Bluegrass Singing In The Dead Of Night

Most Beatles fans are aware of the band’s affection for Country & Western music and how much it influenced songs like “I’m Looking Through You” and “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” The Fab Four also rendered their own classic versions of tunes by Carl Perkins and Buck Owens. Chicago-based duo Sgt. Popgrass is now exploring the flip side of this situation by giving Beatles songs some rustic American appeal.

“We’re two guy singers who play guitars, 12 strings, mandolin, and a mean banjo,” Graham Elvis, who bills himself as Bandmaster 1st Class, Popgrass Army USA, explained via an email. “We do all Beatle songs with a bluegrass style and instruments.”

Graham Elvis was one third of The Elvis Brothers, a rockabilly band that recorded two superb LPs for Portrait in the 1980s, and later, the Now Dig This CD on the indie label, Recession Records. The trio never achieved the success it deserved. Sgt. Popgrass isn’t the first time Graham Elvis has covered tunes by John, Paul, George, and Ringo. He was part of the trio, Not The Be@tles with former fellow Elvis Brother, Brad Elvis and singer-songwriter, Phil Angotti. Once he had the concept for Sgt. Popgrass in mind, Graham Elvis started looking for musicians who would be compatible.

“The right ‘people’ came to me in the singular form of singer/songwriter Baltimore Banjo Wizard, Jacob Panic,” he explained. Together they started “putting an energetic, bluegrass, and original twist on the classic Beatle songs that everyone knows and loves, without making the songs unrecognizable or us playing make-believe Beatles. It’s a built-in pleasure for audiences of all ages.” 

Sgt. Popgrass has recorded at least eight tracks in an ambitious effort that includes music from The Beatles’ LPs rather than just concentrating on the hit singles. Occasionally, their approach is reminiscent of the 1970s band McGuinness Flint. “Love Me Do” is predictably peppy, but it works, while the spare arrangement for “And I Love Her” has a more delicate beauty. “Rain” moves to an easy-going vibe, and “We Can Work It Out” is particularly well-suited to an acoustic guitar and banjo setting.

Graham Elvis and Jacob Panic combine for airtight harmonies throughout, and most of the tracks have passages where they cut loose on their instruments. “Blackbird” and “Cry Baby Cry” have more complex arrangements to match their lyrical content, while a more dramatic beat, edgy vocals, and a hint of Led Zeppelin’s “The Battle Of Evermore” add tension to “Helter Skelter.” It may seem odd to hear the politically charged “Revolution” in this context, but folk songs often tackled the heated issues of the time. 

“The tunes are fresh and original takes on classic songs,” Graham Elvis noted. “And we’re one of the few acts that has it’s own genre: Popgrass.” 

Sgt. Popgrass will perform at The Dustin Villarreal Memorial Benefit Concert on Saturday, July 6th, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. The Cavern Beat and Rick Lindy and The Wild Ones are also on the bill.

45 RPM Memories: Jimmy The Hoover - “Tantalise (Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh)”

Back in 1983, Jimmy The Hoover had a moderate hit on the UK charts with the exotic “Tantalise (Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh).”  I’m not sure how well it sold in America, but I bought the single after hearing it played on the Chicago FM radio station, WXRT. At the time, I found “Tantalise” fit in well on a mixed cassette next to “When Lightning Strikes” by The Three O’Clock. Both songs are exuberant celebrations of finding true love.

The odd name for this bi-racial group came from its infamous manager, Malcolm McClaren, although the meaning is unclear. Maybe he was referring to the “I’m sick of the Hoover” line from Lene Lovich’s “New Toy.” Credited to the entire band, “Tantalise” immediately inspired listeners to dance along with its infectious guitars, steel drum, and percussion. “Tantalise me the way only you can do,” lead vocalist Derek Dunbar instructed a lover. “I’ve only to hear you and my heart beats like a drum.” 

Female backup vocalists that included drummer Carla Duplantier helped Dunbar make the celebratory incantation, “Wo Wo Ee Yeh Yeh” so memorable it was listed as part of the title. When my wife Pam and I got married, we found a DJ who agreed to play any records we wanted at the reception. “Tantalise” was one of the first choices that came to my mind.

Slumgullion

Photo from The Merrylees Facebook page.

Happy Birthday to Carla Evonne, former lead vocalist for one of Chicago’s all-time best punk bands, Bohemia. Here’s a clip of Bohemia performing “Empty Room” from their debut LP, Deviations. This was one of the songs that inspired the rock and roll novel I recently completed. I’m now looking for an agent or publisher. 

Expo 76, an eclectic cover band that includes Dag Juhlin of The Slugs and Poi Dog Pondering, as well as Pravda Records founder/CEO Kenn Goodman, will playing real good for free, tonight at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.

This Is This, a Chicago area trio that plays mostly original music, will be back at Mac’s On Slade   tomorrow night. On The Hours, The Minutes And The Days, the most recent CD by This Is This, guitarist-singer John Petitt, bassist-singer Don Torres, and drummer Eric Helge brought other genres into their melodic mainstream rock songs. As I mentioned before here on BHT, Mac’s is quickly becoming a popular choice for musicians.

Singer-songwriter Gerry O’Keefe will be playing acoustic versions of songs from his recent Whatever Suits You CD tomorrow night (Saturday, May 18th) at the Buzz Cafe Oak Park. The show starts at 6:30 PM. In my BHT review of Whatever Suits You a while back I noted, “it’s clear that O’Keefe still adores a catchy melody, especially one that’s augmented with harmony vocals and jangling guitars.” I believe at some point, he mentioned on Facebook that he might also play the Herman’s Hermits song, “I’m Into Something Good.” 

Crawpuppies, a band from Indiana that’s equally adept at power pop and mainstream rock, will be the opening act when the Gin Blossoms play at Popcorn Fest in Central Park Plaza in Valparaiso, IN on September 7th. A few years back, when I reviewed the World’s Much Bigger CD by Crawpuppies, I noted that lead singer-guitarist Chad Clifford’s vocals evoke Ian Hunter while his lyrics concerning relationships and topical issues consistently hit the mark. Crawpuppies also have a show on May 31st at Buddy & Pals in Winfield, IN on May 31st.

Luck Of Eden Hall will be in a celebratory mood at Vintage Vinyl in Evanston tomorrow afternoon starting at 1:00 PM. The occasion is the European release of the eternally psychedelic band’s Butterfly Revolutions Volumes 1 and 2. Luck Of Eden Hall will also perform a few songs as a preview of its upcoming release, Victoria Moon.

Go Time! has a record release party for its impressive new CD, Tight Like Wood, on Saturday, June 1st, at Silvie’s Lounge at 9:00 PM. When I reviewed the band’s most recent for release this past Tuesday, I noted its complex arrangements that fall somewhere between power pop and hard rock.

I mentioned in last week’s Slumgullion that the new Plastiscines single “Coming To Get You” was overly commercial, but I suspected better things could still come from the French three-woman band. And I was right.  “Ooh La La” still leans more toward techno than the garage rock that made Plastiscines so much fun in the past, but it’s a catchy tune, built on lead and bass  guitars.

Young Sinclairs, a band that incorporates the jangle of British Invasion but also delves into Bob Dylan and garage rock, has  a new video for “Didn’t You Baby.”  The song is from their 2010 release Chimneys, which is being reissued in digital format available on Amazon and iTunes.  “Hurt My Pride,” released earlier this year as a single, has been getting airplay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage radio show. Young Sinclairs vocalist Sam Lunsford’s self-titled solo debut is also now available. 

International Pop Overthrow is in full swing in the home town of The Beatles. Thirty bands are lined up to play throughout tomorrow at The Cavern Club, which means plenty of opportunities to discover new music. For example, here’s a clip of one of the participating acts, The MerryLees. There’s also a Cavern Club Tribute To Lennon/McCartney scheduled for 2:00 to 6:00 PM. IPO - Liverpool runs through Tuesday, May 21st.

Grab a bowl of cereal and get ready for the world premiere of Ralph Covert’s children’s TV pilot, Ralph’s World: Time Machine Guitar on Chicago PBS station Channel 11. The show will air tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM; Sunday at 10:30 AM; and Tuesday at 6:30 AM. Covert also has a non-Ralph’s World related show tomorrow night at the Friendly Tap in Berwyn.

A Mini Minion? Congratulations to WXRT’s PR Director Kristin Kay on the birth of her first child, Charles. Kay and her staff, or minions, as XRT morning DJ Lin Brehmer and news anchor Mary Dixon call them, are in charge of the station’s Corporate Takeover promotion and can often be seen at XRT events. Like the station’s long-time air personalities, Kay exudes a genuine friendliness that resonates with listeners. Back when I first started BHT in 2009, I attended a birthday bash for Brehmer at Arlington Park. It was a limited affair for selected listeners. Spotting Kay hanging out, I figured protocol dictated that I ask if it would all right to do a blog post about the party. Kay told me it was fine, and with a friendly tap on my arm added, “Knock yourself out!” 

CD Review: Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra - For The Baby Doll

Chicago-based musician Nicholas Tremulis has covered a lot of ground since releasing his soulful self-titled debut in 1985. His multiple recordings include the dark but compelling Bloody Show in 1996, and his more recent work with Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick and John Stirratt from Wilco in the alt rock band, Candy Golde. He’s also a knowledgeable radio personality; serving as a host of WXRT’s appropriately named weekly program Eclectic Company. His latest venture, For The Baby Doll, combines roots rock with a bit of cutting edge literature. Recorded with The Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra, it might be his strongest effort yet.

  

For The Baby Doll comes packaged within a 36-page book with lyrics, a short piece by Tremulis, and a gritty, soul-baring Forward by Michael Thomas. Tremulis reaches back decades to a time when he was trying to land a record deal in L.A., and then reflects on living in one of New York’s low-rent but trendy neighborhoods. He obviously still treasures the times he spent in punk bars and strip clubs, as well as the friends he made in them. Anyone who’s into Tom Waits or the Beat Writers will feel at home reading these pages.

Tremulis employs a hip, talky vocal style for his descriptive lyrics, which gives the music on For The Baby Doll as narrative feel as well. The sparse title track depicts two lovers huddled in a door as snow blows past them , while the hopeful “Walk In The Sun Again” is a promise to a loved one that even in the toughest times, “We can find the light in each other’s eyes.” He has a cynical view of society on the soulful “Everybody Here,” observing, “Everybody here wants to get their kicks without delay/Everybody here wants a big fat fix of power play.” On the dance club song “Push It,” he evokes Dylan while describing guys, “In their wanna-be shirts and their hypocrite pants.”

Tremulis warns a lover to clean up her act on the energetic “You’re Gonna Lose (Everything You Got)” but otherwise For The Baby Doll consistently offers a sentimental but authentic take on the power of love. “Without You With Me,” written by Tremulis with Alejandro Escovedo, is a rough hewn love song with an aching melody reminiscent of George Harrison’s best work, while the old time blues of “Super Human Love” is a joyous celebration of the powerful emotion. “You’re Too Much (But Never Enough)” is just for fun; as Tremulis and his Orchestra cut loose with some freewheeling rock and roll.

A Second Helping Of Third

2013 has been an exciting year for Big Star fans. Nothing Can Hurt Me, a feature length, critically acclaimed documentary about the pioneering power band once led by the late and legendary Alex Chilton, has been making the rounds at music and film festivals. The soundtrack, which features rare alternate and studio mixes, as well as a new mix of “September Gurls,” was one of the most coveted vinyl treasures offered for Record Store Day this past April. The CD version is available on Amazon.

Now comes the news that an all-star celebration of the Big Star 1978 gem, Third, (named by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time) will be held on June 28th at the Vic Theater in Chicago. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, at 10:00 AM CST.

Presented by Jam Productions and Chicago radio station WXRT, Big Star's Third will be a full live performance of the LP involving some very familiar and respected names on the power pop and alt rock scene. Jody Stephens, drummer with the original Big Star, tops a list that also includes Mike Mills from R.E.M.; Chris Stamey from The dB's; Mitch Easter from Let's Active; Ken Stringfellow from The Posies; Sally Timms from The Mekons; Josh Caterer from Smoking Popes; Gary Louris from The Jayhawks; and Ed Roeser from Urge Overkill.

CD Review: Go Time! - Tight Like Wood

Note: Go Time! is having a release party for Tight Like Wood on Saturday, June 1st  at Silvie’s Lounge on Irving Park Road in Chicago.

It’s not surprising to find Go Time! pursuing a melodic sound that bridges the gap between hard rock and power pop on its latest release. The Chicago-based quartet has done well with that approach on its previous CDs, Hit It and Boneshaker. Lead vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski retains his distinctive, talky delivery on the 16-track Tight Like Wood, but the music is definitely more complex, with Go Time! infusing the energetic arrangements with more nuances and dimensions while Niekelski hones his songwriting skills.

The immediately engaging “The Life We Once Knew” is a prime example, with its masterful blend of acoustic and electric guitars. On “Days Of The Weak,” Go Time! builds a big sound with guitars and keyboards, while the mid-tempo “Thought You’d See” evokes R.E.M., with an additional touch of Country & Western. “In A Certain Mood” offers another guitar showcase from Niekelski and Paul Schmidt; sounding like something The Rolling Stones might have unleashed in the 1970s. In addition to these more complex songs, Go Time! also performs straight up hard rock on “The Lines Were Blurred” and “Live  Today... Die Another,” which is driven by Mark Marketti’s powerful bass lines. Throughout Tight Like Wood, Go Time! keeps the emphasis on strong melodies.

Slumgullion

Photo from Rich Cotovsky’s Facebook page.

At this point, it’s too late to catch tonight’s performance of The Little Mermaid by the Illinois Youth Dance Theatre at the Lake Zurich Performing Arts Center. But there are a pair of shows tomorrow afternoon, at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Alt rock/avant garde band Whitewolfsonicprincess has a “Western” theme in mind for the two sets it will be performing at the UnderGround Bar (710 N. Clark Street) tomorrow night. Mosey on over around 9:00 PM. 

Congratulations are in order for the Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s Artistic Director, Rich Cotovsky. As reported by theatre critic Chris Jones in this past Wednesday's edition of the Chicago Tribune, Cotovsky, who has been with the cutting-edge storefront company from the very start, will receive a special Joseph Jefferson (Jeff) Award this year. Having performed with the Famous In The Future comedy group at the Mary-Arrchie's annual Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival for 20 years, I’ve developed an admiration for Cotovsky both as an actor and as an avid supporter of the local theatre scene. Plus, he’s very funny. Cotovsky will receive his award when The Jeff Awards are held at the Park West on June 3rd.

Alt rock/country band Dolly Varden has created an official video for vocalist-guitarist Steve Dawson’s autobiographical “Saskatchewan To Chicago.” The song is from Dolly Varden’s latest CD, For A While.

Metropolly, led by singer-guitarist Holly Senchak, will be one of six acts on the bill when Urban Gateways and New Arts Forum presents Rock For Arts at Reggie’s next Saturday night. Ovadya, American Musk Ox, Newburys, Sam Vicari and Lonesome Still will also be performing. The $25 admission price covers the music, Goose Island beer from 7 - 8:00 PM, and a buffet from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. Urband Gateways and New Arts Forum provide arts educations programs for children.

Young At Heart Pet Rescue is holding From Wags To Wishes, a benefit for homeless senior pets, on June 22nd at the Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows. In addition to dinner and drinks, there will be a silent auction involving over 400 items. My wife Pam and I were highly impressed with Young At Heart when we adopted a nine-year old cat from them a while back.

Plastiscine Faux Pas? Fans of The Plastiscines have been pining for new material for years, but now that the three remaining members have posted “Coming To Get You” on YouTube, there's been a bit of a backlash.

“Damn it! This is awful!,” read one comment. “Where is THAT cool rock 'n' rolling?” A woman named Alex asked, “How was [it] that great music became Pop trash?” Another suggested, “I guess when [guitarist] Marine Neuilly quit the band she took the rock and roll with her.” Normally I'm not one to engage in piling on, but the disgruntled fans have a point. The really interesting aspect of The Plastiscines was how and why these young Parisian women became so adept at crafting authentic 1960s style garage rock. “Coming To get You,” by comparison, is an overtly commercial stab at current techno pop. Still, it’s only one song. Hopefully, the band will go back to rocking out on the next one.