words & photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

The second night of the Ponderosa Stomp's invasion of Lincoln Center was a blast. On Friday, July 17th the Stomp and Midsummer Night Swing presented three wholly unique originators of countrified Rock 'n Roll with Joe Clay, Carl Mann and the Collins Kids. Deke Dickerson and his group the Eccophonics warmed up each of the two sets and served as a precise, passionate and authentic backing band for the evening.

The first set went smoothly with excellent sets from all three artists. Joe Clay bounced around stage and flexed his showmanship, pressing his mic onto the strings of Deke's guitar and sitting in on the drums in mid-song. In comparison,, Carl Mann was a bit more reserved in stage presence but no less musically engaging in his unique combination of Roy Orbison-like vocal delivery and almost bossa-rockabilly as exemplified in his Sun records hit "Mona Lisa". The Collins Kids took the stage with an extra bass (played by the Collins' nephew) and really tore it up. Larry Collins, a double necked guitar prodigy since the age of 7, still maintains a frantic energy swinging his custom Mosrite guitar and equally custom leather tassel and feather get up. His sister Lorrie passionately belted the lyrics in her 1950's Indian-style western dress.

Halfway through the second set the rain finally came forcing the organizers to close the dance floor. The Collins Kids played their second set to a far-off crowd dancing in the rain while lighting flashed and the smoke machines (inexplicably) filled the stage with haze. But a little weirdness and danger is what this music is really about.

A review with pictures of the first night, HERE. More pictures from the second night below...

Continue reading "Ponderosa Stomp @ Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing - night 2 pics (Joe Clay, Carl Mann, Collins Kids, rain, more)"

Midsummer Night Swing 7/8 (more by Gabi Porter)

The first two nights of The Ponderosa Stomp at Lincoln Center, July 16th and 17th are part of Lincoln Center's Midsummer Nights Swing, taking place at Damrosch Park. Each night kicks off with a dance lesson at 6:30 and the music starts at 7:30. Thursday night features The Get Down, a night of soul music excellence featuring William Bell, Harvey Scales, The Bobbettes and the incomparable Bo-Keys. Friday night brings rockabilly to the forefront with the Best Dance in Town, in which New Orleans wild man Joe Clay, Sun Record's Carl Mann and the legendary brother/sister duo The Collins Kids throw down, backed by Deke Dickerson and his Eccofonics.

Sunday, July 19th, a tribute performance takes place at Alice Tully Hall in the Starr Theatre, in which a high-octane array of Stomp artists will pay musical tribute to the "Creole Beethoven", Wardell Quezergue. Quezergue, nicknamed by Allan Toussaint, has made musical history countless times as the man behind timeless hits like "Mr. Big Stuff", "Iko Iko" and "Chapel of Love". A genius musician, arranger and producer who is largely unknown outside of New Orleans, Quezergue helped shape the soulful sounds of the south into international hit records. The show features R&B icons The Dixie Cups and Robert Parker; soul greats Jean Knight, Dorothy Moore, Tammy Lynn, and Tony Owens; legendary New Orleans drummer Zigaboo Modeliste; New Orleans musician, producer, and session man Mac Rebennack (Dr. John); garage-music pioneer Michael Hurtt; plus Wardell Quezergue's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, an all-star ten-piece band led by Quezergue himself in a rare New York appearance.

The Ponderosa Stomp @ Lincoln Center's first night, The Get Down, will be broadcast live on WFMU. The second, July 17th, will be recorded for a later broadcast on July 30th. Tickets for the events are still on sale.

More info on the Stomp and the full lineup of performers (or you can check out "virtual trading cards" for each), below...

Continue reading "Ponderosa Stomp @ Lincoln Center, on WFMU (July 16-19)"