PHANTOM CREEP FEST WEEKENDER

 Phantom Creep Fest Weekender

Otto’s Shrunken Head, Manhattan, NYC

Friday 25th October

Our Wicked Lady, Brooklyn, NYC

Saturday 26th October

Otto’s Shrunken Head in downtown Manhattan is a bit of a Mecca for all things Tiki, music and good times. Mike Decay (is it too soon to call him legendary?) regularly puts on bands and DJ sets here as part of his monthly Midnite Monster Hop events that have been running for the last 25 years. However, it’s his annual Phantom Creep Fest Weekender that we’re here for. At past events you might have seen some familiar faces such as the Surfin’ Wombatz and Screaming Rebel Angels. Tonight though we were being treated to a couple of DJ sets from Bal Croce (The Sting-Rays) and Susan Lewis (The Meteors, The Tall Boys). It was also an opportunity to catch up with friends from both sides of the pond. The weekend was promising to be a good one.  

Friday

The Phantom Creep Fest Weekender happens over three days around Halloween (we only attended two of the three days). This year was a little special as there were a number of UK based bands and DJs on the lineup. Bal Sting-Ray, coiled like a spring, was everywhere at once, even when it was his turn with the tunes. He spent more time on the wrong side of the decks listening to his own music than stuck in the corner. It was a great set and everyone was up dancing and jiving.

Susan Lewis followed Bal. It would be an understatement to say that people were more than a little excited to be here. Surely, by now, the word is out. Susan Lewis, formerly seen in The Meteors and The Tall Boys was performing for the first time in over a decade. There were bound to be some nerves but the reaction from the crowd was nothing but welcoming. She started with Truck Drivers Rock before taking us through some cracking rockabilly and rock and roll standards. Tornado, Tallahassee Lassie, Tank Town Boogie, just some of the tracks that got Otto’s jumping (she also played other tracks that didn’t begin with T). 

It was great evening to catch up with friends old and new and enjoy the ambience at Otto’s. The roller coaster weekend had started. 

Scream if you want to go faster. 

Saturday 

Tompkins Square Park. The trees are ablaze with reds and golds, the sun is keeping the cold at bay. A stage in the middle of the park is dwarfed by the sheer size of NYC. Soon bands begin to gather and people sit around on benches watching the spectacle.

  

It all begins with the Voodinis. I’ll be honest, they did nothing for me. Sound issues, horrible vocal effects - which is maybe a little unfair and they deserve another chance, but sadly it’s not going to be today.  

Thee Creapfreaks. All the sound issues were resolved. Paul treated us to a line or two of Mr Pharmacist, which got everyone’s attention. And then he hit things with his brand new sticks. With Ash on bass and Pete on guitar and vocals they make a great three-piece. Pete sang the family friendly lyrics with the sound ricocheting off the buildings. The track Graveyard Party sets the mood for Halloween before the old standards such as Get in the Van and The Shed (which is a personal favourite) went down a treat. Psycho ward began with a low rumble and their inspired asylum sound takes us through a gore fest of brain matter and blood spatter. They finish on Everybody loves you when you’re dead, brilliant for its great lyrics. An excellent set. Good show boys.  

Next up - Thee Scarecrows AKA. With head sacks on they sauntered out from behind the trees and took to the stage. Manhattan was treated to the likes of something they’ve probably never seen before, but it certainly got everyone’s attention. A good crowd amassed and people danced. Bal - or I think it was Bal (who knows behind the mask?) - bounces over and tells me that they’re genius. If I Only Had a Brain - the Wizard of Oz classic gets a rousing response as the band rattles through it at breakneck speed. With the sun setting behind the stage and the sun filtering through the trees it makes for a mesmeric performance. Stuffin’ and Splinters gets lots of appreciation from the crowd, with Sack Burn Slim on backing vocals and with his energy on stage, it all makes for a great performance. Families bring their small kids over to listen to songs such as Empty My Sack, which gets a laugh from the Brits. Then we’re thundering through to the finish with crowd pleasers such as Black Betty and Ten Heads which gets the audience dancing before the energetic finish of Hay Bale Betty. The sun is just disappearing behind the buildings as the band goes off to enthusiastic applause.  

Is there a better way to spend an afternoon? Cha cha cha.  

Off now off we go to somewhere in deepest darkest Brooklyn. The venue, Our Wicked Lady, is in the heart of what’s like an industrial zone. For food we walk to the nearest bar - the Anchored Inn - which can be found through litter strewn streets. There’s no one around, it’s eerily quiet.  

At Our Wicked Lady - the scare crew are sound checking. Pete Creepfreak is looking bemused. ‘One, two, one, two,’ He says to no one in particular. ‘I can’t see the fucking point.’ We hear you Pete, we hear you. 

The night kicks off with, what sounds like, a Jazz fusion Cramps two-piece. It’s a bit too avant garde for me. Sure, saxophones have their place in music, but I like my garage trashy, fuzzy and raw.  

We’re onto firmer ground with the Memphis Morticians. Someone please help this five piece pack their gear into coffins and get them to the UK and Europe now! Their look is somewhere around the gunslinging wild west on the dystopian scale and they sound great! Classic psychobilly with garage vibes and a touch of surf and they start as they mean to carry on. Their intro track, Undertaker and his Pals tells us we’re gonna drink all night, we’re gonna get real tight. Yes sir. If this is the sermon they’re preaching then take us to church. With songs such as Corpse Grindin’ Baby giving us bone crunching beats and a bit of rock and roll swagger in Pompadour Swamp these boys are bringing the party to us with their horror, gore and b-movie entertainment. The band’s musical influences are shown in their Safari’s inspired track Primitive Trashman with its driving drum beats and 50s atomic-comic vibes. This is a band with a great back catalogue and we’re ready for more. Rumours abound that they’re back in the studio early next year ready to lay down some tracks for a new EP. We can’t wait! 

Next up it’s Thee Creepfreaks. It’s been a long afternoon. Everyone’s lost track of time, days, zones, but Pete, Paul and Ash dig deep to give us another killer performance. Night has descended quickly like a hastily thrown blanket to cover the evidence. The threat they emanate is real and have no doubt they’re coming to get you. Another excellent set that raises the roof. They leave the stage to a rousing reception. They can stand down now and get those well earned beers.  

And then it’s Thee Scarecrows AKA. Masks appear. I see Bal in his customised hessian. People gather to the front. The drum set up is compromised because of the size of the stage, but the sound guys do an awesome job to get it all sounding pretty close to spot on. And what a set. Thee boys mix things up from the afternoon and so the audience is treated to something a little different. The Morticians are down the front. Mike Decay can be spotted in the crowd, his Tall Boys customised leather jacket identifying the man behind the mask. Their intro track Scarecrow Man gets everyone’s attention and soon hessian is the must have item. Tracks such as Hay Bale Betty and Diggin’ My Potatoes get the audience moving. The Scarecrow army is amassing in America and they’re going to get you. Another excellent set from the men of hay and before we know it they’re thanking New York and stepping off the stage.  

There’s a quiet expectation for the final band of the night. The crew make their final adjustments and preparations and then the lights go down low. Finally The Children of the Ruff House take to the stage and open their set with Watcha Gonna do About it. Susan leads on vocals and guitar. Bal prowls and howls next to her. Also in the line up are Helen Shadow on guitar and Ricky Lee Brawn on drums - both long time collaborators, previously seen in Johnson Family and currently in The Nutjumpers and The Stargazers respectively. They’ve invited three amazing musicians to be part of tonight’s line up - Matt Dallow (currently in Sunnyside Social Club) on accordion; Amy Von E (currently a gun for hire, but formerly in Hellhound Hitmen and Skeleton Beats) on double bass; and Dave T. Wave (Daddy Longlegs) on keyboard. What an incredible line-up!  

They give us their amped up take on the great rockabilly numbers we all know and love. With their garage sounds and rocking guitar these standards are new and refreshed. We’ve already had a taste of the originals at Otto’s from Susan’s DJ set, but here they are again Ruff House style - a little bit of sass and a whole lot of rocknroll. Don’t expect much chat between each song, but we’re here for the music. Susan and Helen share vocal duties with Bal hollering on backing vocals. Ricky’s tight Dave on keyboard, Amy on double bass and Matt on accordion are great fits to this seven piece band.  

With a reactive rendition of Romp and Stomp, Susan is clearly enjoying being back on the stage. Let’s not forget this is her first gig in….hell, what does it matter?

Teddy Boy Rock is a big sound, with a distinctive rock and roll keyboard provided by welcome addition to the band, Dave T Wave. Bringing a primal energy from behind the keys, he looks slick and at ease and proves to be a dynamic match to the ever-prowling Bal. 

We launch into Red River Rock with Susan on kazoo and Bal leading the crowd. Guitar duties are left to Helen with Amy on bass. Susan and Helen duet on (I don’t want a boyfriend, I just want a) Motorcycle, the Johnson Family classic. We’re near the end of the set and the crowd is reluctant to let the band go. What a night. We need more Children of the Ruff House. A garage twist with a dash of country gives this rock ’n' roll cocktail a kick we all needed.

Sunday

It’s maybe 3 in the morning. The bar is open til who knows when. Our sleepy, industrial part of Brooklyn has come to life, there’s clearly a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Everyone starts to leave and head across the city to get back to hotels and rooms. It’s been a great couple of days. There’s more going on at the Flying Fox tavern later on in the day, but it’s been such a quick trip that, sadly, there’s no time to do everything.  

What a weekend. New York is definitely worth visiting for many reasons but there’s even more reason to go because of the great music scene.  

WOW HOW GREAT IS THIS. ON MY BLOG WE MADE NOW HISTORY. AS STAR OF THIS REVIEW WRITER SARAH J CANDLISH IS VERY FIRST GUEST WRITER ON MY BLOG.

thankx so much Sarah that you took so much bout your free time and did all this. Big hand. Thx to Verge too that offered this "deal" for Sarah. You both are great✨️❤️