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Post by papajohn on Jan 25, 2011 13:01:00 GMT -5
Over the weekend I was given a letter that was dated October 1967. The contents revealed that my band, 'The Conquered Grape' was being considered for one of the opening bands for "The Young Rascals" at Ridge Arena in Braintree. What a Thrill for a bunch of teenagers !! In the end, we did not get the gig, as it went to "The Rebel Kind", who had just won a recent 'Battle of the Bands" contest. One of the other bands to open for the 'Young Rascals' was 'The Young Ones" featuring Phil Adams and Dennis Angelis............. Wow! What a trip! I can't swear to it, but I believe "The Rebel Kind" were in the Battle of the Bands State Finals with us. If possible, I think you should scan that and post it so the rest of us old-farts can do a little time trippin'! Kinda makes you a little nostalgic, don't it. I was recently going through some of the links from My First Band and reminiscing about some of the bands from day. Remember Rockin' Ramrods, Barry and the Remains? I met Barry Tashian at a couple of gigs at this club we used to play at in Scituate. I remember seeing the Ramrods at Immaculate Conception parking lot CYO block dances back in the day. Remember Moulty and the Barbarians? Moulty owns a carpet cleaning business in Abington. I met him a year or two ago at a club we were playing at in Plymouth. There are only two one-armed drummers I know of, Rick Allen of Def Leppard and Vic Moulton of the Barbarians. Turns out he's a good friend of my brother in law. For Christmas my brother in law gave me a DVD of this show from back in the 60's called the TAMI show. The show had a lot of national acts including the Barbarians. My brother in law had Moulty autograph the included poster for me. What a cool memory. You should check out some of the links from MFB. I just found a source for some recordings from Ultimate Spinach and Beacon Street Union. Those names bring back any memories? |
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Post by rfl615 on Jun 1, 2011 11:23:01 GMT -5
This is the 44th anniversary of Clem, Steve and me Boston’s “Combat Zone” gig on May 5th 1967 (Cinco de mayo) – a Friday night. Combat Zone in Boston was right outside of Chinatown and more like the old west than a ‘60s atmosphere. We were hired to play a 9 to 11 slot at the Blue Slipper (Go-Go Dancers in cages and all) and this was our opening song – Steve sang it like Jack Bruce did – Awesome similarity.
Right after we started a couple of drunk navy seamen got into an argument as to who did this song and a big fight broke out. Steve, our bass player yelled for us to keep playing and what was really funny is that during my lead ending almost in rhythm to the music beer bottles flying our way would be batted back into the fray by Steve using his Fender bass guitar body like a paddle and just as we finished the song the Boston police raided the place and we bailed out the go-go dancers dressing room window and ran like hell to our equipment van then almost simultaneously yelled SHIT! Since all our gear was in that bar.
We went back the next day after the crime tape was torn down to get our stuff which was oddly unharmed and all there. Absolutely a very funny memory of a crazy time.
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Post by bostommy on Jul 15, 2011 7:19:53 GMT -5
My First Band was the Sidewinders out of Weymouth back in 1963. We were a Surf Nantasket house band Friday nights with Arnie the Woo spinning records. Had the pleasure of opening and spending time with... the Ramrods, Pilgrims, Roy Oberson, the Kingsmen, Royal Gardsmen, Billy Sherman, Travelles, Orpheous, Ultimate Spinach, The troggs, Aerosmith, Beach Boys, The Monkeys, The Young Rascals, The many many more but I have to go... Also was the lead guitar player for Kahoona and the Mooners. Look forward to "rapping" with you guys!
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Post by papajohn on Jul 15, 2011 20:28:21 GMT -5
[Also was the lead guitar player for Kahoona and the Mooners. Look forward to "rapping" with you guys! [/quote]
I remember you guys from the block dances at Immaculate Conception parking lot in East Weymouth. I used to watch you rehearse in the school basement. I was with Skip Tuttle and "The Myst" We should ask Dick to have an old- timers night at Retunes. Bet it would be a blast!
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Post by Blues Dues on Jul 17, 2011 6:30:52 GMT -5
[Also was the lead guitar player for Kahoona and the Mooners. Look forward to "rapping" with you guys! I remember you guys from the block dances at Immaculate Conception parking lot in East Weymouth. I used to watch you rehearse in the school basement. I was with Skip Tuttle and "The Myst" We should ask Dick to have an old- timers night at Retunes. Bet it would be a blast! [/quote] John, that's an excellent idea. I am all for it. Give me a call sometime at the shop or stop in and we'll see if we can organize it. 781 826-3632 We can also do some decent audio and video recordings. Not sure about the "Old Timers" name though. How about "Vintage"? ;D Pretty sure we could get Eric "The Snake" Gulliksen and Steve Martin from "Orpheus" to participate. They have played a couple of times on the Re-Tunes stage. Give me a call. RCE |
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Post by bostommy on Jul 17, 2011 7:02:27 GMT -5
Sounds like fun for sure! How about "Whitehead" old rock revival band... I actually still have my backup stage guitar from 1982 it is a Gibson Les Paul reissue 1953 gold top with P90's soap bar pick ups real fat sounding lead guitar. The Ax nicknamed "Chilly Willy" is in mint condition. This is a great site can you suggest where to go on it to dust off some more memories? Bostommy...
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Post by Blues Dues on Jul 17, 2011 7:21:04 GMT -5
Sounds like fun for sure! How about "Whitehead" old rock revival band... I actually still have my backup stage guitar from 1982 it is a Gibson Les Paul reissue 1953 gold top with P90's soap bar pick ups real fat sounding lead guitar. The Ax nicknamed "Chilly Willy" is in mint condition. This is a great site can you suggest where to go on it to dust off some more memories? Bostommy... Let's see if we can drum up some interest in an "Old School" concert at Re-Tunes. I think it would be a blast. Maybe Rick Celia and I will do our famous rendition of "Sleepwalk". That should send the audience packing. Bostonmy .. in the event you are not aware ... this forum is associated with my shop called "Re-Tunes". It's a used guitar/gear shop but we also host events such as Open Mic nights (fall, winter and early spring) and occasional band concerts. Not a huge venue, but we can accommodate up to about 70-80 audience members and have a large stage with amps, sound system, lights, etc. It's not a really serious business ... more of something to do and we have had a lot of good times up there. Website is: www.re-tunes.net |
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Post by papajohn on Jul 17, 2011 16:43:27 GMT -5
Dick,
I've often thought about an oldtimers, excuse me , "Vintage Performers" night, somewhere, somehow. I remember all these bands from back in the day. Best times of my life were and still are, playing with a band somewhere. Truthfully, I think the response would be great and a joy for a lot of people. I just saw Barry Tashian and the Remains on Youtube from a show in Decembber 2010. Some extra poundage and some great hairs but the music still cooked. Maybe we could use it as a charity event, or special interest event, maybe get WATD involved or WPLM. You have a terrific venue for it. Right now, I'm unemployed so I have some time to kill. I think it would be a terrific event. Anybody else?
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Post by papajohn on Jul 17, 2011 16:55:44 GMT -5
This is a great site can you suggest where to go on it to dust off some more memories? Bostommy... A lot of us have re-found each other through Dick and the crew at Retunes. I tell ya, this is a real musicians hangout. Don't go there unless you leave your checkbook and charge cards at home. He's got some killer stuff there. Don't let him kid you, he can hold his own on a guitar. You should hear him on a B-3, too! You can also look into the website www.myfirstband.com. Thousands of bands from back in the 60's-70's are listed in there. Almost all are like us, garage bands with big dreams. But if you take the time to look through them you'll be amazed at the start of some big stars! Steve Gaines from Skynyrd started out in some garage band in the midwest!They're not accepting any more info, but they are keeping the site alive. What a time-trip back to the day. I didn't realize I was actually that skinny back then! Make sure you get a chance to go into Retunes some time. You won't regret it. John |
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Post by bostommy on Jul 21, 2011 6:59:57 GMT -5
Thanks John I will check it out as well as the Barry/Remains on you tube... I went to Newman Prep School with him in 67 in Boston... our bands played the Northeastern frat partys on Greenough ave Jamaca Plains and bumped into eachother many times. Question is the Blues Club still in Quincy by the shipyard... or are you not from that area?
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Post by papajohn on Jul 21, 2011 13:26:55 GMT -5
59am
Thanks John I will check it out as well as the Barry/Remains on you tube... I went to Newman Prep School with him in 67 in Boston... our bands played the Northeastern frat partys on Greenough ave Jamaca Plains and bumped into eachother many times. Question is the Blues Club still in Quincy by the shipyard... or are you not from that area?
I'm from Weymouth originally but live in Plymouth now. The Yard Rock is closed I believe. Steve Murphy used to run a great blues jam there. We played down at the Ranch House on a few occasions. He was a smokin' player.
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brian
Full Member
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Post by brian on Jul 21, 2011 21:58:22 GMT -5
You all should check out the movie "Discotheque Holiday" filmed in 1966. Quite a bit of it was recorded at the "Surf" in Nantasket, and features Arnie 'Woo Woo' Ginsberg, the 'Rockin Ramrods' & Freddie Cannon !!  It would be great to have a "Vintage" Rockers night featuring a lot of us relics of that 'Golden Era' !!!!!  |
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Post by papajohn on Jul 22, 2011 19:33:03 GMT -5
Hey, Brian. Funny you mentioned the Ramrods. I just got a bunch of cd's of the Ramrods, Ultimate Spinach, Beacon Street Union, and a compilation of "psychedelic" stuff from back in the day. Definitely a trip back to some weird times but still a lot of fun.
I also hear that Barry and the Remains are releasing a new cd.
I'd love to be part of a "Vintage Rockers" night at Retunes. I can't think of a more perfect venue. From all the people posting here, I think we've got the makings of a great night!
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Post by J Fisher on Jul 23, 2011 23:59:07 GMT -5
Well not sure how I found this forum but some fun memories reading some of the posts and I saw Papajohn posted yesterday so its an active thread for a couple of years. '
I grew up in Hull and Weymouth and while I didn't start playing guitar until my mid 20's (would have been around early 1980's) I always had guitar playing friends and spent a lot of time seeing various local bands during those times. I still have the LP from Danny Walsh's band "Armed Forces" that they cut and used my Les Paul on it because of its "fat" sound. I never recorded but my guitar did:)
I saw someone posted about Skip Tuttle and I remember seeing Bryaxis many times- kick ass band. I remember one show at that little club on Nantasket Beach next to one of the first video game joints opened there during that time-can't remember the name. It was a slow weeknight and near the end of the set Skip, who was obviously inebriated, started to waiver, and in an almost slow motion movement fell backwards into the drum kit! All the while continuing to play and not missing a note!
Also remember the Dead End Kids. Remember seeing the guitar player and I think the bass player years later as a 2 piece with a drum machine. Man those guys could play.
How about Private Lightening? Anyone remember them? Used to see them at the Surf.
More of a Cape Cod band but if anyone from Silversmith ever sees this drop me a line. Great bunch of talent and cool people I have the privilege of seeing and hanging out with.
Another guy I remember is Rob Bizozero- can't remember his bands name but he would always play Hendrix for his last set. Fine player.
Anyway that's my trip down memory lane for now.
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Post by papajohn on Jul 24, 2011 9:25:16 GMT -5
Well not sure how I found this forum but some fun memories reading some of the posts and I saw Papajohn posted yesterday so its an active thread for a couple of years. ' I grew up in Hull and Weymouth and while I didn't start playing guitar until my mid 20's (would have been around early 1980's) I always had guitar playing friends and spent a lot of time seeing various local bands during those times. I still have the LP from Danny Walsh's band "Armed Forces" that they cut and used my Les Paul on it because of its "fat" sound. I never recorded but my guitar did:) I saw someone posted about Skip Tuttle and I remember seeing Bryaxis many times- kick ass band. I remember one show at that little club on Nantasket Beach next to one of the first video game joints opened there during that time-can't remember the name. It was a slow weeknight and near the end of the set Skip, who was obviously inebriated, started to waiver, and in an almost slow motion movement fell backwards into the drum kit! All the while continuing to play and not missing a note! Also remember the Dead End Kids. Remember seeing the guitar player and I think the bass player years later as a 2 piece with a drum machine. Man those guys could play. How about Private Lightening? Anyone remember them? Used to see them at the Surf. More of a Cape Cod band but if anyone from Silversmith ever sees this drop me a line. Great bunch of talent and cool people I have the privilege of seeing and hanging out with. Another guy I remember is Rob Bizozero- can't remember his bands name but he would always play Hendrix for his last set. Fine player. Anyway that's my trip down memory lane for now. Welcome aboard! Just a bunch of old farts reminiscing about the garage band days. Brian started this thread awhile back with a posting about My First Band. You might want to check it out- www.myfirstband.com. I remember seeing Dead End Kids at the Beachcomber in Wollaston. I specifically remember them doing Steely Dan's "Bookkeepers Son". Impressive. Never heard another band do that song. One of my favorites. If your local check out Dick's store-Retunes. Great place. Lots of great musicians and a really cool sound stage. I played with Skip in Myst for about three years or so. Best years of my life. Sadly he passed on a few years ago. Are you still playing? Retunes has a great open mike night on Thurs nights. I haven't had a chance to get over there yet because of other commitments but I hear it's a great time. You can check out the stuff on YouTube. Hope tyo hear more from you. John |
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It would be great to have a "Vintage" Rockers night featuring a lot of us relics of that 'Golden Era' !!!!! 