MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

The Bobby Young Project showed a strong lineup, with fine singer Wylie Trass singing, “Pockets” on drums, Tarika Lewis on Violin, Bobby on guitar, Gary Novak on bass, and a good saxophonist who’s name I didn’t get. Waiting in the wings was Mz Dee with her huge voice. We were in for some vocal treats. They didn’t waste any time getting funky and really got down. It was a soulful treat and first Wylie and then Mz Dee were pulling them in the doors, as the band laid down dance rhythm that filled the floor. Wylie’s “Love and Happiness” was fine. Mz Dee had a powerful “(Standin’ on) Shaky Ground” that drove the dancers and filled the house. Wow! What a powerful voice. This was a fine set and great to have early, it really set the tone for the afternoon.

The Pulsators had a powerful set that was the cream of their songs. I danced a lot and I don’t remember the set list. I do remember singing along on the fast chorus patter of “Do what you wanta when you gotta when you wanta” –or something like that. The interplay between drummer Johnny Campbell and bassist Mick Whittington is a powerhouse and guitarist Doug McKenzie and keyboardist Karl Marenko sure can comp and Pulsate all right. Nice solos by Doug and Karl and by Doug Clifford on Sax were a treat. Carl Bowers was sitting in on trombone and made a beautiful silvery sound with his horn. I loved his solo and the gritty noises he can make on command. This set was over way too soon, rhythm drive! Tommy Tutone joined the band and they did some of his tunes that were enjoyable although there were glitches. The sound level was really up there and would mostly stay way up most of the rest the night.

The schedule being behind, the Sorentinos set up quickly and launched into a set of well-known cover songs. I was only able to stay for three songs before I had to get home and fix dinner and parent for a while. They reminded me of Tom Petty in what I heard. Mo said she really enjoyed their show. The Tradewinds was now packed and there were lots of Sorentinos fans out on the floor.

Having cleared the decks at home and had a touch of quiet for my ears, I got back in time to hear the second part of the Trailer Park Rangers, < http://www.trailerparkrangers.com/> a band I’ve had an on-and-off thing with. Lord have mercy, they have some great rhythm and have added Latin rhythm to their sound. I had a great time tangoing through the crush with Tami (Hi, Sis) and having “dance attitude” on the floor. The TP Rangers had their drummer, bassist, and two guitars and it really worked for them.

The excitement had been building and people were still arriving. Faces I hadn’t seen in a while were coming in the door and the crowd inside was dense packed. I got out on the floor while the band change was going on, knowing that otherwise I wouldn’t get a space. Right up front was a line of dancers led by Mo and Terri and Lis.

The Volker Strifler Band opened with “Shuffleupagus” and it was just great. I don’t quite remember which tunes were selected for the short 45 minute set, but I can recall a driving “Somebody Help Me.” And then there was “Angel” with its chorus of “Just like a.., just like a rolling stone.” I was on the side away from David Shrader on tenor sax and Carl Bowers on trombone and the densely packed bodies were absorbing the sound, but I could make out their horn lines if I concentrated and they sounded great. I was having a wonderful time dancing to the sound of “the Dance Goes On” and singing along to the chorus when I realized that people on either side of me were also singing, “…all a man wants is a little bit of Bliss!” We sure were getting bliss from the band. Suddenly it was over. That was the fastest 45 minutes I can recall! From start to finish it was the full up Volker experience.

It’s just too darn long between “A Case of the Willy’s” shows. Willy is going to high level (literally) EMT school and training to be an airborne medic. What with that and the fewer number of venues, the band doesn’t play as much as it used to. I miss them and so do lots of others.

Funk music played really well is great and “A Case of the Willy’s” takes it way beyond that. Willy has a voice to die for and his drumming is spot on and twice as funky. They came right out of the gate with “I Feel Good” and it never let up right through “Sex Machine” until Willy called for “In And Out of Love Blues” and they slowed the roll and let Willy’s commanding voice loose on a slow one. “You call me to your side, and then you say Wait! --I think you’re jiving me Baby!” I wish I could give you a blow-by-blow description, but really, it takes a full sound recording. Volker blew a few minds among his newer fans that didn’t know he’s a great funk guitarist. Glenn Sullivan on trumpet and Dave Shrader on sax did wild out there solos. This was one of the best “Willy’s” shows I’ve seen, it was loose and over the top. The band just plowed through any miscues and went for expression and full open power. Wow.

I was tired and the call of kid at home came and it was time to go. I saw the first minutes of the Detroit Disciples. Saying goodbye to so many old friends took some time. My thanks to all the bands, I had a great time. My thanks to Johnny Campbell for organizing this and keeping it simple and reducing it down. I sure hope lots of money was raised for Raymond Jax and that his rehab and recovery works well.