Cafe Wha?
Went to the legendary Cafe Wha? last night to see the Bodega Tallboys. Alex Klein's band. If you're not familiar, Cafe Wha? it has quite a history. It's referred to a "sanctuary for talent." Artists such as Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, Peter, Paul & Mary, Kool and the Gang, as well as comedians, Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby got their start here.
It was a lot of fun listening to the boys play a bunch of classic tunes with a variety of instruments; banjo, acoustic guitars (including a bass), some type of blow thing, harmonica and saxophone. They switched instruments between songs which was really interesting.
Their talent was evident in every song they played and the crowd responded. They even played a Bobby Blue Band song which I hadn't heard since he opened for BB King at the Schafer Music Festival years ago.
It was a great night in a really cool place. Maybe this is the start of something big for the Tallboys
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*Midnight Special
*Lodi (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
*Christine's Tune (Devil In Disguise) (Flying Burrito Brothers)
*Ophelia (The Band)
*Operator
*When I Paint My Masterpiece (Dylan tune covered by The Band)
*Seven Days
*Casualty
Turn On Your Love Light (cover of Bobby Blue Band 45 also later covered by Them (Van Morrison's first band) and The Dead)
*Country Honk (version of Honky Tonk Women from Stones' "Let It Bleed" LP)
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Alex Klein’s excellent group, the Bodega TallBoys played the 7:30 p.m. showcase, and were deservedly well received. Alex and his musical cronies put their hearts and souls into their music. If you didn’t see and hear them at the Gotham Battle of the Bands (BOTB) in March or last evening at Café Wha? you should make it your business to do so at the next opportunity – fun music, as Corey’s recitation of the set list (below) reflects.
Several of us (including my wife and our 22-year-old twins; Mike Jakob’s family, Sharon Klein, and perhaps others) stayed for the 9:30 p.m. set by the renowned Café Wha? House Band, and they rocked the house, with versatility, energy, and creative reinterpretations of music from the 70s through today, including guest performers from the worlds of Soul and Latin music (there was even a stand-up comedian before the House Band’s first set). We stayed till midnight before heading back to L.I., but we nearly stayed for the next set, it was so good – unfortunately, our morning obligations prevented that. As a former professional musician, I have played in several cover bands and have heard many, many cover bands – both generations of my family who were present unanimously agreed that this was the best cover band we’ve ever heard.
Many thanks to Gothamite William Skody, co-owner of Café Wha?, for his hospitality and Gotham spirit. My kids said they plan to bring their friends, and my wife and I already have (a couple of months ago, for the first Gotham BOTB showcase), and will do so again.
Café Wha? rocks.
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-Alex
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