A very cool couple weeks of rockabilly and blues music got a great start with Cousin Harley and MonkeyJunk, who played two shows for the U of L Global Drums and the Geomatic Attic this week.
While I missed the dinner show at the Mocha Cabana, April 14, I caught the tail end of a crazy show with the two trios at the Geomatic Attic, April 15, where it had been relocated from the German Canadian Club due to slow advance ticket sales.
Regardless, the always humbling Cousin Harley had the joint jumping . (Unfortunately I missed MonkeyJunk’s set.)
Guitarist Paul Pigat probably had to have his fingers treated for second degree burns after his blazing set of high octane, twangy rockabilly licks which properly humbled all of the guitarists in the full house if not made them want to give it up completely. Tall, lean, lanky upright bassist “El Swartho” Keith Picot leaned over and dug in, slapping the hell out of his instrument and drummer Jesse Cahill kept time like a classic Swiss watch.
I only caught half of the last set,arriving just in in time to hear “ Beaver Fever,” one of Cousin Harley’s bright instrumentals. And another one written probably to let Paul Pigat show off his blazing picking.
Pigat sang on the ’50s style highlight “ Divorce Me C.O.D” which allowed all three of the band members to show their skills to the applause of the audience. Quite a few people were dancing in the aisles.
It was time for a treat at the end of the show as all three members of MonkeyJunk joined Cousin Harley on stage for a massive jam. MonekyJunk drummer Matt Sobb played in synch with Cahill.
Steve Marriner added harp and Tony D proved he was just as an adept guitarist. While much of the room was on their feet for the end of the show, the rest of them got up for a sweaty jam on a song called “Breaking up the House.” The whole room dancing by the end the Breaking Up The House.
