Mr Rhythm Returns!

André gets ready to do NYC in grand style this weekend
"Legend" is a term that's bandied about all too often in our 21st century garage punk circles. How many time have you seen show ads for some totally unknown 60's garage band with one single under their belt being referred as "legendary" ? Or maybe it was a band like the Queers. Famous, yes; Long-running, yes; legendary, no.

The same cannot be said of André Williams, who returns to New York this weekend to promote his latest project, a BOOK of all things. Mr. Williams, responsible not only for "Bacon Fat" but a host of some of the best r'n'b & soul records from the 50's to the 70's, is a legend's legend. Even Ike Turner might look over his shoulder at André. This is the guy behind "Funky Judge"; "Twine Time" and so many other 45s spun by virtually every r'n'b and soul DJ in this town EVERY weekend.

That he is a legend then, is not in doubt, but can he perform? Well, we're going to find out this weekend at 3 separate Norton-backed events to push the book (which Nick Tosches also had something to do with)... In case it doesn't turn out so well, or "Mr Rhythm" gets to that bottle of Bacardi a little too early on, there's plenty of action to be had elsewhere, so don't despair. This first weekend of February bodes well for our next 6 weeks of Winter-- cold outside, but heating up around town!

TONIGHT (FRIDAY):

The action is beginning at the same time all over town, so try (hard!) to be in multiple places at once.

Our suggestion would be to start off with Andre Williams & Nick Tosches reading at St Mark's Church on e 10th St. It's free and should be innarestin' enough.

Then hop the L train at 1rst ave and take it one stop to Bedford. Over at Williamsburg's Spike Hill venue, the live 60's style garage/ye-ye bands Electric Mess & Les Sans Culottes will be putting on quite a show on the narrowest stage in town. Cover is $5 (we believe?) and it's a hop and a skip (not even a jump) from subway.

After that, you've got a choice:
- stay in Brooklyn, heading North on Bedford until it becomes Nassau Ave, turning right at Eckford St and hitting rockabilly dj gig ABC Rebel Night at Greenpoint's Warsaw (FREE)

- get back on the L train, head BACK to Manhattan, and check out Smashed! Blocked! this month with guest DJ Peppermint Twist as well as a live pantomime performance of André Williams. Will this be any good? Will you be able to see André over the heads of the blackberry/trenchcoat mafia? Hard to say, but it's free and at Beauty Bar.

SATURDAY:

Even more to do than Friday!

Starting early, check out 60's soul revivalists the Sweet Divines at BAMCafe in middle Brooklyn. It's free (we think) and at BAM around 9 o'clock. While you're down there (heh heh) head over to Tip-Top Bar & Grill for another André-thon, this time with Dave the Spazz as head DJ. Our guess: a way funner event than the sure-to-be-packed S!B! the night before. No cover here either.

Afterwards, think about Williamsburg (HARD!) -- there's a lot going on up here. Over at Public Assembly, you've got Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer + Matt Verta-Ray) for $13 if rockabilly is what you're feeling. OR you could be a little different and check out an interesting-looking DJ party in Bushwick at the "Wreck Room" (haha) on Flushing Ave. It's called "Space is the Place" and promises 60's/70's psych/soul/garage/punk grooves and is no cover. We're all for NEW nights, so dig!

You can also get freaky at Union Pool on Saturday with Golden Triangle and the K-Holes, the latter of whom are headed south for Mardi Gras. So show your tits and stuff. $?

If on the other hand, you'd like to keep it simple, check out Jumpy's Soul-a-Go-Go night at Huckleberry on Grand St. It's also free, and you'll know how to dance to the usual great grooves.

Well, that's it for me as Marcus has promised to take over Sunday's doings. Expect his post earlier than usual tomorrow. See you out there chilluns!

SHIMMY

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SOULFUL WEEKEND IN NYC BEGINS TONIGHT!

Certified soul legend Howard Tate performs at Joe's Pub Thursday.
If you're like me, starting around 5PM Wednesday you start counting the minutes until quittin' time on Friday. Thankfully it's only a day and a half away, and there's a whole lot goin' down around town. Giving the price of electricity, it might make more sense in this recession to dance to stay warm, so consider this weekend a moneysaver!

It all begins tonight with a wish-I-had-any-money-to-go show at Joe's Pub in Manhattan featuring HOWARD TATE, one of the most beloved soul singers of the 60's backed by the Sweet Divines. Tate was a major influence on late 60's "hippie soulsters" like Janis Joplin who covered "Get It While You Can" all the way to bank, but that hardly scratches the surface of his pretty much essential 60's albums. The show is $15, definitely worth it and will also somehow incorporate Eli "Paper Boy" Reed who I have yet to see. It's an EARLY show, doors at 7 and the whole thing will be over by 9.

Tomorrow night the live soul continues with Daptone's Budos Band at Mercury Lounge. Also Friday is Subway Soul Club's 7th anniversary night at Fontana's in Chinatown, featuring tons of DJs doing round robin sets including yours truly AND (gpnyc co-blogger) Charles Gaskins. It is free as always and you can catch me and Charles between 11 and 1 or so. In case you're more in a 50's mood, head over to Otto's for the ever popular Rebel Night rockabilly dj gig. And New York Night Train's Shakin All Over Sideways Down is at Home Sweet Home as usual (we assume).

Saturday you've got an unbeatable night at the new Bell House in Gowanus/Brooklyn featuring the Fleshtones, the Above and the Lost Crusaders. Phast Phreddie is DJing, Handsome Dick Manitoba is MCing and it's all to celebrate the release of the Fleshtones' new Christmas album (because... why not?!). Cover is... $10adv/$12door $15 I think. Also the psychobillies Arkhams are at Don Pedro.

Sunday the 21st is of course the shortest day of the year and correspondingly... there's no gigs!

SHIMMY

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And now for something COMPLETELY different (this weekend)

OK here's a couple of other things to do this weekend in case you can't stand me (why?!) or Charles (OK, understandable).

At Lucky Cat, Jumpy and Dylan "Otto" Bahn are hosting what could be the last-ever "Greasy!" 60's DJ night if rumors about the venue's future are true. That one's free so wander by there early or late.

There's Eula Cooper, 60's soul doyenne at the "Dig Deeper" night happening in the 5 Spot Soul Supper Club in under-Brooklyn (my new name for the area south of Williamsburg and environs) backed by the Sweet Divines-- $15 at the door.

New York Night Train isn't taking the weekend off either-- Sr. Toubin and crew are putting on a mish-mash DJ night at Live with Animals/Secret Project Robot on the river side of the burg also tomorrow. There is a cover, not sure how much.

Also tomorrow the Rhodes, a band I've heard a lot about, are playing at Don Pedro. And, for Sunday hangover action, head over to Mercury Lounge for the Electric Mess and Your 33 Black Angels.

SHIMMY

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