Photos, Comments, Reviews
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If you'd like see another show at Green Bay E-mail Phil Doran at the Oneida Casino
Posted May 30, 2005
HELLO TO THE REVIEW WRITERS: THANKS A MILLION FOR THE GREAT THINGS YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT ME IN YOUR REVIEW OF GREEN BAY. I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GET THE ATTENTION THAT I DID. ALSO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ALL THESE YEARS I WAS NOT COMPARED TO ANYBODY AND WAS DISCOVERED TO BE TEDDY RIEDEL. AND HIS PIANO PLAYING. I AM OVERJOYED! THANKS AGAIN FROM ARKANSAS. Teddy Riedel - triedel@alltel.net
Tony Wilkinson's Review
PHOTOS: www.swingandcountry.com
Frederic Schroers
PHOTOS: www.rock-a-billy.ch
Pat, Sabrina & Juan
John Hall's Photos
More from John Hall
Alan Clark Photos
Terence McArdle's Review
Tony Wilkinson's
Initial Review
MINI REVIEW (April 23, 2005) - Rockin' Fifties Fest. 11 at Green Bay, Wisconsin. 10th April to 16th April 2005 inclusive.
Phew, just back from the Rockin' Fifties Fest. 11 at Green Bay, Wisconsin, a very tired but fluffy bunny.
This, and its predecessor, have simply to be the best ever rock 'n' roll festivals. During the course of the week, I managed to catch over fifty acts and there were some scorching performances and one or two bummers. Congratulations have to be passed on to Marc Mencher and Phil Dolan for organising this and pulling off the event. From the public's point of view, it was virtually seamless.
Selected highlights and downers were:
Vicki Tafoya. This lady has a great voice, well suited to most forms of rock 'n' roll, especially jump jive and doo wop material. She is an excellent performer.
Little Rachell. Well built attractive young lady with a powerful voice who rocked along nicely.
High Noon. Talented trio from Texas with Shaun Young and on vocals and the extremely talented Shaun Mencher on lead guitar. Very enjoyable set.
Little Boy Arnold and His Western Oakies. Okay rockabilly quartet from Spain.
Art Adams, gave 110% but slightly marred by an off-form Wild Fire Willie & the Ramblers (who later provided superb backing to other artists).
Jimmy Cavello - a class act who once again thrilled. This guy makes it all seem so easy.
Ruby Ann & The Boppin' Boozers. A young American lady with a tasty raspin' voice and good backing band.
Rayburn Anthony, most enjoyable performing basically a rockabilly set with some country thrown in for good measure.
Terry Noland - good powerful voice and stage presence
Cleftones - absolutely perfect vocal group harmonies and stage act second to none.
Jerry Lee Lewis. He finally made it and rocked along nicely for 50 minutes. He is a master of his art.
Wanda Jackson, the rockin' lady was in top form. She is the tops.
Narvel Felts - once again good but did include a few too many of his country hits for a rock 'n' roll show
Glenn Honeycutt - in really good voice and plugging his new Rhythm Bomb label CD.
Joe Houston - nice to see him revert to his good R&B self, a fine performance.
Bobby Crown - fine set that rocked along nicely.
Hardrock Gunter, this good ol' boy was back to his sparking and humorous self. Nice to see him in good health again.
Sonny Burgess - a true rock 'n' roll master who did not disappoint.
Krazy Kats - a trio from Missouri who have been around for 49 years. An okay show band.
Al Urban - the image was all there but performed basically a sixties/seventies style country set.
Ike Turner - the biggest disappointment of the festival. Inappropriate material and performed in an off-putting manner.
The Crickets. The trio were their normal sublime self. Tommy Allsup joined for one number.
Barbara Lynn. This lady showed Ike Turner how it should be done, a marvellous performance. A must see again act.
Teddy Redell. Simply an outstanding rock 'n' roll piano based show, pure delight.
Pat Cupp. Back to his ol' rockin' self but the backing group lead by Eddie Clendenning were too loud. Enjoyable all the same.
Bob Wills Texas Playboys. Basically the Tommy Allsup band, quality ol' time Texas country music.
Teenagers - still without Lewis Lymon but provided an entertaining show.
Fendermen. This saw Jim Sunquist and Phil Humphries reunite for the first time in over 40 years. An entertaining experience.
Freddy Bell (deputising for an unwell Ruth Brown). A true showman at his rockin' best.
Bobbettes. Fine harmonies with lashings of humour. Powerhouse performance.
Eddie Clearwater with Los Straightjackets. An almost perfect coupling, great rockin' R&B with super backing musicians,
Roc LaRue. Showed bags of confidence, good set. He moves around nicely on stage and has a good rock 'n' roll voice.
Clarence Frogman Henry. In fine form but included too many medleys and non original songs. On his own original material, he is unbeatable.
Lew Williams. Probably the best show that I have seen him give, unique rock 'n' roll.
Hank Thompson. Fine voice but once again let down by a poor backing band.
Janis Martin. Blindingly good set, this lady goes from strength to strength. A festival highlight.
Dale Hawkins. Backed up by the King Memphis band, he again turned in great classic rock 'n' roll.
Glen Glenn. Enjoyable but suffering from laryngitis (and his trouser flies open for the first number).
Calvanes. Great vocal group harmonies and stage presence.
Charlie Louvin. Told too many corny jokes at the expense of the music.
Link Wray. Blew it (including one or two amplifiers). Mainly too loud 'n' discordant. 'Ace Of Spades' spot on though. There was excitement but it could have been oh so much better.
Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones. Top notch harmonies and picking. Tight sound.
The Comets. The undoubted hit of the festival as far as the audience was concerned. The guys could do no wrong. They rocked, they rolled and showed how it should be done.
Ace Cannon. What a great sax player backed up by first rate musicians. Totally enjoyable.
Big Sandy with Los Straightjackets. They filled the hall, stellar powerhouse performance. The two acts are a marriage made in Heaven
Young Jessie. Typical and good rockin' R&B set.
Backing bands were generally first rate but special mention must be made of Jimmy Sutton's Four Charms who backed the vocal groups to perfection.
Phew, over and out.
Tony Wilkinson
PHOTOS #4
By DAVE HERMSEN
Posted April 21, 2005
Just wanted to drop by and say what an honour it was for my band and I to perform at this years Green Bay Rockin' 50s festival. To back greats like Terry Noland and the most legendary Johnny Bach (!!) was a thrill, but for me the highlight was playing guitar for Roc LaRue. To be able to play one of the greatest Rockabilly songs ever - Baby Take Me Back (I bought this on a repro 45 when I was about 12 years old) - with the original artist is something that will stay with me forever. My thanks to all that attended our shows, and for the wonderful feedback. To Marc Mencher and Phil Doran, and everyone responsible for putting the whole thing together. Darrel Higham - www.darrelhigham.co.uk
PHOTOS #3
From PLANET ROCKABILLY
PHOTOS #2
From Michel & Anneke - The Netherlands
PHOTOS #1
from the Rockin' 50s Fest in Green Bay. Here's the SHEREE HOMER link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/rockabillygal78
There are two different albums. Enjoy! Thanks. Sheree - homersm2001@yahoo.com
Posted April 19, 2005
Attention Attendees of Green Bay 2005:
As we did in 2003,
I am in the process of doing my review of this year's show in Green Bay. It was impossible for me to attend all shows, so I am asking for help. If you have any photos you can email me, or your own comments or observations on the following shows, I would appreciate it. Any photos or quotes used will receive credit in the article on the Rockabilly Hall of Fame web site.
Monday, April 11:
The Old Howards (saw some of the set and got a photo)
The Dave Biller Combo
Jimmy Cavello (I have a picture, but would like comments from someone who stayed for most of the show.)
Star Mountain Dreamers
Randy Rich & The Poor Boys
Ruby Ann & The Boppin' Boozers
Dr. Snout & His Hogs of Rhythm
Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys
Tuesday, April 12
The Tinstars - Casino Lounge Show
The Two Timin' Three
Howlin' Al & The Sharps
Little Ester & Her Tinstars
The White Devils
Biller & Wakefield
Wednesday, April 13
Levi Dexter with Magic
The Stardevils
The Paladins
Thursday, April 14
The Vibro Champs
Johnny Bach & The Moonshine Boozers
Boz & The Bozmen
Friday, April 15
The Twilight Ranchers in the Casino Lounge
White Boy James
Don Cavali & The Two Timers
Shaun Young
Wildfire Willie & The Ramblers
Saturday, April 16
Arsen Roulette & The Ricochets
Three Blue Teardrops
The Mezcal Brothers
Rockin'Bones (Tribute to Ronnie Dawson)
Please email anything you think I can use. This is a real project and I appreciate any help you can give. Thanks! Barry Klein - bmk@bmkre.com
Barry Klein's RHOF Review of the Green Bay Onedia Show 2002
