Let’s start with an entertainment bio for Pittsburgh’s Corned Beef and Curry Band.
John McCann (aka Corned Beef) tells us that his mother gave him his first guitar for his 17th birthday, and she bought it with S&H Green Stamps. John is self taught, and started his “professional” career playing at "Open Mikes." It was there that he discovered he could get paid, and stopped showing up for free! He played as a solo act, and with several bands - rock, country rock, acoustic trio and Irish duo with Tim Lalley in NY. John came to Pittsburgh in 1991, and began playing as a soloist. He met Bob Banerjee (Curry) when looking for someone to play violin on his "This Day" CD (“Everyone said I would not be able to get him”). Bob, having over 18 years of classical training, wound up playing on almost every song on the CD, and often came out to sit in on many of John’s solo gigs. They began working together often as an Irish/Indian duo! “At one of our gigs, someone from the crowd yelled out, you guys are like Corned Beef & Curry! We often repeated it, and finally it became the name we go by.” John met Todd Hartman (sometimes referred to as Schnitzel) at one of his solo gigs, and tells us the story: “Todd had some spoons with him, and asked if I would mind if he played along for a few tunes. He was just having fun, but it was obvious to me that he really knew what he was doing. Bob and I had already been playing together often for a few years, and were looking for someone to play percussion. Todd started with spoons, tambourine and bongo's, and now uses a full drum set, washboard, Irish Bodhran and tons of toys.”
The Corned Beef & Curry Band opens the Phlocking on Thursday afternoon at Mr. Ed’s. You’ll also be able to catch them at Hooligan’s for late night shows on Friday and Saturday.
Registering late? – Kaleys will be leaving for the Bay on Wednesday, June 8. Please do not put any registrations in the mail after Wednesday, June 1; these will arrive too late to make the list. Please drop a note to pkaley@comcast.net to make special arrangements for late registrations.
Necessary Information –
The most important thing to remember – Never, never, never walk, drive, operate a bike or golf cart or travel in any vehicle with an open container of alcohol. This is absolutely forbidden at Put-In-Bay. You will be fined and spend the night in jail. Don’t take any chances by trying to hide your drink in a coffee cup or other container. The police know all the tricks!
Support the local cab drivers – By the end of the weekend, they will be your best friends. One of our favorite drivers, “Coconut Tim Pomps,” has happily supplied his cell phone number – 216-789-8938 – he’ll be driving during Phlocking weekend.
Miller Ferries and Jet Express Discounts – Phlockers’ names are on a list at both ferries. Give your name for a discount rate. Special thanks to the Miller Boat Line for adding the Phlocking of the Phaithful to their list of events.
Thanks againto Mike and Sharon Serfoza, owners Del Sol, Put-In-Bay, for supplying our goody bags that change color in the sun – just like the products featured at their store. Stop by the store and see the newest Put-In-Bay and Five O’Clock Somewhere designs. Be sure to thank Mike and Sharon for their kind and much appreciated support.
Always wear your Phlocking ID tags. You will not be admitted to Phlocking private parties without your tag. Your tag gets you to the front of any line at Mr. Ed’s Bar.
Appearing this year as a Phlocking virgin is “Jon Reno” from Fairhope, AL. John is known to many of us from appearances at Pardi Gras and other Trop Rock events throughout the nation. He was actually scheduled last year (2010) but had a conflict and promised to make it in 2011. John is not your typical acoustic guitar playing singer songwriter. John’s musical style can be defined as trop rock – a mixture of rock-n-roll and country music with an island theme, and lyrics depicting a laid back lifestyle. John not only defines this musical genre – he lives it!
Since 1996, Tom and Michelle Becker, better known to their audiences as Latitude, have toured the world, and remain happily married in a business that’s not exactly known for its “Fairy Tale Endings”. They have worked with many music legends, including Brenda Lee, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Platters, The New Christy Minstrels, Gregg Allman, comedian Bill Cosby, American Idols Reuben Studdard and Ace Young, and the pop band, Third Eye Blind. They are also successful behind the scenes as songwriters and jingle singers.
“Sunny Jim White” returns again in 2011 and seems to like the trip to the Bay. He enjoys performing for purveyors of the island lifestyle from coast to coast. His schedule takes him to cities such as New York, Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Atlanta, Key West, Houston, Richmond and Phoenix among many others. His travels have also included going back to the Caribbean to perform in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, the Bahamas and of course his old home, the Cayman Islands.
“John Frinzi” New Jersey-born and Florida-based singer/songwriter John Frinzi has steadily gained recognition across the country for his soulful songs, unique voice, and strong live performances. Since the release and airplay success of his first CD, “Into The Dawn,” in 2003, Frinzi has developed a national following through constant touring. He plays well over 200 dates a year. And now we got him for the Bay! John and Sunny Jim often perform together and these are shows you just can’t miss.
“Jim Hoehn “author of A Father's Guide to Birth, Babies and Loud Children, is a Milwaukee-based journalist and songwriter who discovered early that putting pen to paper was a legitimate way of avoiding any form of manual labor, leading to a career path that has included newspapers, magazines and wire services. A midlife crisis turned Hoehn's writing attention toward music, where he has carved out a surprisingly successful niche as a performing songwriter despite a musical philosophy of "Six strings, five fingers, three chords, no problem." He performs for us Phlockers at the second annual “Cul-de-Phlock” in 2011. An informal backyard appearance on a porch at Island Club where many Phlockers spend their recuperating hours.
“Johnny Rodriguez” is aptly named Mr. Phlocking since he has played every Phlocking in our memory and now is always the late night act on Thursday at Mr. Ed’s. Johnny plays anything you can throw at him and never fails to amaze us with his 12 string guitar and “music box”.
More info soon! Remember to register today.
What is a “Hand Grenade Happy Hour”
If you’re a Phlocking virgin, you may wonder exactly what’s going on when you see the “Hand Grenade Happy Hour” that’s on the schedule for Friday afternoon from 3 until 5 PM. If you ask any Phlocker, they’ll be glad to tell you that this is definitely a never-ever-miss-it party at the Phlocking, and they’ll happily follow that up with a wonderful story featuring a Hand Grenade-related experience.
Thanks to two of the nicest people on earth, Pam Fortner and Earl Bernhardt, owners of the Tropical Isle bars in New Orleans, we are able to once again have this very special party at Phlocking. Pam and Earl have graciously given us their support for many, many years, even after their devastating fire just before Phlocking last year, and we extend a million thank-yous to them.
Earl tells us that this year’s party will be better than ever – and we’re pretty excited about that – although we can’t imagine how it can get any better.
A huge thank-you to Mr. Ed Fitzgerald, his family and staff, without whom this Phlocking would not take place. Please remember they are working hard to make our event successful; let them know you appreciate it. And always tip your servers and bartenders!
More stuff later, including information on all of our musicians, general Island stuff, and updates as they become available. Thanks to our webmaster extraordinaire, Mr. Ken Doerbecker, all of this and registration forms are available at www.phlocking.com.
Deadline to register (WITHOUT PENALTY) is Saturday May 21, 2011.
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