THE SONICS, THE WOGGLES, BARRENCE WHITFIELD
Crescent Ballroom
05/17/2016 08:00 PM MST
$25.00 - $34.00
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Supporting Acts: THE LOVE ME NOTS
THE SONICS
Since the beginning of garage rock, the northwest sound, grunge, or whatever anyone calls it, the Sonics set the precedence and the pace, and the sound that gave to every musician and band that followed the inalienable right to take rock to the edge of the universe, to explore the possibilities, to get out of the rut, experiment, and to scream your guts out, that you have arrived, and to continue that thought.
The Sonics have remained the most recognized sounds ever listened to by aspiring musicians and multitudes of fans around the world.
The band in its early stages, began in Larry and Andy Parypas living room with a couple of Sears bought guitars and an early unidentifiable bass. Their mom played some guitar and would encourage the boys to get it together. She loved rock, and was an early inspiration.
But it was in early 1963 where the band came together, with skin basher Bob Bennett on drums making them sound like cannons with each beat, and later on, the addition of gut wrenching screamer songwriter piano player singer Jerry Roslie and fellow musician friend, sax player Rob Lind, forming the original Sonics.
Originally from Tacoma, Washington USA, the SONICS are claimed worldwide to be the first punk band, or garage, or hard rock, or alternative, setting the stage for all that would follow. The Sonics are still based in the Northwest USA.
The Sonics songs and precedent music creations began in 1964, with a visit from Etiquette Records co-owner Buck Ormsby, following a friend of the band plea that he check out the group. The meeting took place at a rehearsal in Bob Bennetts garage. Not too impressed with the performance of cover songs, asked if they had any originals. A killer riff was played, but the lyrics didnt work. Two visits later and a change in lyrics, the song The Witch was born. The Sonics first 45 single was released on Etiquette Records in 1964.
Because of the power unleashed by the Sonics recording and unprecedented sound for the times, many stations were hesitant to play the record. Etiquette had an in with several A stations and also what were called B stations. The B stations were a bit easier and open to new sounds and especially local and regional groups recordings. They began the assault on the publics brain with the first plays of The Witch which took off like a bullet sending it screaming up their charts. This became the launch that helped force the A stations to give it a shot. Overnight, after six months of promoting the Sonics first single, they became the band to see, the new sensations, the bad boys of rock.
The new enlightenment, and the bands acceptance by music fans and DJs, demanded the bands first LP. Here Are the Sonics was recorded in Seattle, Washington late 1964 and released early 1965 to raves. This established the Sonics as one of the most
progressive and popular rock bands in the Northwest. Originally released as a replacement for the original B side of The Witch the Sonics original Psycho became another brutal musical attack on the establishment and had to be played on all radio, again reinforcing the fact the Sonics were not going away. The bad boys of rock were raising hell with their new found glory, while hordes of fans would pack ballrooms and dancehalls waiting to see their new heroes. Etiquette Records planned for the next album, commandeering a small grocery store front studio in Tacoma Washington to record various Etiquette artists including the Wailers Out Of Our Tree single and LP.
The classic The Sonics Boom LP recorded in late 1965 and released in 1966 was the final Sonics album recordings on the Etiquette label. Both albums feature the most daring and dynamic rock music ever put to 2 track tape. The Sonics Boom simple black and white album cover is one of the most recognizable work of LP art in the world.
The original photo was taken by Northwest premier photographer Jini Dellaccio and used in the jacket designed by Zane Baker. The Sonics 60s recordings have remained the most recognized sounds ever listened to by aspiring musicians and multitudes of fans around the world.
The Sonics left Etiquette Records in 1966 to join with Seattle label Jerden Records. Soon after recording their first LP with the label, the original band decided to retire from the scene. Going their separate ways they individually kept performing in various music endeavors but the flame was dampened.
Following their early retirement from being the SONICS they left a legacy and decades of fans who continued to spread the word and the music. Still revered, in late 2007 the Sonics regrouped and reignited on the scene in Brooklyn, New York headlining two sold out shows at the Warsaw.
The Sonics return has sparked international promoters, journalists, reviewers, festival organizers and hordes of dedicated and new fans to embrace the group who's music has thrilled and inspired so many for so many years.
Following in 2008 the Sonics performed theatres and festivals:in London, Barcelona and Bilboa Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and Vitoria, Spain. They returned to Seattle to headline their sold out concert at Seattle's Paramount Theatre where they performed their last '60's concert in1973. The Sonics headlined the Ink & Iron Festival in Long Beach, CA June 6 '09.
The Sonics accepted an invitation to perform at South By Southwest (SXSW) 2009 in Austin, Texas in March,2009 at Emo's. SXSW is Attended by music industry, including over 1000 music groups and artists from all over the world performing nightly during the event. Aclaimed as one of the most memorable concerts since SXSW began, they were invited to headline at NXNE in Toronto June '09, performing on the main outdoor stage in Yonge-Dundas Square.
Original members of the Sonics included Bob Bennett, Drums; Larry Parypa, Guitar; Jerry Roslie, keys and lead vocals; Rob Lind, sax, harp and vocals; Andy Parypa, bass;
The Sonics today includes: Jerry Roslie keys, lead vocals, Rob Lind, sax, harp and vocals; Larry Parypa, guitar bkg vocals, Dusty Watson drums; Freddie Dennis bass and vocals .
Drummer Dusty Watson is the newest member of the Sonics. Dusty has toured and recorded with 60's surf music legends Dick Dale, The Surfaris, Davie Allan and the Arrows, as well as Agent Orange, Lita Ford and Seattle's own Supersuckers and Boss Martians. His big bass drum and machine gun snare rolls give the Sonics that bombastic sound reminiscent of Bob Bennett's attack, which helped launch the band in the very beginning. Dusty's approach to drumming is exactly what the Sonics are all about, pure rock and roll energy.
THE WOGGLES
"For two decades, The Woggles have marched forth from Georgia like Sherman in reverse, leveling nightclubs with their hip-shaking, windshield-steaming garage rock fusillade" (Austin Chronicle). From songs that shake the rafters to shows that make for "a dance party rave-up that could melt Dick Clark's face off" (Village Voice), the Woggles are a four-man delivery system for 200-proof, nitro-fueled rock'n'roll. As their die-hard fans around the world know, music fads and fashions may come and go, but the Woggles share a vision and blaze a trail with the same insanity as the true wildman originators of three-chord mayhem.
Combine a whole lot of 60's rock'n'roll with a fist-full of soul, a hip flask of rhythm & blues and a splash of surf and you'll have the exciting sound of the Woggles. Signing with Little Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records in 2006, their latest effort for the label is 2013's "The Big Beat." The title is a nod to famed DJ Alan Freed's short lived weekly prime time TV rock'n'roll show that predated American Bandstand. Said Freed, "Rock and Roll is a river of music that encompasses elements of rhythm & blues, jazz, rag time, cowboy songs, country songs, and folk songs. All have contributed to the "Big Beat."
For the album the Woggles forged twelve new tributaries to the raging river of rock and recorded them at Transduction Studio in Athens, GA. The sessions were engineered by Dave Barbe, known for his work with the Drive By Truckers. The legendary Rodney Mills mixed and mastered. He's worked with artists as varied as James Brown and the Meters, to the Atlanta Rhythm Section and Lynyrd Skynyrd, to the Cruzados and Pylon.
Other Woggles' releases include 2009's "Tempo Tantrum," ranked by Spin magazine among the "Best of the Year." and called "The soundtrack for the best biker flick you've never seen." 2007 saw the release of "Rock And Roll Backlash" containing "It's Not About What I Want (It's What You Got)." The song was voted the first ever "Coolest Song of the Year" by listeners of SiriusXM's Underground Garage Channel.
The Woggles' live shows are the stuff of rock'n'roll legend. The four members of the band conjure up a sound that bypasses the brain and goes straight for the hip-bone. The Woggles' wailing, tambourine flailing leader "The Professor" Mighty Manfred casts the mojo like electricity from his fingertips. He can also be found spinning vintage vinyl and sharing rock'n'roll ephemera on his acclaimed satellite radio show for SiriusXM Channel 21. Before answering the Woggles' call, Guitar-slinger Flesh Hammer mangled strings with 1980's faves Guadalcanal Diary. Since the Woggles' first seven-inch in 1990, Mr. Hammer has also been in the producer's seat for most of the group's releases. Pouring on the soul coal and making sure that Woggles' fans keep their chiropractors busy, the group's ferocious rhythm section features Alabama catfish farmer Dan Elektro on drums and the unflappable Buzz Hagstrom on bass. Mr. Elektro was already paying his dues at the age of ten when he sat behind the skins for his father's band, the Country Gentlemen. Mr. Hagstrom is native to Folkestone England, and his impeccable continental sense of style comes with a license to kill. On occasion The Woggles' celebrated rhythm section has also recorded and toured as members of Medway England's legendary Graham Day & the Gaolers.
The Woggles have sired an extensive discography that encompasses a wide variety of CD & vinyl releases spreading over various international labels. They have appeared in several videos and independent films and have also contributed to numerous compilations, tribute albums, and film soundtracks. They have shared stages with such legends as Iggy & the Stooges, the Zombies, the Sonics, the New York Dolls, Johnny Cash, the Troggs, Dick Dale, Bo Diddley, Nancy Sinatra, the Pretty Things, and Big Star as well as artists such as the Strokes, the Raveonettes, Beck, Holly Golightly, Guitar Wolf and countless others.
"Go see a Woggles show. It will change your life" (Meredith Ochs, NPR All Songs Considered).
BARRENCE WHITFIELD
There’s no harder hitter than frontman Barrence Whitfield of Boston, MA. When he hits the boards with the Savages, you’re either gonna ride the energy or be crushed by it. We’re talking Joe Louis, Howlin’ Wolf, Wilson Pickett, Smokin’ Joe Frazier. Barrence has what these greats all possessed, the one thing a trainer cannot teach a fighter: a lust for mayhem. The wilder, louder, more insane the Savages bring it, the more BW is ready to attack the mic, to bring it high, to bring it low, to wear you down on the ropes, and eventually drop you.
Backing Whitfield are the best cornermen in the business, led by garage/punk guitarist Peter Greenberg, the visionary who started the Savages after a legendary stint with the Lyres, and his sidekick Phil “Mr. Tenacious” Lenker on bass. Greenberg works his guitar with the ruthless intricacy of a chain saw ice sculptor. Lenker meshes with drummer Andy Jody for an unrelenting sequence of haymaker beats. Tom Quartulli’s saxophone rips like a foghorn through the mist.
– John Swenson
Venue Information
Crescent Ballroom
308 N. 2nd Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003
http://www.crescentphx.com/