Had Too Much To Sleaze Last Night, pt1
These are my reports from Sleazefest, posted to the Bomp List August 2000. I've included all 4 parts in the next few posts, pretty funny reading, if you like this kind of thing. I co-wrote it with Lynne.
Had Too Much to Sleaze Last Night, part 1
I guess I should preface a bit. I have been ‘working’ with Craig Zearfoss for the past couple of years videotaping shows around Chapel Hill, and Sleazefest is the highlight of the year for all of us, not just from the quality and amount of music but the great atmosphere. Sleazefest itself is an interesting animal, I am sure all of you know what it is and who started it (www.sleazefest.com), it pretty much lives up to it’s reputation, but less so these past few years I have heard (more about this in another post). As a festival it draws not only garage, but also the hillbilly/redneck and metal/country bands (Jack Black, Truckadelic, SCOTS...) I don’t mind the hick stuff, actually, but prefer the garage bands. Anyhow, it’s sort of an eclectic hodgepodge of less-than-alterna bands, playing non-stop from 3:30 till about 3:30... I think it’s a blast. The bands play a good 30-40 minutes, the breaks are short and once a band ends in the Local 506 another starts up at the Carolina Sports Bar next door. It’s a nice arrangement they have, and Craig and all of us simulcast what’s happening in the 506 to the Sports Bar along with taping the show.
Anyhow, I ramble. It’s going to be a long fun weekend for all of us here in Chapel Hill. I will try to post some comments about the bands every day, so delete the messages from Dr. Hypknotronics with your filter of choice...!
The video stuff is all setup from Craig’s previous 3 days of work, and things are working fine. We have 5 cameras in the main room of the Local 506, and 2 cameras roaming around the bars doing interviews (by some kind folks from Athens), and another in the back alley where all the bands hang out. We show b-movie trailers from Something Weird in-between bands, and have an interview booth set up in the Carolina Sports Bar as well. So while I have to ‘work’ the whole time, it’s casual and fun, and gives me a good excuse to stand right at the front and point a camera in someone’s face.
FRIDAY NIGHT (what I saw:)
Twin 6
The Maddaddys
The 45’s
The Subsonics
The Woggles
The Fleshtones
Swingin’ Neckbreakers
I didn’t get to the fest until 6:30 (work.. the bane of the drinkin’ man...), so I missed the first 5 bands. Did get a warm welcome from Twin 6, a fairly loud grungy band with lots of “cookie monster” vocals and gritty low-slung guitar. I’ll leave it at that.
Next up were The Maddaddy’s, great stuff, lots of energy and great sound. I would hazard to say garage 70’s, and I know I might get flamed for saying that. There was a large element of 70’s glam, but it was stoogy enough to be really great. Fantastic and fun. I’d recommend them for any party, just watch out for the underwear song...
The 45’s were next, and boy was I in for a treat. Not only do they hail from the same town as the Woggles, The NOW, the Subsonics and the mighty King’s English (RIP), but the guitarist plays Rickenbacker 330’s (*I can be a guitar geek*)! A plus for any band. What a sound too; big and fast, with a fantastic farfisa sound and a keyboard player who really belts it out. I am surprised I never saw them in Atlanta when I lived there... anyhow, great great band, great energy. I would travel a long way to see them again.
The Subsonics next, I think they are fantastic, and have seen them many, many times in Atlanta. I think their sound was off a bit, or something was wrong, they didn’t click until half through their set. But the delivery was great and they really stomped through some of my faves (Frankenstein, Pretty Little Pills). Plus the lead singer Clay looks great on video, he’s got a stage presence rarely seen on this earth. They are also the hands down winners thus far of the coveted “most interesting footwear” award.
The Woggles! Again and again they deliver. It was Manfred’s birthday, (as well as Mary Huff from SCOTS) and there was much celebration. The Fleshtones came out to sing happy birthday to him and to present the Woggles with some “best live foreign band” award from Spain. Their set also included a new song that was really fantastic, hope to hear that on some vinyl soon... Awesome set. Lots of energy. We lost the video 1/2 way thru, someone drunkenly bumped into the main mixer console and pulled the power on the mixer, as well as zeroed out the main video deck, but Craig got it restored in a song. This set also sported the best changeover of the night. The Fleshtones basically came out and took over the stage. The Woggles slowly left and the song, of sorts was still going. Didn’t even notice the drummer changeover which is pretty cool.
Much merriment ensued as the Fleshtones leaped into the audience, leaving only the drummer on stage. Folks were getting good and drunk by this point, so there was some groping and wiggling on the floor. The Fleshtones never fail! As chance has it, Justina and Evan from the Bomp list were standing right next to me in front! I said hey to Justina and said “I saw your picture on your Las Vegas Grind Pictures Page...” Haha! Hope that wasn’t too creepy... ! Evan recognized me from my requisite Grind teeshirt. Didn’t get to talk to you all too much, but nice meeting you, and glad you made it down.
I should also mention that Beatle Bob and Johnny Legend are the emcees for the Sleazefest, which works out kinda funny, really, with Beatle Bob and his non-stop banter...Beatle Bob will go on and on about stuff...(and his voice degenerates as the weekend goes on, Sunday he’ll sound pretty hoarse) Johnny Legend is quite nice about it and adds his own brand of sleazebanter. I am curious to see him on Sunday...
Last but not least the Swingin’ Neckbreakers. Good lord they can play. Really great. They even pestered some girls to get up and dance around, which they did. Everyone had a great time, and man they were good. They did play Mailman, reluctantly. Mary Huff got up and sang a little. Did I say they were great?
The evening wrapped up late, and as I was putting cameras up, Jack Black started to play next door! Sheesh, does this never end?! Ha ha. I didn’t make it to any of the after-hours parties, I think I would have just sat around and “Drank beer to try and stay awake” as Craig put it.
Tomorrow (er.. today) more mirth and merriment. I’ll keep you posted (oof! sorry)
--Robby
Had Too Much to Sleaze Last Night, part 1
I guess I should preface a bit. I have been ‘working’ with Craig Zearfoss for the past couple of years videotaping shows around Chapel Hill, and Sleazefest is the highlight of the year for all of us, not just from the quality and amount of music but the great atmosphere. Sleazefest itself is an interesting animal, I am sure all of you know what it is and who started it (www.sleazefest.com), it pretty much lives up to it’s reputation, but less so these past few years I have heard (more about this in another post). As a festival it draws not only garage, but also the hillbilly/redneck and metal/country bands (Jack Black, Truckadelic, SCOTS...) I don’t mind the hick stuff, actually, but prefer the garage bands. Anyhow, it’s sort of an eclectic hodgepodge of less-than-alterna bands, playing non-stop from 3:30 till about 3:30... I think it’s a blast. The bands play a good 30-40 minutes, the breaks are short and once a band ends in the Local 506 another starts up at the Carolina Sports Bar next door. It’s a nice arrangement they have, and Craig and all of us simulcast what’s happening in the 506 to the Sports Bar along with taping the show.
Anyhow, I ramble. It’s going to be a long fun weekend for all of us here in Chapel Hill. I will try to post some comments about the bands every day, so delete the messages from Dr. Hypknotronics with your filter of choice...!
The video stuff is all setup from Craig’s previous 3 days of work, and things are working fine. We have 5 cameras in the main room of the Local 506, and 2 cameras roaming around the bars doing interviews (by some kind folks from Athens), and another in the back alley where all the bands hang out. We show b-movie trailers from Something Weird in-between bands, and have an interview booth set up in the Carolina Sports Bar as well. So while I have to ‘work’ the whole time, it’s casual and fun, and gives me a good excuse to stand right at the front and point a camera in someone’s face.
FRIDAY NIGHT (what I saw:)
Twin 6
The Maddaddys
The 45’s
The Subsonics
The Woggles
The Fleshtones
Swingin’ Neckbreakers
I didn’t get to the fest until 6:30 (work.. the bane of the drinkin’ man...), so I missed the first 5 bands. Did get a warm welcome from Twin 6, a fairly loud grungy band with lots of “cookie monster” vocals and gritty low-slung guitar. I’ll leave it at that.
Next up were The Maddaddy’s, great stuff, lots of energy and great sound. I would hazard to say garage 70’s, and I know I might get flamed for saying that. There was a large element of 70’s glam, but it was stoogy enough to be really great. Fantastic and fun. I’d recommend them for any party, just watch out for the underwear song...
The 45’s were next, and boy was I in for a treat. Not only do they hail from the same town as the Woggles, The NOW, the Subsonics and the mighty King’s English (RIP), but the guitarist plays Rickenbacker 330’s (*I can be a guitar geek*)! A plus for any band. What a sound too; big and fast, with a fantastic farfisa sound and a keyboard player who really belts it out. I am surprised I never saw them in Atlanta when I lived there... anyhow, great great band, great energy. I would travel a long way to see them again.
The Subsonics next, I think they are fantastic, and have seen them many, many times in Atlanta. I think their sound was off a bit, or something was wrong, they didn’t click until half through their set. But the delivery was great and they really stomped through some of my faves (Frankenstein, Pretty Little Pills). Plus the lead singer Clay looks great on video, he’s got a stage presence rarely seen on this earth. They are also the hands down winners thus far of the coveted “most interesting footwear” award.
The Woggles! Again and again they deliver. It was Manfred’s birthday, (as well as Mary Huff from SCOTS) and there was much celebration. The Fleshtones came out to sing happy birthday to him and to present the Woggles with some “best live foreign band” award from Spain. Their set also included a new song that was really fantastic, hope to hear that on some vinyl soon... Awesome set. Lots of energy. We lost the video 1/2 way thru, someone drunkenly bumped into the main mixer console and pulled the power on the mixer, as well as zeroed out the main video deck, but Craig got it restored in a song. This set also sported the best changeover of the night. The Fleshtones basically came out and took over the stage. The Woggles slowly left and the song, of sorts was still going. Didn’t even notice the drummer changeover which is pretty cool.
Much merriment ensued as the Fleshtones leaped into the audience, leaving only the drummer on stage. Folks were getting good and drunk by this point, so there was some groping and wiggling on the floor. The Fleshtones never fail! As chance has it, Justina and Evan from the Bomp list were standing right next to me in front! I said hey to Justina and said “I saw your picture on your Las Vegas Grind Pictures Page...” Haha! Hope that wasn’t too creepy... ! Evan recognized me from my requisite Grind teeshirt. Didn’t get to talk to you all too much, but nice meeting you, and glad you made it down.
I should also mention that Beatle Bob and Johnny Legend are the emcees for the Sleazefest, which works out kinda funny, really, with Beatle Bob and his non-stop banter...Beatle Bob will go on and on about stuff...(and his voice degenerates as the weekend goes on, Sunday he’ll sound pretty hoarse) Johnny Legend is quite nice about it and adds his own brand of sleazebanter. I am curious to see him on Sunday...
Last but not least the Swingin’ Neckbreakers. Good lord they can play. Really great. They even pestered some girls to get up and dance around, which they did. Everyone had a great time, and man they were good. They did play Mailman, reluctantly. Mary Huff got up and sang a little. Did I say they were great?
The evening wrapped up late, and as I was putting cameras up, Jack Black started to play next door! Sheesh, does this never end?! Ha ha. I didn’t make it to any of the after-hours parties, I think I would have just sat around and “Drank beer to try and stay awake” as Craig put it.
Tomorrow (er.. today) more mirth and merriment. I’ll keep you posted (oof! sorry)
--Robby
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