Search - Steve Weber :: Holy Modal Rounders B.C.

Whatever happened to the Holy Modal Rounders?

Roger A. Straus | Portland, OR | 01/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD documents why the Portland,OR based Holy Modal Rounders grouping, together with the Clamtones, was so wildly popular in the Northwest for nearly two decades after decamping from New York City. You've got to hear it to believe it. It is the rest of the performance from which Jeffrey Frederick and the Clamtones B.C. was taken, from a live show broadcast on the radio in Vancouver, B.C. in 1976 (which, for better or worse meant they had to keep it clean). It's heard to believe that this was remastered from an archival tape -- it sounds as if it had just been recorded yesterday. And the music is 100% today. This CD has the boys playing up a storm, with some amazing picking by Weber. Not only is Steve in top form, but you have Robin "Rube" Remaily (author of "Euphoria", "Four In The Morning" and all kinds of other great tunes), Teddy Deane (who went on to start the Swingline Cubs and now the Play-Rite Boys), Dave Reisch and R. Willy North (Dave and R. Willy still going strong as central members of the Freak Mountain Ramblers nowadays, Rube and Teddy with their own gigs but showing up in Portland from time to time, resurrecting these great songs), Richard Tyler.. wow. "Low Down Dog" is particularly fine, one of Antonia's really great songs. I don't quite know what to call this music -- rollicking big-band folkrock oldtimey jazzy psychotropic Americana fun with a touch of Piedmont blues? A great time is guaranteed for all."