may not exist.
But to Lemmy and the Headcat, because I know that's what you want to hear about ... Lemmy had been sighted hanging around the casino's gambling machines and at one point chatting up an absolute knockout of a woman in one of the casino's smaller bars. The man appeared to be doing well with the woman but I couldn't resist the urge to buy him a Maker's Mark and Coke and say hello. I wanted to do this quick and clean so as not to mess up his groove with the gal. So I just walked over to their table, told him what the drink was, that I appreciated all he had done for me in his career and tried to walk away quickly. But before I could make a quick exit, he grabbed my hand with his right, my wrist with his left and applied one of the firmest handshakes I've ever received. He thanked me for the drink and for the support and was as nice as could be.
The Headcat, of course, performed an intensely rocking 75-minute show, with a set virtually identical to the Chicago performance of earlier in the week. Highlights included a version of Robert Johnson's composition "Crossroads," "Good Rockin' Tonight," and "Fools Paradise." Any members of Buddy Holly's Original Crickets still present after their first-day show at the festival would have been proud of the latter number. In introducing "Shakin' All Over," Lemmy reminded the crowd that it was originally a number performed by "The greatest rock and roll singer Britain ever produced, Johnny Kid and The Pirates." The set closed with Slim Jim attempting to sing The Stray Cats' "Rock This Town," but his mike was turned off. Lemmy stepped up and took over, doing his best, but mostly mumbling his way through the number while wailing away on bass. It was the best version of the song I've ever heard.
As has been mentioned, Lemmy has switched back to playing bass during the Headcat sets and this really does make for a better show. He slings that thing like he is playing for Motorhead and the sound is a lot more no-nonsense. It also has Slim Jim Phantom slamming away over on the stand-up drum kit harder. Danny B. Harvey is hunkered down on guitar throughout this onslaught and overall it is just a beautifully rocking sight to behold. The band seems to be having a good time doing it.
After the show, as was the custom for almost all performers at the big stage of the event, Lemmy came down to sit at a table and sign autographs. He also posed for pictures with some of the people. It was surreal to see him standing there among all the rockabilly fans with their pompadours all jacked up and his sweaty hair hanging in the opposite direction.
For me, the remainder of the weekend was anti-climactic, but still very enjoyable. I was disappointed to hear Bo Diddley suffered a stroke just a few days before he was scheduled to close the fest on Sunday night. This cancellation had me heading out of town a day earlier than planned, so I don't know who they hired for a replacement.
Other Rockabilly Hall of Fame acts on the schedule included Vicky Tafoya, Carl Mann, Rayburn Anthony, Sue Moreno, Roddy Jackson, Charlie Gracy, Charlie Thompson, Sonny West, Dale Hawkins, The Clovers and Sonny Burgess.
Over the course of the week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Lutefisk from this board and her husband Al, my Motor-friend Tim from Chicago and, for the first time another dedicated, longtime Motorheadbanger, David, along with his wife from Boston. All were great fun to hang out with and many beers went down our hatches. What a time it was.
