Self-styled “bloodgrass” practitioners Angry Johnny & The Killbillies had endured, by drummer Sal Vega’s estimates, more than 900 shows and outlasted three vans before proclaiming an indefinite hiatus last December. But now, in the midst of reunion whispers, the official word from the Killville camp is that the ultimate road dog/prolific purveyor of gruesome and graphic imagery himself, Angry Johnny, doesn’t have the guts to get back on stage.
“When we say guts, we mean literally right now,” Vega says. “Angry checked into the hospital this month with a huge appendix. I’m sure there’s a medical term for that, but either way, it sucks, and doctors say it will be a while before they can cut him up.”
In the meantime, fans of the band are encouraged to send “whiskey, bullets, or just a card” to Angry Johnny, P.O. Box 1164, Easthampton, MA 01027 or remit electronic well-wishes directly to angry@getangry.com.
In anticipation of Angry’s full recovery, scant Killbillies dates through Texas, the deep South and lower East Coast are already beginning to surface in the “Tour” section of the band’s website, www.getangry.com, for November.
As of press time, the first local reunion date on the books looks to be a Nov. 24 engagement at Easthamp’s Brass Cat with special guests Kiss The Boys Goodbye in support.
While you’ve got your Dayrunners open to November… Tom Killbania (ok, it’s really Kielbania—the Crawler couldn’t resist) checked in to reveal some juicy scoop on his Orange Crush and their impending CD-release cum small-screen debut. According to the affable percussionist, the band will officially celebrate its first studio effort of originals—dubbed ’80s All Over—at Elms College the night before Thanksgiving, then return on Saturday for another performance that will be recorded in high definition and eventually aired on local television.
“The release, all the shows at the college… it’s all in conjunction with this new record label I formed with the guys from Zing Studios called Mainline Records,” Kielbania says. “And, no, we’re not all junkies. We call it Mainline because Zing is located on Mainline Drive.”
To become one of Kielbania’s “Main” men—or women—and try to get your band on his label, television show or the November “label showcase” concert at Elms, give him a call at (413) 286-7821.
“We’re open to anything… especially any genre,” he adds. “But other than that, if your band can pull 100 people per show and you think you can move 3,000 CDs or more, we’d like to talk to you.”
Last up, much like O-Crush’s Kielbania, Paul Newlin says he has been enjoying the fruits of his labor—watching the acts he booked perform at his Watermelon Wednesday series each week this summer. As the West Whately Chapel-based festivities wind down, Newlin notes that next week’s installment on Sept. 3 with bluegrass/swing/old-timers The Hunger Mountain Boys is shaping up to be equal parts “highly anticipated” and a “personal victory” for the man behind the music and melons.
“Admittedly, I book music I like and the series is a great chance for me to experience my local musical local heroes like Tracey Grammer, Jim Henry and Redbird,” he explains. “To be honest, I don’t know The Hunger Mountain Boys’ music as well, but I’ve heard so many raves about them that I’ve actually been trying to get them here for three years now—and it’s finally going to happen!”
For more information on how to become a part of said happening and obtain directions, ticket info and more, kindly point your browser to: www.watermelonwednesdays.com.•
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. Box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 698-9373 or email Garycarra@aol.com.
