Rockabilly-Online

where are you from? We are from Toronto, Ontario, Canada
How and when did you start?  We started after meeting in music school and having a mutual love of blues and 50’s Rock n Roll.  I was glad to find 4 people to start a band with and not just have a backing group.  Each member, Emily Burgess-Guitar, Jon Wong-Tenor Sax, Jesse Whiteley-Piano and Michael Archer-Bass are talented and a feature in their own right.  
Describe your music style?  We are a 50’s RnB band.  

How did your love for this music start, which age, which artist?  I’ve always loved music, of all kinds, for as long as I can remember but when it comes to 50’s RnB I would have to say that Little Richard was the first to really move me.  I would have been around 10 years old then.  
Who did influence you?  My influences are very eclectic, however my main influences when it comes to the world of R n B would have to be Little Willie John,  Mickey Baker, Little Richard, and most importantly Nick Curran.  He was a great singer, guitarist and drummer.  He really brought this music forward for a whole new generation to hear and see.

Read the rest of this entry »

 We’d love to introduce you to some of the bands that you will see at Rockabilly Rockout!

Read the rest of this entry »

Picture by Joshua Black Wilkins

JD Wilkes and the Dirt Daubers started out as just the Dirt Daubers, an old-timey trio from Kentucky. However, we “went electric” over a year ago and started playing more blues and rockabilly. There’s a lot of old Chess era R&B in what we do too.

I have loved blues music since I was in my mid teens. I love the music of Muddy Waters, Magic Sam and Little Walter. I later discovered rockabilly guys like Charlie Feathers and Dex Romweber. Mojo Nixon, Jim Heath and other edgy modern guys made the music real to me. I draw inspiration from my home town, which is in the South and not far from where the blues and rockabilly were both born. I also still have a passion for Kentucky mountain music. Remember, you can’t have rockabilly without the “hillbilly” component.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mathias: So Al, as I understand it you are the founding member of Bottle Cap Rockets, how about giving us your background.

Al: Ok … I’ve been a singer songwriter for several years, been in a couple of original bands, and it was all great fun and I learned a lot through playing live and working with other musicians. Then later co-writing with my good friend Peter Surdoval, an amazing producer and sound engineer we were lucky enough to sell twenty-five songs to Universal Music. Some of which appear in the academy award-winning movie Monster staring Charlize Theron, The Pentagon Papers, staring James Spader and TV shows such as Monk and Cold Case. By 2009 our partnership ended when Pete decided to leave the music business and pursue more profitable ventures. Well I was pretty bummed and I wasn’t ready to just stop making music. In 2010 I was actively writing and recording demos. I ended up writing about 20 songs, some were lame but others had potential. I then made the decision to look for band mates.

Read the rest of this entry »

Interview by Christina Death on January 29th, 2014 at the Oakland Metro Operahouse

Read the rest of this entry »

Tell us about your band.

We’re called 44 Shakedown, and we hail from the western part of the Netherlands.

It all started out a few years back, when we got together as a West coast jump blues outfit with a blues harp, played by Jaap van Waardenberg. However, the majority of us felt more attracted by that particular style of 40’s and 50’s black music that rocks hard but is still very melodic. The blues harp player went his own way; we     found alto sax player Tim through the internet, and played with him for a couple of years. We also tried adding a piano for a while, but in the end were happy with the sound of just a guitar, as it creates a little more dynamic sound. It was at the premiere of our CD Atomic Jump that we ran into Louis as our additional saxophone player. He was the catalyst we needed to beef up our sound considerably. Since then we operate as a five-piece, with two horns.

Read the rest of this entry »

Front cover of the single

I see you reading this title, and think: ‘Why in Elvis’ name would he post this on here? Isn’t this supposed to be on the psycho page? That’s what i thought when i got the 45RPM in my hands from Dee-Ann at her performance in the Cruise Inn. Looking at the cover, you would think that too. The guys, Sir Lee Tea on the guitar and vocals and Devilish Daz Thrash on the stripped down Voodoo drum set, look like a bunch of English gravediggers.

The two titles i saw on the cover are Rockin’ In The Graveyard and a cover of Tornado. Off course “Tornado” got my attention, because its one of the best boppers ever! I frequently bop to this song, be it on the hardwood floor in the Cruise or in my room 😀 So I didn’t go my normal way but decided to hear the B-side first. Their version of this song, originally published in 1959 by The Jiants, Begins with a storm over the graveyard, which you keep hearing during the song. It sounds new and not with that classic feeling to it, but that doesn’t take away that this is a good cover. Lee’s voice sounds raw.

Read the rest of this entry »

I know Laverne very well. A good looking lady with a great voice. I want to introduce you to her band: Laverne and the Rhythm Kings.

She was born in Holland, her father was from Surinam and her mum from Holland.

How did you start your music career?

Read the rest of this entry »

Picture by Regine van der Heiden

We have been there earlier this year at Cultureel Cafe Ammerstol. Back then there were serveral inches of snow. But today it was a spring day in autumn. You wouldn’t expect a nice stage in this little village built on dykes. There’s even not enough parking space. So our drummer for today, Rene was not sure if the place would be packed or just empty like it was, when we arrived.

Rene was our drummer replacement for today. Het got a very last minute call, three days ago from our original drummer Joe, he could not make it to this gig this Sunday. Rene is a great guy and an even greater drummer, so he would help us out and managed to study 36 songs in a very short time.

Read the rest of this entry »

New Jersey, US rockabilly band Bottle Cap Rockets was formed in 2010 by vocalist/guitarist Al Gross, the band’s songwriter. Recruiting bassist/backing vocalist Chris Wolfer to complete the core of the band, with several different drummers recruited to make a trio for gigs

Al: My songwriting partnership with Pete Surdoval ended a few years ago so by 2010 I decided to put a project together on my own. I wrote a number of songs and then assembled a band.

Chris: When I hooked up with the Bottle Cap Rockets, we were playing mostly originals. Many of his songs had a feel of rockabilly at their core. We felt we needed to choose a direction as a band. We wanted “our sound” to be associated with a specific genre. The drummer we were working with at the time influenced the band as well to concentrate on a more consistent rockabilly sound. We then began adding some cover tunes to compliment the originals.

Read the rest of this entry »

Slapback Johnny is a Dutch rockabilly band. I asked drummer Richie, how did you come up with this name? Slapback is a short echo that is used a lot in rock & roll/rockabilly music. They wanted to name their band Slapback Trio but they are with four musicians so they chose “Johnny” because that sounded better. He tells us more about his band.

Slapback Johnny was founded after our former band fell apart in 2011.  Rex, Thijmen (aka the Real Killer) and myself had searched for a long  time before we found a suitable  Double bass-player, witch was Marcel  from .44 Shakedown. But due to the success of that band he  unfortunately had to leave our band way too early. We nearly wanted to  give up and go our separate way’s but luckily soon after that we  had found Peter, a crazy singer and Double bass-player “all in one”.  The Band has his roots in Wijk bij Duurstede (Utrecht) and we are  playing “on stage” now for about a year or so.  Slapback Johnny’s distinctive sound consists of swinging drums,  pounding doghouse bass, pumpin’ piano and some sweet guitar solo’s!

How did your love for this music start?

Read the rest of this entry »

Ollie Vee, a Canadian band, have their first cd released called Lonesome girl.

Jesse Adamson: lead vocals, guitar
Johnny Vassos :guitar
Howard Linscott: double bass
Adam Perzia: drums

The cover has some great pictures. Inside the sleeve you’ll find a story about the recording of the album, as they call it: it was live off the floor, some songs were recorded in one take! All on tape to get that vintage sound. (Jesse tells about it in RBO’s interview: https://www.karto.nl/?p=10417)

Read the rest of this entry »

Candye Kane’s new album Coming out Swingin’ has it all and proves again that Candye can’t be pushed into one musical direction. Starting with the title song, it has a the big band swing of the roaring twenties feeling. Then she takes us to rhythm and blues shuffles, sixties summer song “When tomorrow comes”. “Rise up” clearly refers to the Motown days and then back to her autobiographical and melancholic song “Invisible Woman”. You should listen to the lyrics to take a peek into her deepest emotions the last few years, of transforming from a big breasted singer, to a older and wiser cancer surviver, still singing and inspired more than ever to make music.

Although you’d think, can’t she make up her mind which way to go? This mixture of styles is held together by her great musicians like guitar slingerette Laura Chavez, master of the piano keys Sue Palmer, Thomas Yearsley, and of course her rhythm section, horn player etc. They create the sound on this album which makes it the perfect combination of songs which surprise you all the way through.

Most songs written by Candye and Laura. ‘What love can do’ is written bij Rick Estrin, one great Rhythm and Blues artist from today. All recorded live at the Thunderbird Analog Studio.

Read the rest of this entry »

As i might have mentioned before, Cousin Harley from Canada are one of the finer rockabilly trio’s out there. Deliberately i refer to them as a rockabilly band, however that label doesn’t do this band justice. For newbies to this band just a few words to better describe this pack of distinguished yet somewhat wild gentlemen; Drummer Jesse Cahill isn’t just a rockabilly drummer but in the Canadian jazz scene he is regarded as a fine craftsman practicing the art of subtle jazz drumming and played with quite a few jazz greats. Keith Picot has a great passion for Louis Armstrong and Bob Wills (keeps him up all night), which makes him a serious force in swinging the doublebass. Apart from his mysterious ways of turning soup into Cousin Harley’s greasy hairpommade he is a silent movie director and stars in his own productions regularly(with hilarious results too). Cousin Harley a.k.a. Paul Pigat doesn’t seem to have any hobbies and i imagine he doesn’t need any. Why? He is very serious about guitarplaying and songwriting and has brought out a couple of (solo)albums that showcase his talent. Travispicking at lightspeed is but one of his trademarks that made him earn the respect of guitarplayers all over the world.

B’hiki Bop is the fourth album the band has recorded and being the creative soul Paul is, he thought it was just the right moment for recording one strictly instrumental. Despite the fact that these gentlemen can play their rootsy brand of music at supersonic speed there’s a lot of variation to be heard and quite a number of styles and different rhythms.

All instrumental and originals except for 1 Chet Atkins original; Where Chet went for a Django-ish kinda’ tone, Paul seemed to have chosen for his own sound with class A backing from Jesse and Keith, love this one! I’ll talk you through a couple of the original tunes then.
Rigby’s romp; Big band floor tom groove with just guitar, untill Keith joins, that is. Freddie green-ish style rhythm guitar and a couple of whatevertherecalled whacky guitar effects. Nice snare and swing action on Jesse’s part there, love it, these guys cook!! Sounds like someone dusted off his cowbell on Winkle Picker. Not the everyday drumgroove, surf-ish guitar. This is a Cousin Harley signature tune.

Read the rest of this entry »

Ollie Vee is a 4 piece band from a small farm town in Ontario, Canada called Seagrave. They have been together for about a year and half, but all of the members have been playing for most of their lives.  Howard has been playin’ double bass for more than 45 years. I’m talking to Jesse Adamson the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player.

They describe your music style as roots music.

How did your love for this music start, which age, which artist.

Read the rest of this entry »

My brand new band, LYNNETTE AND THE LONGSHOTS, started in July 2013.  We are from the Greater Boston area, Massachusetts.  The band features Lynnette Lenker founder, lead vocals and rhythm guitar; Andy Pinkham on lead guitar and vocals; and Matt Murphy on standup bass.  We’ve been rehearsing and will be out and playing sometime in the fall of 2013 if all goes well.  Our musical style is 1950s/1960s country, a bit of rockabilly and occasionally a song from as far back as the 1940’s — I love a good WWII song!  I choose songs that are not well-known, or completely unknown, many of them from obscure old records found by me or a bandmate.  I gravitate to the songs of Wanda Jackson, Connie Smith, Loretta Lynn, Jean Shepherd, Brenda Lee, Norma Jean, June & Johnny Cash and Jodi Miller to name a few.  We do originals too, more about that a bit later.

A little background:  My (Lynnette’s) last band, The Stumbleweeds, ended in 2012 after 12 great years–we played some great venues like the main stage of Viva Las Vegas and opened for some greats like Wanda Jackson, Rosie Flores, Big Sandy, Junior Brown, Asleep at the Wheel and others.  After about a year off from music, I started to really miss performing and singing, so I decided it was time to start a new band.  Although I have been doing some performing with my side band, The Pioneer Valley Pioneers with former Stumbleweed, Chris DeBarge and my husband, Phil Lenker.

The very  early start of my love for music: 

Read the rest of this entry »

Attention one and all! Austin’s fighting pride of East Riverside is at it again! We’re announcing the launch of our Indiegogo Campaign! We are trying to raise money to fund our “Ladies of Hades” tour this Summer, two music videos and to complete our new album. This is no small feat and we need your help! No donation is too small and there’s a slew of great perks to thank you for your contribution.

Based out of Austin, Texas, Danger*Cakes is an all-female band that serves a heaping helping of old school Rock and Roll with a side of punk-infused soul. Our songs leave you feeling full with a taste that lingers on long after. Bound by our love of creating and playing music, the ladies of Danger*Cakes have set our sights on making the music industry a more habitable place for women. We feel that everyone, regardless of age, sex, race, shape, size and creed should share in the joys music has to offer and the gifts it can bestow. It may be a man’s world, especially in the music industry, but we’re here to help level the playing field!

Read the rest of this entry »

Nathalie Ross sent us her video, and I think it is close to the Rockabilly lifestyle so, I got curious about this songwriting woman.

Natalie Ross

My name is Natalie Ross and I write and perform 1950’s inspired quirky pop songs. I am based in Surrey, in the UK. I write all the songs myself and I’ve just released a brand new EP influenced by movies from the late 40s and 50s called ‘The thrill of it all’. It was recorded and produced by Charlie Andrew (British Mercury award winner 2013) at Iguana studios in Brixton, London. I perform my music with my amazing band and solo. I am performing at many vintage loving events in the UK this year including the Goodowood Revival and Twinwood festival. I really love doing what I do. I am obsessed with the late 40’s and early 50’s fashions and I dress in the style every day. I am very inspired by the music of the time, but I like to put my own modern twist to both my music and my fashion. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Mississippi Queen is a rockabilly band from Croatia which is almost 25 years on the scene. Till now they recorded four albums, and new one will be finished at the end of the year for their home label  Rhythm Bomb Records. Members are: Don Karlos(voc/acustic), Jurica  Stelma(double bass), Gvozden Sopp(guitar) and Kruno Krapec(drums).

Read the rest of this entry »

Hoorn Rock ‘n’ Roll, a famed rock and roll party in the centre of the city of Hoorn, The Netherlands. I heard a lot of great things about this party, but i never went, though i had planned to go last year. To my disappointment i missed the party, and with that the Teddy Boy singer Yann the CorrupTED! So when I was asked to go, and one of the organizers  who also writes here one this site, asked me too, I didn’t have a choice 😉 So i got a ride and went there.

Poster from the event

I went with some friends, and we first went to the Spunyboys, of course.  The first set was as energetic and powerful as every time i see them! He had a great arsenal of songs, including songs from Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran. He even played the great Sandy Ford’s song Oh What A Shame. ‘Especially for Rocky’, Remi(the singer) said, Sandy Ford being from the Teddy Boy band The Flying Saucers. Near the end of the first set we went for a stroll to see which band to go next. On the way I came by a lot of friends from all over the country 😀 We just walked from bar to bar and saw Gotta Go, The Rechords (good band!) and the 2-tones, before walking into El Rio Trio. Always good, the quartet from Amsterdam! Bopper had his new pinstriped bass and wasn’t scared to show it off.  And although the bar was small (all bars were), they played the roof from the joint again!

Read the rest of this entry »