Rhythm Riot 6
Now back home shattered after three nights of generally first rate music at the sixth Rhythm Riot. Phew the camp was full and the joint was jumping. Here are the bullet point highlights:
Dr. Snout & His Hogs of Rhythm. Jump jive outfit from Finland. Always difficult being the opening spot on any festival. They did what was required, warmed the audience up.
The Accelerators. Rockabilly band from Scotland, singer has a great voice and the lead guitarist really knew his picking. Great sound, most enjoyable show.
Jimmy Cavello. This guy is an absolute star. From the outset, it was straight ahead take no prisoners fifties style rock 'n' roll come R&B. Great voice and fine sax player. He is 75 years young and put on a show that would have exhausted somebody 20 years his junior. Jimmy came on and from the start, he gave his all. As the audience responded, he gave more. A true highlight of shows this year. Go see him if he is in your area.
The Extraordinaires. The premier UK doo wop vocal group who gave a highly visual show. They are getting closer to the East coast USA vocal group sounds.
The Jets. UK rockabilly band who have been on the scene for around 25 years and have had hit records. All this was clearly demonstrated in an entertaining set.
The Go Getters. Swedish pschyo style band. Not for me but others enjoyed their set.
Tommy Brown. A R&B come blues shouter singer who had big records in the early fifties. Boy, he is good and he worked the stage well. Still has a powerful voice and can move about as well.
 The Crickets. |
The Teenagers. Crikey up there on the stage was a veritable history of New York vocal group sounds. Featuring Frankie Lymon's younger brother Lewis along with original Teenagers Jimmy Merchant and Herman Santiago, they were joined in this line up by Bobby Jay, previously with The Laddins and Timothy Wilson who had a hit in the golden days of doo wop back in 1958 with 'Wedding Bells' as Tiny Tim & The Hits. Tim shared lead vocals with Lewis and this was a classic group show chock full of great harmonising vocals and stage visuals. A brilliantly choreographed show. I was exhausted, but thrilled, just watching them.
Marti Brom. The beautiful lady based in Austin and who has such a great singing voice with shades of Patsy Cline throw in for good measure. Her vocals were spot on but she had flown in from Finland where she had been recording and she seemed a shade tired (mind you, she did come on stage at 2.00 am in the morning). The set ignited at the end with searing versions of Joyce Green's 'Black Cadillac' and LaVerne Baker's 'Voodoo Voodoo'.
There were tribute shows to Boyd Bennett by Charlie Thompson and Arthur Lee Maye by The Extraordinaires. Both of these artists had been booked to play the Rhythm Riot but they are now sadly no longer with us.
Hardrock Gunter. Complete with his unique vocal styling, Hardrock performed many of the songs from his heydays in the fifties. Such a lovely man, he still has a great voice.
Frankie Ford. One of the most extroverted of the rock 'n' roll stars, he has the talent to match. Complete with a five piece brass section, he rocked his way through a set of his own songs together with quite a selection from the Fats Domino songbook. Pure rock 'n' roll show business, this guy does not seem to get older.
Mike Sanchez. Ex leader of The Big Town Playboys, Mike closed the weekender out with a great selection of rock 'n' roll come R&B/Jump jive, all performed well.
Already signed up for Rhythm Riot 7 in a year's time are The Cleftones, Billy Lee Riley and Big Al Downing. Will I be there, does Jerry Lee rock...?
Tony Wilkinson - November 25, 2002