The Art of Krk Ryden
The Fuxedos, Nu-tra and The Woggles
Safari Sam’s
Hollywood, California
October 12, 2007
By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
The evening was branded “Colossal Fun” featuring the art of Krk Ryden, a talented and insane artist that made us giggle. Graphic, cartoony art with hot pink fur glittery frames, wiggly bits and blinking neon. Very cute and obscene. And very rock and roll. Our favorite piece was “Jimmy 2 J.”
Add to it a perfect line up of bands assembled for tonight's soiree to give an audio blast to the art that lined the walls. Two-three dozen pieces, upstairs and down. Our only complaint, some of the lighting stank and we couldn’t see these magnifico two and three-dimensional creations.
Understand that art is normal at the multi-dimensional Safari Sam’s. This club routinely has cool stuff on the walls and is a very sophisticated establishment; to be specific, Safari Sam's is a South Bay Punk Bar Legend - Hollywood Strip Bar Transplant. Ain’t it perfect?
They pack a full rock agenda every night of the week with a Rockabilly-Americana Brunch deal. And food. Did we mention a restaurant? The better than average burger comes with excellent garlic fries. We needn’t fear any of the vampires in Hollywood for a while.
Excellent staff too. Sweet, smart people. We caught a smoke outside between sets and one of the bartenders did the same, while doing a crossword puzzle by the light of the 99 Cent Store. Cool or what?
And ambience is everything. DJ Roxxi Dott played Kirk’s fave rave songs between sets. We heard the theme to “Huckleberry Hound” and got all misty. Oh, my darlin.
Now to the music; we walked in on funsters, The Fuxedos doing a wicked version of “I Put a Spell on You,” thanking Screaming Jay Hawkins, lead singer, Danny Shorago was wearing a tasteful housedress. Several wardrobe changes followed. Finale was crowd pleaser “Vampire Wombats” with a mask that was a dead ringer for Zippy the Pinhead.
Traveling Dan keeps a band in SF and LA. Tonight’s back up was Righteous Ryan Brown on the drums, the Almighty Alex Budman on saxes, Stunning Stephen Charouhas on bass and keyboards, and Wicked Wes Styles on guitar.
Nu-tra was next and very Devo wearing labeled jumpsuits and jerk stepping in unison. Lead singer Vahe’s alter ego, Mr. Uno closed the set with his one-eyed rubber head and his hell-fire preaching. According to Vahe “If you get us, we’re singing to you. If you don’t get us, we’re singing about you.” We get it.
Headliners The Woggles took the stage ‘round midnight. Their ruffled shirts reminded us of the Kinks and so did their sound of solid Rock. Real big favorites of Little Steven’s Underground Garage, these serious rock vets (20 something years) bring the Gospel of Garage with a vengeance.
Lead singer (they call him The Professor) kicked off tonight’s services with “gather ‘round children or I’ll come get cha.” They did and he did too. Banging his tambourine old school ala Mick Jagger and doing a signature two-step that did not let up.
The Professor with his raspy rock voice continued, “I’m ready for a dance number.” Their Mod fans shook it like crazy. Lots of Vidal Sassoon haircuts and white boots spotted in the crowd. We saw The Twist, The Watusi, The Mashed Potato and our fave, The Temptation Walk. The good stuff is forever.
Woggle’s guitarist, and Dan Elektro started playing drums in his Daddy’s band as a babe. And Brit bass player Buzz Hagstrom, doubles on bass for his wife's band, The Subsonics. Heavy hitter guitar player goes by the Flesh Hammer and rightly so being last band was Guadalcanal Diary. Scorching rock delivered fast, clean and mean.
Standout song “It’s Not About What I Want (It’s What You Got) (voted the “Coolest Song of 2006” by listeners of Sirius Satellite Radio’s Underground Garage Channel) is stickier that 3M Double Sided tape with Crazy Glue spilled all over it. You cannot get it out of your head.
Promoting their latest release on Wicked Cool records, “Rock and Roll Backlash” and touring the USA like crazy through Xmas catch the Woggles in a town near you.
