Monday, September 20, 2010

Demented Are Gone


Picture by Jeffrey Slangen

Some months ago, while on tour in Spain, Demented Are Go as we knew them broke up once again. For some very few shows in England and Germany(last saturday) a 'very special' line-up was put together with Grischa and Holger(both from the Pitmen) and Mad Sin's Köfte on drums, but most summer shows got cancelled. At the moment the band's booking agency Destiny has 3 DAG shows announced for October and November. I'm curious to see what happens, as Sparky himself just said in an interview he gave to psycho.rockabilly-online.com that the band doesn't exist at the moment. But the big news is that Sparky has a new band: 69 DEMENTED. 
Living in Rotterdam for 3 years already he teamed up with local boys 69 Beavershot and together they will deliver a mix, as he said in above mentioned interview, of old-school Rockabilly, old-school Demented and new songs he wrote as well as Beavershot's bassist Mars. Sounds like a party to me!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Saturday Night At The Bus Station



Cast Iron Arms

The Lo-Lites

Saturday, September 18, 2010

A Music World Full Of Assholes



Not only record-collectors are assholes, bands and record-labels are assholes, too. Not that it's a new discovery, I just got reminded again. I stumbled across the official Mummies news from last August that they would release a new 45 but sell it ONLY at their show in Portland the same month. Now how uncool is that?! Did they ever give a thought about their fans who don't live within travelling distance to Portland? Did it ever occur to them there might be people living overseas who would like to buy that 45 as well? Obviously not, otherwise I don't know why they came up with this stupid idea. Unless they don't give a fuck about their fans.
But they are not alone. More than once I read bands' announcements saying something like 'We recorded 4 new songs which we will release on an EP, but it will be available on our Japan tour only!' or 'There will be a special Japan release with 2 songs not on the European version'. Well, fuck you very much!
Remember the times when CDs were released with bonus-tracks(or is it still a common practise? I don't know. I don't buy CDs if there is a LP version. In fact I bought only 1 CD this year but tons of vinyl - just for the record)? Why do you get a bonus when buying a crappy little disc? Because the label makes much, much more profit than when you buy the LP version, as CD production costs are a joke compared to LP production costs. Still they (used to) cost around 50% more than a vinyl album. Nowadays things seem to have changed. Often LPs are released with bonus songs or new versions/mixes.
But worse than that are those labels(usually very small one-man indies, run by record-collector assholes) who put out releases on formats the average record-player is not able to play(fekkin' 5" or even smaller singles - records which play on 78 rpm - both incredible stupid ideas). But they don't stop there, they get their kicks out of releasing records in very, very small quantities, somewhere between 10 and 150 copies. It's okay if it's a record of some 3rd rate Blues-Rock band's rehearsal room recordings and only family members would buy it anyway, but often these releases would appeal to a much larger audience. So my question is: What the fuck is this about? Is it done so they are able to jerk off over the fact that they are part of a very small, exclusive group of people who own these extremely rare records? Could be. What ever  sick reason they have, it doesn't change the fact that it is an artificial market and that makes the ownership of these records insignificant.
And it doesn't stop there. Some labels run vinyl clubs you have to join to be able to buy limited and overprized releases. But even sadder than this 'idea' is the fact that  many bands/artists work together with these labels and support the idea that only a small circle of wanna-be elitists is able to get and listen to their new releases  Bravo!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Thee Cave Comes Alive - Garage News



Not only the -billy world has festivals happening all year round all over the world, the same is going on in the 60s/Garage scene. Some upcoming events you don't wanna miss are:

24th and 25th of September: The Turbo Rock Festival - Santanader/Valencia, Spain
http://turborock.es/

9th - 11th of October: The Funtastic Dracula Carnival - Benidorm, Spain
http://www.funtasticdraculacarnival.com/

22nd and 23rd of October: The Soundflat Ballroom Bash - Leipzig, Germany
http://www.myspace.com/soundflat_ballroom_bash

20th of November: The Dirty Water Garage-Rock All-Day Festival - London, UK
http://www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk/gigsListing

29th of January 2011: Crypt-Style Hop Winter-Dance - Oberhausen, Germany
http://www.myspace.com/cryptstylehop


THE NOW SOUND

Two vinyl releases from the Garage side of Rock'n'Roll you might want to add to your collection are both Hi-Risers LPs that Soundflat Records just put out. It's the band's 3rd and 4th album 'Lost Weekend' and 'That Rock'n'Roll Beat' who were so far available on CD only. Both albums are limited to 500 copies.


Talking bout Germany, as that's where Soundflat is from, I just came accross some nice 60s bands from thee Fatherland. First from thee Hauptstadt there is The Magnificent Brotherhood who will release their 3rd album next month. They play some great 60s tunes, not 'just' snotty 60s Teen-Punk, they have much more to offer. I can hear Doors, Love, and Music Machine influences and that sure ain't a bad thing! Give them a listen here Brotherhood.


Thee former Hauptstadt Bonn is where the X-Ray Harpoons dwell in cellars and on graveyards. That must be the reason why they play straight 60s Punk with B-Movie lyrics. They have it all, tight black turtlenecks, striped shirts, fuzz-guitars and organ. Their debut 45 came out in April on Hamburg based label CopaseDisques, right now they are on tour in France. Check out the dates above. And their sounds here: CHICKEN BONES


Finally, for today, there is a band worth checking out that's based in the Harpoon's neighbourhood, in Köln. The name: Beat Revolver. This 60s 4-piece is around since 2003 already and plays Garage AND Mod tunes. You don't believe me, check out the boys:


Their debut album needs to be released still, but it's recorded and judging by the songs on their myspace, it will be ace! WE ARE THE MODS

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Garage from the edge of the world: Davila 666



I'm still amazed when I hear about Rock'n'Roll bands - Rockabilly, Garage, Punk-Rock, what ever - from places in the world which were considered 3rd world countries when I grew up(in those dark pre-internet times). All we knew about them was from TV, documentaries or on the news, and it was hardly ever good news. Nowadays we know that there are Psychobilly bands in South-Africa, Punk-Rock bands influenced by Finnish 80s Hardcore-Punk in Brasil, Skinhead bands in Indonesia and Garage-Rock bands in Puerto Rico. At least one: Davila 666.  And they are doing their job well. Their debut album was released 2008 by In The Red Records, USA, and they seem to be constantly gigging. They will do so in October and November all over Europe with gigs from Italy to Poland, from Spain to Germany, from Sweden to Finland. Check out their tunes and dates HERE.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

35 Years Bear Family Records




Who doesn't know, who doesn't own a couple of Bear Family Records records! This year the German collectors label is celebrating its 35 year and to do so they released a 3-CD set with all exclusive songs that center around bears or the label itself. It's a total of 68 songs and 2 of them are from Finland. New rising stars at the international Rockabilly-sky Mike Bell and the Belltones contributed the 'Crazy Bear Rock' and the singer's Surf/Instro band The Atomic Blast the track 'The Amazing Hypno-Bear'.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Send More Cops - The Art Of Antoine Bernhart


French artist Antoine Bernhart will be best known within the Rock'n'Roll scene for his legendary Tall Boys skull and other pieces of art he designed, such as the Rattlers' rattlesnake, the sleeve for Nervous Record's 'Zorch Factor 3' LP, the Elvis on Ace Record's 'Rockabilly Shakeout' LP or the gig-posters he did for the Vibes to name a few. I found one of his pieces also used for a Cramps LP-bootleg in the 90s. It actually, but not surprisingly, fitted very well.
But like every artist Bernhart's output is much larger and versatile than these examples might suggest. Berlin bases gallery and publishing company Bongout released a collection of his art in 2008. It's the 224 pages book 'Skull Skool Royal". It includes small prints of his record-cover and poster works and tons and tons of unseen pieces where Sex, Death, Monsters, Nazis and Rockers rule the world. Partly disturbing, partly weird, partly brilliant. Definitely unique. Get your copy: SICK SICK SICK

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Psycho-Rama Helsinki: Old Men Do It Best


Polecats

It's safe to say that what is true for wine is also true for Rock'n'Roll these days. The older the better. By far the best band of yesterday's Psycho-Rama Festival's first day in Helsinki were the Polecats. All in their late 40s(I guess) they played with so much energy and fun, it was easy to see that they were enjoying what they did a lot. And the audience loved it and loved the band. They played a great set, much more 'old' songs than when I saw them last autumn. They even did my 'are Go' favourite 'All Night Long' AND - drum roll - 'Make A Circuit With Me'. It will sound emo but that made me very happy! I was then hoping for the even better 'Juvenile Delinquent From A Planet Near Mars', but it wasn't in the set this time. After encores they closed with a song by one of the best bands in the world, Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers' 'My Little Sister's Got A Motorbike'. What a perfect way to end a great night.

Two Patsy Walkers

And it sure was a great night. Organized just for the second time I have the feeling this will be a regular and popular event in Finland. It was well attended, a good mix of styles was presented and the place was great: Good sound and easy to access with public transportation(which means you don't need a car to get to the festival and get a hotel room because the event takes place in a hotel in a small town in the middle of nowhere, like so many other -billy events in this country).

 The Arkhams

First band were the Verticals, a Surf/Instro band from Lappeernranta, followed by Helsinki 6-piece all-female Garage band the Patsy Walkers who were all dressed as the 'Bride of Frankenstein'. Both bands were okay, but no really impressive or memorable in their styles of music. The festival's first Psychobilly band to play were the Arkhams from New York who put on a great show, bursting with energy. One of the hardest working bands of the scene was next, the Peacocks. As always they delivered value for money with a show full of energy, sweat, catchy tunes and rebellion: Singer Hasu smoked on stage and smoking inside buildings is forbidden in Finland! Closing the evening were the Polecats and as I just mentioned, they ROCKED the house!

 Peacocks

Polecats
Polecats

Friday, September 10, 2010

Fin-A-Billy Part 10: Flatbroke Trio



Now this is one fine Rockabilly 3-piece from Finland. The boys hail from the beautiful town of Turku, right on the West-coast and are around for over a decade already. A decade of Sun-Rockabilly(you know, don't you? That drumless Rockabilly sound the Memphis flash made so popular in 1954) and 50s Country. But live you will also hear them play the Neo-Rockabilly classic 'Live Fast, Die Young' from the Blue Cats. The Trio definitely knows what's good. Gigs of the band are rather rare it seems. In 2009 they just played one time, but in 2010 they are doing a few more gigs.
The bands' debut record was a 5-track CD called 'Beggin' For More' released 2003 and their first full album came out the following year on Jungle Records, entitled 'Dust & Diesel'. 2007/2008 Jungle released the bands' next record a 4-track EP, available on vinyl and CD, and their latest release so far is the 10"/CD 'Still Searchin' from last year.
I had the chance to catch them live at this years Ruuhijärvi Rockabilly Festival, Nastola, Finland(see picture above), and to me they were the winners of the night.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Spits Beat You Up



Considered Punk veterans in their hometown Seattle,  the city once known, as we all will remember with an expression of pure Horror on our faces, as home of Grunge, I had never heard of the Spits when I went to see them at the famous Crypt-Style-Hop in Oberhausen, Ruhrgebiet, Germany, where they played during their 2006 European Tour. Just one word can describe the experience: Awesome! The band played the most melodic Punk-Rock since the Ramones and early Misfits mixed with synthesizer sounds and early Electronic coolness. In some review about them I read the term 'Electro Punk'. That's fine with me as the keyboard definitely doesn't sound like an organ, much more like a synthesizer and is the main ingredient that makes the Spits' sound so unique. In addition  to that on record they always sound low-fi, like 4-track demo-recordings and that's another nice feature. 

4th 'official' album

The Spits were formed 1994 in Seattle, as I said,  by brothers Sean and Erin Woods who are originally from Michigan, but didn't  release their debut album(CD) untill the year 2000. Since then 3 more official albums followed, the latest 2009 on their own Thriftstore label(LP version, CD got licensed). Official because other albums - two Live-LPs, one of them released under two different names and one compilation of old material - are never mentioned or counted as regular output, not even by the band. Each 'official' Spits album is called 'The Spits' and they are unofficially numbered from 1 to 4. Confused? Well I am. A bit.
In their self-image they are no Punk band, they are a Rock'n'Roll band. Sean White:  We’re labeled punk rock, but I consider us rock and roll. If you take most of our songs and slow them down, you’re going to hear rock. It’s intense rock.  Punk, Garage, Rock - what ever it is, what ever you fancy, in the end it's all about the same thing, having a good time and that's what the Spits are about. Or as Sean White puts it: We’re entertainers and we like to party. 
If you want to check them out, here's their My Space site: THE SPITS.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

New Fix For Vinyl Junkies



The Surf Rats are working on the vinyl release of their 3rd album 'Welcome To Killafornya' which they self-released last year. It's gonna be a 10" with all new mixes, again released by the band. Some new versions can be heard on their My Space site now. My feelings about the album are mixed. The band's debut LP 'Trouble' is without a doubt a genre classic and 'must have'. That's something I couldn't say already about the follow up 'Straight Between The Eyes', which was rather mediocre but already showed the direction the band would take on later releases they did under the name of 'Love Cowboys'. Now with the third 'real' Surf Rats album the band got stranded somewhere between the first one, and the Love Cowboys stuff. There are some great old-school Psychobilly songs on it but also quite a few Reverend Horton Heat alike Rock-billy songs I don't care much for.


The complete 80s recordings of legendary german Western-Rockabilly band The Roughnecks have been re-released as 2-LP set by Mad Drunken Monkey Records, a small label from Germany. The bands' original releases on Korea Records(7",12", LP) have been sold on Ebay for a lot of Euros in the last years but if you didn't want the CD re-release on Crazy Love that was what you had to pay. Well, these days are over.  Now you can have the songs on vinyl again. For a short time, as the release is limited to 500 copies.


Speaking about Crazy Love Records. Guido just released the latest Quakes album 'Negative Charge' on vinyl, 110 of them in blue. At this point blue copies are still available but you never know for how much longer so better order right NOW!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Mix Tape: Hot Rod Weekend



Mix-Tape time again, it has been a while. This time with 79 minutes of the best 60s Rock'n'Roll you can ask for. No Surf, no Beat, no Teen Punk, for sure no Psychedelic or Kraut-Rock. Just plain simple grooving 60s Rock'n'Roll. While compiling the album I discovered quite a few outstanding tracks that I hadn't heard before. Stuff like 'Darktown Strutters Ball' from Joe Brown and the Bruuvers from 1960, the first version of Cliff Richard's 'Move It' that I actually can stand, done by a band called The Twitters or the 1964 Colin Cook and the Strangers recording 'Put Me Down'. Other gems are 60s recordings by Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Freddie Cannon, Gene Vincent and my 3 favorites, Ronnie Self's 'Own Kick Going', the Super Stocks with 'Wide Track' and Eddie Fontaine's 'I'm Gonna Settle Down'. You haven't lived until you have heard that groovy little tune. Get your copy HERE!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Spin That 45 - Part 13: Mad Daddys



The Mad Daddys were a New Jersey band, formed in the early 80s as 'Freddie and the Hubcaps', who used to have a strong Cramps-connection in their early years.  Their debut Mini-LP 'Music For Men' from 1984 was produced by Lux and Ivy, the band released their version of the Cramps classic 'New Kind Of Kick' on the 1986 New Rose Records Double-LP 'Play New Rose For Me' and 'Flamejob' bassist Slim Chance was the Mad Daddys bass-man some years before and on the 45 I want to talk about today(he's the pretty fellow on the far right on the record-cover).
Despite the Cramps connections and the fact that the Mad Daddys probably took their name from the Cramps song 'Mad Daddy' the Daddys were far from being a Cramps clone. They had their own sound and style for sure. As on this teriffic 45 from 1991, released by Sympathy For The Record Industry. Side A is a cover of the 1977 Ted Nugent Hit 'Cat Scratch Fever', but where the original is just another boring Rock song with Glam-Rock edge, imo at least, the Daddys' version is a mid-tempo chainsaw-fuzz-massacre that has to be heard to be believed.  The Flip 'Yeah', maybe an original, I don't know, is another mid-tempo stomper with heavy fuzz-bass,  both typical Mad Daddys trademarks. No doubt, his is one of the best 45s of the 90s, what the hell, of all times!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Blowing Up A Storm - Again?



Whirlwind, legendary Teddyboy band of the late 70s, is back! As you all will agree, their first album 'Blowin' Up A Storm', released early 1978, is a must-have for every true Teddyboy and every serious fan of Revival Rockabilly. Opposite to many Revival bands of the time Whirlwind played Rockabilly and not 50s Rock'n'Roll. And they did this with the same energy and drive the forefathers had in the mid-50s. The follow up and same time last album 'Midnight Blue' was a bit lame compared to 'Storm', but still had some arse-kicking songs on it. Whirlwind were able to gain fans not only amongst the Teddyboys and Rockabillies but also among popular Punk and Rock bands of the time, Blondie and the Clash for example. Singer Nigel Dixon later(1986) even moved to the States to form the band 'Havana 3:AM' together with Clash's bass-player Paul Simonon.
Whirlwind existed between 1976 and 1980. That year drummer Gary Hassett became ill while the band was on UK tour supporting Blondie. At the end of the tour the band decided to call it a day. Sources on the internet on this differ. Some say that at this point 'Midnight Blue' wasn't even released(Raucous Records web-page), some say that Hassett's health problems was the reason for the split(Ace Records web-page), others say 'Midnight Blue' had been released, the tour with Blondie was to support the album and that bad sales and the drummer's health problems together lead to the decision to split up(Mark Deming, All Music Guide).
Singer Nigel Dixon died April 1993 from cancer, some month later original drummer Phil Hardy did due to cancer, too.
But now Whirlwind is back! The line-up concists of original guitar-player Mike Lewis, on piano and vocals Rob Russell(who joined the original Whirlwind after 'Storm' was released and left again before 'Midnight Blue' was recorded) , Miss Jean Vincent on vocals, Nick Dadd(Roof Raiser) on vocals and guitar, on drums Matt Russell(nephew of Rob Russell) and on upright-bass Finley Malcom. 


After listening to the Roof Raisers I can say that Dadd has a good Rockabilly voice, but I don't know what to make of Jean Vincent's involvement. It is questionable anyway to reform a legendary group after 30 years and not having the original singer. But it worked for other bands before, maybe it will work for the new Whirlwind as well. Time and their live gigs will tell. The band is currently rehearsing and they start gigging in November. The first international appearance booked so far is at Screamin' 2011 in Spain. For more info and updates surf to the band's webpage: WHIRLWIND

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Polecats go BALD!!!



One day, maybe. If they are lucky they won't. To increase tension in anticipation of the band's gig coming friday in Helsinki here is the Flexipop photo-story the band did in 1981. It was published in Flexipop No. 6, May 81, and with the Cats is The Damned singer Dave Vanian. Enjoy this little jewel of B-Movie Rockabilly Mayhem!






Friday, September 3, 2010

Wild Weekends Ahead



If you happen to be in Finland this weekend and you've got no plans for the weekend yet - Crazy Cavan and the Rhythm Rockers are playing 2 shows as part of their 40-Years Anniversary Tour. Today they are in Lappeenranta and tomorrow they play in a town(?) called Loppi. 


Coming weekend the Psycho-Rama Festival takes place in Helsinki and it offers something for everyone: Garage, Surf, Rockabilly, Country, Psychobilly, beer and tits. Doors open both days, Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th, at 7 and the party is over at 4 in the night. Most likely many will have passed out hours earlier already. If tits and beer are not your thing on saturday you could go to the Rock'n'Roll ball instead, for beer and Rockabilly. It's in the sleepy town of Valkeakoski at Hotel Waltikka, the same place where the Real Gone Teddyboy Weekender takes place. Rockabilly legend Mac Curtis is playing, plus Hal Peters and his Trio and some other Finnish acts.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Have You Heard The News?


Matt Voodoo, mastermind of Bamboula and for some time already 2nd guitarist in Mad Sin (and because of that living in Berlin) just published some demo recordings with his new project/band Killing Irie on the band's My Space site. Have a listen, it's not bad at all. They don't consider themselves a Psychobilly band but I guess you could label them 'Modern Psychobilly', probably because of the Slap-Bass. But anyway...go and decide for yourself. 



The Bullet Biters, Psychobilly trio from Finland, self-released a 4-track EP some weeks ago. It's called 'Intergalactic Mental Alert' and you should be able to get it via Crazy Love Mailorder. Support vinyl - buy the hot platter!


The Arkhams, outstanding new(sorta) Psychobilly band from New York City - actually they were THEE surprise at the Pineda Psychobilly Meeting 2009 - will be playing three Euro dates very soon. Original drummer Seanzi won't be hitting the skins due to passport trouble, for these dates he will be replaced by Liam Crill, drummer of one of the best bands now and then, here and on any other planet, the Kings Of Nuthin'. In time for the gigs the band's 2nd CD 'Valley Of The Arkhams', recorded about 2 years ago, should be available finally. See them tomorrow, September 3rd at the Wild at Heart, Berlin, on saturday the 4th at Subway to Peter, Chemnitz. East-Germany, and next weekend, friday the 10th at the Psych-O-Rama Festival in Helsinki, Finland!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Fin-A-Billy Part 9: Jussi Raittinen

Jussi Raittinen was born 1944 and despite being rather old, his involvement with Rockabilly within the last 66 years can be called little. But impressive. That's why he has to be mentioned here.

Jussi 1959

Despite having had his first records out in 1960 Jussi Raittinen became  really known to the public in 1964 when his band 'Eero ja Jussi and the Boys' recorded and released Beatles songs in Finnish, following that by also doing Finnish versions of hits by other popular artists of the day, like 'Satisfaction' from the Stones or Roy Orbison's 'Pretty Woman'. During the first years Jussi was the band's singer and  guitar-player, but in 1967 he switched to bass and kept on playing it ever since. Him and Eero are brothers, and in 1965 when Jussi wasn't in the band for about a year(Army?) Eero would start doing vocals as well. In '68 Eero left the band but returned 1980 to stay for another 19 years. If you are intererested, see all line-ups here: The Boys.
50s Rock'n'Roll was always part of their set, for example they had Fats Domino and Ray Charles covers (Hello Josephine, I Got A Woman) on their first LP and for their 2nd LP, released 1966, they covered Bill Haley(Skinny Minny) and Little Richard(Rip It Up). On later releases this would continue with  covers by  Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry and Eddie Cochran. In the early 70s the band would have a 'Country' phase where they covered songs by Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Don Gibson and even Merle Haggard's 'Okie From Muskogee' was recorded with Finnish lyrics. I really would like to see those. This would lead to a solo album by Raittinen released 1975 entitled 'Kantri & Rock'. 'Kantri' is the Finnish way to write 'Country'. They write how they speak, so it makes sense, in all its weirdness.


Also 1975 Raittinen went to the States and recorded at the Glo-Lite Studio in Memphis 'Blue Moon of Kentucky 'and 'I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone' together with Marcus Van Story on bass, Bubba Feathers on lead and Charlie Feathers(!) on rhythm guitar. He had run into them in Memphis, Feather's invited him to his house, at one point they started jamming and Feather's suggested to book some studio time and record a bit. Great idea! Raittinen also cut two songs in New Orleans but those sessions musicians don't say anthing to me. The Memphis songs were released the same year as  45 on Rock & Country Records in Finland and later re-released together with the Orleans songs and other recordings on the Jussi and the Boys LP 'Mennään Melomaan'. 1976 he returned to the States and recorded a whole LP in Nashville, simply called 'Nashville', with the help of Scotty Moore, D.J. Fontana, Bob Moore and the Jordanaires. Not bad, not bad at all! An even bigger surprise than the musicians might be the fact that there wasn't a  single cover-version on the album. All songs were written by Finnish songwriters! While in the USA Raittinen recorded in New Orleans again AND at Ronny Weiser's Rollin' Rock Studios! There he had Billy Zoom on lead-guitar. As result of the trip a LP came out in Finland in 1977, title 'Rollin' The Rock'. Side A consisted of the Orleans session, side B of the Rollin' Rock session and this time all songs were cover-versions.


In the years to come Jussi kept on recording Rock'n'Roll and Country songs but he would also play the very Finnish styles of 'Isekelmä' und 'Rautalanka'. When I saw him perform just some months ago the band's set actually was mainly those styles plus their 60s hits and 2 Rockabilly songs, 'My Baby Left Me' and 'Honey Don't'. Those they played with so much drive and power, it would have put many 'authentic' bands to shame. With a pretty decent Finnish authentic band Raittinen recorded in 1990, with Hal Peters and his Trio. They did 4 cover songs that were released the following year as 12"EP on Goofin' Records.

Jussi and the Boys - live in Lahti 2010

Jussi Raittinen has done much, much more than I could mention here. As I had never heard of him before I moved here I figured same would go for most non-Finns, so maybe some of you got curious now and want to discover his music, with or without the boys. Here he is with Charly Feathers and the others(Thanks to Markowee over at You Tube). Dig it!