Howdy new guy here. I'm bummed that I couldn't make it this year. The line-up this year is really strong. Dave & Deke combo are always great and James Intveld is quite the entertainer. And having Royal Crown Revue on the bill just puts it over the top. Anyways, glad to be here and fine job reporting on this event.
LIVE - It's the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender!
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Apr 10, 2009 12:02 p.m. HellboundGreaser:
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- Rated: 89 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 12:15 p.m. Ric12string:
I think you are being a bit harsh with the GDP'ers, chester.
This is by and large a fairly sophisticated group of consumers who have been exposed to rockabilly events and participants on prior occasion. That being said, part of the fun of these events is the hairstyles, the clothing, and other aspects of the rockabilly culture. I mean, that is why the participants get involved...because they enjoy that aspect of it. Perhaps we enjoy that too.
The fact that Proteus depicts the participants of that culture on this thread through photographs or words is not treating it like it is some kind of freak show, which your post implies. Rather, it is just accurately describing the event so that we can all join in the fun and frivolity.
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- Rated: 45 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 1:01 p.m. MrMoonlight:
chester said:
...as if you are viewing a zebra in a cage from the planet africon is standard lifestyle for these people. for many of those folks in the retro garb have been dressing like this and performing since the mid 70's, when rockabilly was finding new ears in the US and overseas. now we have rockabilly in nearing the top of the surface of the mainstream and people who listened to steely dan and air supply, are becoming interested in retro culture...
So what do you want? A medal?
Your post reads like: "Oh, I thought Rockabilly and the retro culture were cool way before you started thinking they were cool, and that makes me cooler than you, so don't bother commenting on it because you're just not qualified unless you've been a part of the scene as long as I have."
Gimme a break.
Would it be any different if these were photos from a Star Trek convention or a gathering of medieval enthusiasts dressed as damsels, knights and squires?
Nobody's treating the Viva Las Vegas participants as though they were some kind of freak show or zoo attraction. I think Proteus' photos and narratives are an extremely interesting insider's view of the event and it looks to me like the visitors are having a lot of fun. As it should be.
And I call BS on your "this was only in jest" afterthought. You wouldn't have worded it the way you did if you weren't serious about it. Sorry, your post reeks of arrogance.
Don't presume to know what I think or know about the rockabilly scene...or try to tell me whether or not I'm qualifed to comment on it.
Like Ric12string said, GDPers deserve a bit more credit than you seem to be giving them.
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Apr 10, 2009 1:22 p.m. KuuKOO:
Oh please lets not turn this into a flame thread. It's all good fun.
Sad to say I can't make it this year. I went to the Roundup at the Orleans last October and it was great er from what I remember of it. Keep those pics coming!
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Apr 10, 2009 1:35 p.m. bobbyrivera:
CHESTER said: i don't doubt you and especially many in the UK know of her, historically she has always had better reception overseas. nor do i doubt many here love her dearly.
but mostly i am poking fun at those grey mulleted fellas on the forum who are particularly aghast with their recent discovery of the verility of retro culture as it is displayed at Viva LAS VEGAS.
their posts resemble a national geographic photographer visiting with the natives of a south american village in 1925. silly and naive
haha
You have to admit, that this subculture does seem a bit odd. I have to agree, and I'm in it. The "grey haired mulleted fellas" on this forum probably heard lots of this music the first time around-30 years before the "greasy haired posers-(I'm kidding on that BTW)-" (like me:) were even born. You gotta have a sense of humor about this stuff IMO, otherwise its no fun. As far as your Wanda Jackson comment goes, MANY people on here know about her. EDIT-and what Mr. Moonlight said.
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Apr 10, 2009 1:48 p.m. will:
where's Kim Falcon ...
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Apr 10, 2009 1:50 p.m. Ric12string:
will said: where's Kim Falcon ...
That is something that both "grey haired mulleted fellas" and the "posers" can enjoy. -
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Apr 10, 2009 1:53 p.m. MrMoonlight:
will said:
Probably still in her cage. Feeding time's at 3:00 PM.where's Kim Falcon ...
EDIT: If you thought this comment was rude, then make sure you go back and read the whole thread. Then you'll get it.
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Apr 10, 2009 1:54 p.m. bonedaddy:
Yeah, she was a pretty nice person, in person.
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Apr 10, 2009 1:57 p.m. Deed Eddy:
Oh, come on fellas.. This is a fun thread. No party poopers allowed. Proteus is working his tail off on our behalf, so let's assume the spirit of Rockabilly Weekenders and "git with it or go home!"
ok?
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- Rated: 24 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 2:09 p.m. Playboy:
Great work as always Proteus! Thanks for all the hard work. I think your pictures are great.
But, um... Where is Kim Falcon??
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Apr 10, 2009 2:17 p.m. Suprdave5150:
Tim, What great coverage.
Thanks for bringing us along.
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- Rated: 89 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 2:17 p.m. Ric12string:
bonedaddy said: Yeah, she was a pretty nice person, in person.
And her mama's no slouch, either. -
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Apr 10, 2009 3:14 p.m. bundy6120:
Having been born and raised in Southern California, I took VLV for granted and never experienced it when I lived there. Getting dressed and going to see and dance to James Intveld, Royal Crown Revue, Deke Dickerson and some of the other acts was just a regular part of my existence.
Now that I'm in the far flung reaches of Australia, I terribly miss the scene. The great live music, the cars, the clothes, the tats. Getting a glimpse of the life I used to live through Proteus' coverage has been wonderful. I'm thoroughly enjoying the experience and I can't wait to hear the audio too. Thank you Tim for bringing this to me, and everyone else here who cannot be there in person.
Andi
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- Rated: 312 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:03 p.m. Proteus:
Thursday night in the Mardi Gras room progressed at an easy pace, with a sensible schedule alternating DJs spinning platters with live bands. This gave bands a chance to set up and kept the music coming for the dancers.
It also gave the evening the feel of something between a sock hop and a post-prom party, or maybe a wedding reception. Dancers took breaks at tables around the perimeter of the dance floor, others, joining the other partiers there.
Obviously great fun for all, no attitudes or pretense – just a good time.
I don't care who or where (or when) you are – there are always groups of women dancing. I think rhythmically enabled women outnumber men with happy feet by a considerable margin.
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This couple was nothing short of spectacular: long, tall, graceful, and very cool.
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The young man featured here is obviously getting a headstart on things. He had the moves, and squired a series of older women around the dance floor. Extra credit!
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- Rated: 103 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:18 p.m. bonedaddy:
The look on his face in this pic is priceless!
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- Rated: 312 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:23 p.m. Proteus:
• TECHNICAL UPDATE •
My trusty 1.5GHz G4 Powerbook has bit the dust over the past few days. It will NOT charge the battery, nor run without a battery. (Internal problem at power connector.)
I always have a plan B, a two-parter in this case consisting of a complete mirror of the PB's hard drive from Tuesday night (I got any new data from it before powering it off to save what battery life is left) AND a borrowed iBook.
Which is where I am now. With a 13" instead of 15" screen, and an 800Mhz G3 processor with 384MB RAM. Photoshop, Excel, Audacity, Cyberduck, Foxfire - everything I need - are working.
But incredibly, agonizingly slowly.
Which may help explain delays in posting.
Plus - there's more to cover than one guy (or even the two guys we'd have been had Jamie made it) can get to.
Today's schedule of bands: • 1:00 - B-Stars (Brenden's Pub)
• 2:00 - Miss Fire & the Detonations (Brenden's Pub)
• 3:00 - Eve Hell (Dauphine Room)
• 3:00 - Redline Rockets (Brenden's Pub)
• 4:00 - Morry Sochat (Dauphine)
• 5:00 - Tequila Worms (Dauphine)
• 6:00 - Blue Denim (Dauphine)
• 8:00 - Alex Valenzia (Dauphine) • 8:30 - ChopTops (Mardi Gras Ballroom)
• 9:15 - Vargas Brothers (Brenden's Pub)
• 9:30 - Domestic Bumblebees (Dauphine)
• 10:00 - James Intveld (Mardi Gras)
• 10:45 - Aquasonics (Brendens)
• 10:45 - Crown Vics (Dauphine)
• 11:30 - Stars of Rockabilly w/Lew Williams, Don Woody, Johnny Powers, Alton & Jimmy, Al Ferrier (Mardi Gras)
• 12:00 - Aquasonics (Brendens)
• 12:15 - Sidew Ynders (Dauphine)
• 1:45 - Dean Z (Mardi Gras)
Race to the venue, take a few pics, record some audio, have an in-depth interview for context and culture, race to the room, download pics, choose crop & edit, download audio, trim and normalize, upload everything to the server, make links of all the files, organize a post and put up some context, and that's about all there's time for.
Piece of cake! Experienced onsite free help gratefully accepted!
Joe's going to the airport around 5 to pick up Kim, who'll be making her appearance tomorrow.
• END OF TECHNICAL UPDATE •
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- Rated: 147 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:27 p.m. Setzer:
Thanks for the coverage as usual Tim! Great photos and a diverse group at that.
Oh, scarf me some picks pretty please.
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- Rated: 89 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:27 p.m. Ric12string:
Sorry to hear about your computer biting the dust, Proteus. Hope things get better for you somehow.
We are loving the coverage. Keep it up, big guy.
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- Rated: 312 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:28 p.m. Proteus:
Guys-n-Gals-n-Gretschs!
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GDPer Secret Agent Man! I was pleased to meet Irving, whos band The 454s from LA are now official Gretsch artists.
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We had a fine visit with Carl Schreiber, friend of our late friend Zuma and his brother Mitch. Carl's band, Cadillac Casanovas, is based in the Chicago area.
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- Rated: 312 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:30 p.m. Proteus:
Making the scene...
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- Rated: 103 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 5:33 p.m. bonedaddy:
Damn Tim, time to spring for a new MacBook Pro. C'mon, c'mon, remember how fast mine was at NAMM?
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- Rated: 21 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 7:47 p.m. Century Bob:
More cars!! More cars!!!. And most of all, we need in depth Cousin Harley coverage. If you get a chance to interview him and check out his gear that would be great.
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- Rated: 312 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 8:43 p.m. Proteus:
Cars are tomorrow, CBob.
AND - I've talked to Paul Pigat about doing a sit-down for the GDP. If you guys have some questions for him - the band, his style, playing tips, help with licks - post 'em up here, and IF we have time, Paul's agreed to answer them in a video clip.
Meanwhile, lots of band coverage coming soon.
First, a T-shirt that caught my eye in a vendor booth:
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- Rated: 86 ↑
Apr 10, 2009 11:16 p.m. Joe Carducci - Gretsch/FMIC:
If you're in a funk and need your spirits lifted, this is the place to be! For anyone who may have an inclination to come out to the "Viva" event this weekend in Las Vegas, would recommend it highly!
GREAT rockin' music!... friendly people... bitch'n cars... and Gretsch guitars!
