Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: BONEBRAKE SYNCOPATORS

Sean O'ConnellWed. August 08
 


PHOTO by JENNIE WARREN

@ THE PIKE
FRI | AUG 3

When a band draws their name from a concept based around timing, they should at least be able to start within an hour of their posted set time. I can only nurse a beer for so long before I find myself needing another one. And that costs money. And brain cells. After watching the most ink-stained jazz crowd I have ever seen grumble and stumble around Frankie and Annette’s clubhouse, the band, led by X drummer D.J. Bonebrake, started with a brisk version of “Yardbird Suite.” The quintet (vibes, lap steel, upright bass, anachronistic Stratocaster, and the gaudiest drum set I’ve ever seen) played an hour-long set of four-to-the-floor standards, including “Limehouse Blues” and the Globetrotters fight song “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The band looked like a bunch of high-school teachers getting together for a fishing weekend, with their matching Hawaiian shirts and non-threatening haircuts, but amidst the hokeyness there were several flashes of great musicality. Bonebrake, with his vibes occupying a good chunk of the dining space, unleashed Red Norvo-like torrents up and down his instrument, and both guitarists were at their best when channeling a sun-soaked Les Paul sound with a twang equally Texan and Hawaiian. There was nothing particularly innovative about the sounds these guys made. They were skilled and entertaining, but what seemed to draw most of the crowd was the novelty. As these punk rockers start crashing into middle age, they begin digging deeper in the crates. It looks like Bonebrake has found the 78s. Now, if only he can find a watch.

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Viewing 3 Comments

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    Wow, I should have bought him a beer!

    I can’t tell if Sean O’Connell came to the gig loaded for snark, or he was just sore that we started late… sure, one of us (not DJ, by the way) got hung up and was 40 minutes late… first time you’ve heard of that happening in a club, Sean? Are you new at this? It was a first for us at the Pike, but honest, we didn’t do it just to keep * you * up!

    As for the cracks and back handed compliments… I guess “skilled and entertaining” just isn’t enough, since it’s not ‘particularly innovative’… and that’s true – you can hear a vibes/guitar/non-pedal steel guitar lineup anytime…right?

    Anyway, we’ll be working on our “threatening” haircuts for next time – I had no idea that in the 21st century, long hair was still a force to be reckoned with! The shirts didn’t work for you either? Not matching, by the way – but who’s paying attention?

    It probably is the first time you’ve ever seen a 1928 Ludwig Ludwig drum kit with the original painted bass drum head, so yeah, it probably was the ‘gaudiest’ thing you’ve ever seen … as for TK’s “anachronistic Stratocaster”… it’s a Telecaster, for starters… not sure why you think it “anachronistic”, either… did we violate your ethic by playing swing with a 50’s Tele? Damn, let us know next time!

    But at least know of what you speak (but kudos for the hip Red Norvo name-check).

    And our audience doesn’t escape your wrath, either – “most ink-stained jazz crowd… Frankie Annette’s place…” wow – you are so wrought with rockcrit angst that you don’t know where to focus your laser beam next!

    Truth is, The Pike is a great bar/restaurant we love playing, with a friendly, fun clientele that gets it…but please skip it next time, Sean –

    Far be it for us to keep you up past your bedtime. .

    Dave Stuckey
    The Bonebrake Syncopators
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    i thought i'd wait a month to respond. that's the thing to do, right? punctuality is overrated. clearly. you see that giant clock in the background. that's how i knew the show started over an hour late because you guys minus the tardy member stood under it drinking beer for an hour. perhaps i should have just reviewed that.

    hawaiian shirts by their very definition match. granted the blues don't accentuate the siennas and maybe some of the hibiscus' hues aren't so complimentary to the verdent tendrils. perhaps the oranges don't quite capture the vermillion. take it up with Mr. Blackwell.

    you're awfully proud of that 80 year old drum kit. it was the gaudiest drum set i've ever seen. i didn't know thomas kincaide was wielding the brushes way back then but wouldn't a hollow body guitar kind of make sense too? Startocaster or Telecaster, either way you're playing "Sweet Georgia Brown" not "Brown Sugar". you did violate my ethic. and i let you know the first fucking time!

    And it ain't 'rockcrit'. It's 'jazzcrit'!
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    Sean- you're just a dick.
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