When Big Sandy and His Fly-rite Boys recently unloaded their gear in Toronto (wheels courtesy of a 1950's-style tour bus), they also unpacked their unique blend of Sun-era rockabilly, country swing, hillbilly boogie, doo-wop, and Tex-Mex. Based in California, the guys are drenched in the happy times music of the 40's and 50's, the kind that kept dancehalls packed to the rafters. They proceeded to regale a retro-obsessed gathering at the recently re-opened historic El Mocambo Tavern.
Big Sandy (aka Robert Williams) has already rocketed his Fly-Rite Boys to the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Not too shabby for a band that's been around only a dozen years. But to call them just another great rockabilly band would be like calling Muhammad Ali just another great boxer. They've created a sound and a style all their own, which practically defies description. A good place to start might be Big Sandy's varied and imaginative songs that are always delightfully astute and playfully intriguing. They may not be profound (profundity and high stepping are mutually exclusive), but their quirkiness is always mighty inviting.
With two prior visits under their belt, this was their first headliner gig in Toronto. First they tempted us at the Harbourfront Blues Festival, then they then hit the club scene a year later by opening for Los Straightjackets at the now defunct Ted's Wrecking Yard.
I can't recall seeing as many duck-style haircuts, bowling shirts, bouffant hairdos, and umbrella skirts as I did that night at the El Mo. But for sheer elegance you can't beat Big Sandy, all duded up like a swarthy Latin crooner circa 1952. Mind you, the Fly-Rite Boys were spiffily attired too, almost like they'd just stepped out of a Bob Wills' scrapbook.
Everything was shaping up for a terrific night, and nobody was let down during the generous 2-hour set. With about 10 recordings already under their belts, Big Sandy and the Fly-Rite Boys have bundles of fetching material to draw upon. "Blackberry Wine", "The Greatest Story Ever Told", "My Sinful Days are Over", and "Juiced" were a few of their greatest hits performed that evening.
At least half the show was dedicated to their current CD, the terrific "It's Time", a "hot-as-a-tamale" cornucopia of rootsy delicacies with that vintage sound. It also marks their debut on Yep Roc Records (Ronnie Dawson, The Iguanas, Los Straightjackets, Nick Lowe, etc.), and their first studio recording in which all tracks were done totally live off the floor (special guests included Gene Taylor and Chris Gafney).
Big Sandy's mellifluous and sunny vocals acted as the preliminaries for so many thrilling solos by way of brilliant guitarist Ashley Kingman and pedal steel deacon Jimmy Roy (Roy recently joined the Fly-Rite Boys after a lengthy residence with the recently disbanded Ray Condo and the Ricochets). The other new member of the Fly-Rite Boys is bassist Jeff West, a fine writer in his own right: "Money Tree" and "I Hate Lovin' You" also featured West's assured vocals.
'It's Time' is loaded with vintage-sounding 50's-style rockers, and many of its selections are reminiscent of Bill Haley and the Comets at the zenith of their orbit, so it's no wonder the crowd was propelled into a state of blissful retro-mania. The title tune, dedicated to Rock Larue, set the tone of the evening. "Yama Yama Pretty Mama" blasted off with the kinetic thrust of a Wanda Jackson rave-up. Wild wild music….Daddy-o! "Chalk It Up To The Blues" has classic written all over it: Think early Everly Brothers, but with lots of Chuck Berry-like guitar, and you'll get the picture. Drummer Bobby Trimble meanwhile chalked up the brass ring as hardest working man on stage
A partial rundown of some of the other nifty treats performed that evening include the melodic Cajun-country "Bayou Blue", the sharp-tongued "Accident Prone", the harmony-drenched dreamy ballad "Heaven Is The Other Way", and the equally enchanting "Catalina", a tune that signifies another first. It was co-authored by Jeff West, marking the first time Big Sandy has co-written a tune with someone else.
It's time to check out Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys. Soon these road warriors will be coming your way, so take up their invitation and let their special blend of showmanship make your good times roll. In the meanwhile, you can make good use of your time by latching onto a copy of their swell new CD 'It's Time'.
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