BONGO BEAT RECORDS SHOWCASE
INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW • LIVERPOOL • MAY 2007
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LEGENDARY CANADIAN PUNK/POWER POP BAND THE DIODES RE-UNITE FOR FIRST UK SHOWS IN OVER 30 YEARS
This is Bongo Beat’s 2nd showcase at IPO Liverpool, following their debut appearance in 2004. Bongo Beat has also had showcases at IPO Vancouver and Los Angeles. 2007 is Bongo Beat’s 12th year of operation. “I like Liverpool a lot,” says Ralph, “It reminds me of my hometown of Montreal. There's a real vibrancy here and everyone is genuine and no pretenses. ”
An international label based out of Vancouver, Canada, with distribution in North America, UK, Europe, Australia, and now Korea, Bongo Beat is owned and operated by music veteran Ralph Alfonso, ex-rock journalist/photographer, record label executive (EMI, Warner, Nettwerk), author (2 books), and performer (beat jazz poetry meets garage rock).
Although its roots are garage and pop, the label's roster is more concerned with artists with a firm individual vision, and as such Bongo Beat cuts a wide swathe across the musical spectrum, based in some ways on Ralph's admiration for labels such as 60s era Elektra, Reprise, and Island. Such unlikely label-mates as Johnny Dowd, Kimberley Rew, Jeb Loy Nichols, Andy Creeggan (ex-Barenaked Ladies), Ann Mortifee (recipient of The Order Of Canada), Joe McAlinden (Superstar, Teenage Fanclub), Katrina & The Waves, Ari Shine, Dave Rave, Bardi Johannsson (Bang Gang, Lady & Bird), Linda McLean and others serve up acid jazz, power pop, acoustic folk, Americana, new wave, experimental jazz, hard rock, gothic orchestral, and beyond.
Reuniting at IPO Liverpool for their first UK shows in over 30 years will be legendary Canadian punk/power pop outfit The Diodes - Ralph Alfonso was the band’s designer, lighting guy, roadie and publicist from 1976-80 as well as their manager, which he remains to this day! Making their second IPO Liverpool appearances will be Dave Rave and Ralph, with new Bongo Beat signing Ari Shine making his UK debut and finally the UK-based Plastic Heroes, effectively performing their audition for the label!
“In many ways, we're a very old-fashioned label in that we're very picky about what we like and very fussy about the label's look. We're as hard-headed as the artists we sign and that's half the fun, everyone pushing and inspiring each other,” says Ralph.
Thursday, May 24
The Cavern Club (Back Stage), Mathew Street
Bongo Beat Records Showcase
9:00pm RALPH
9:45pm Ari Shine
10:30pm Plastic Heroes
11:15pm The Diodes
12:00am Dave Rave
Admission to All Shows is FREE
Friday, May 25
Lennon's Bar, Mathew Street
Bongo Beat Records Showcase
3:30pm RALPH
4:15pm Ari Shine
5:00pm Plastic Heroes
5:45pm Dave Rave
6:30pm The Diodes
Admission to All Shows is FREE
THE DIODES
The legendary Canadian punk/power pop band will be re-uniting for their first UK shows in over 30 years. Three of the original members will be playing Liverpool; John Catto (guitars), Paul Robinson (vocals) and Ian Mackay, bass. John Catto and Paul Robinson have been living in London for the past 20 years - John Catto is actually British by birth. Filling in for drummer John Hamilton, who is afraid to fly, will be long-time Diodes friend Rick Zsigmond who runs the New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium in London.
Formed in 1976, The Diodes ran Canada's first punk club; Toronto's notorious Crash 'n' Burn club. They signed to CBS in 1977, releasing their self-titled debut later that year. Often compared to Buzzcocks, Generation X and The Ramones, their singles, ‘Red Rubber Ball’ and ‘Tired Of Waking Up Tired’ made various UK best of lists at the time and received rave reviews from Jon Savage who later wrote about the group in England's Dreaming.
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There are two Diodes releases scheduled this year - ‘Time Damage’, a vinyl only release on Rave up Records, Italy comprising a 1978 concert recorded at Toronto’s famed El Mocambo club, and a Bongo Beat CD reissue with bonus tracks of ‘Action Reaction’, their 3rd album, originally released in 1980.
“An amazing power pop single … that shuts down anything that’s come out of England lately.”
Greg Shaw, Bomp Magazine, October 1978 on ‘Tired Of Waiting Up Tired’
ARI SHINE
Based in Los Angeles and making his Liverpool debut Ari Shine has teamed up with UK outfit Plastic Heroes as his backing band and they are also building a small tour around the Liverpool IPO dates, including a London gig with Silversun Pickups and Praying Hands at The Barfly, Camden on May 30th.
Following his current EP ‘Age/Occupation’, Ari’s debut full-length CD ‘Force Of One’, produced by Earle Mankey (ex-Sparks & legendary pop producer) is due out in June although Ari will have copies rushed over in time for the Cavern show.
“sunny songs spiked with punk (the Elvis Costello wing of it) and power pop.”
Time Out NYC
DAVE RAVE
Some people refer to him as Canada's Nick Lowe. He's been an all round performer, writer, producer, as a member of Teenage Head (cult Canadian punk band), The Shakers (Canada's Flamin Groovies), worked with Daniel Lanois, Lauren Agnelli (Washington Squares), The Trews (platinum selling Canadian rock group), in addition to collaborations with Daniel Rey (Ramones), John Wesley Harding, and many many others.
He was also the first Western artist signed to Russia's Melodiya label and went over there to tour (sadly he was not allowed to take money out of Russia at that time, so he got paid in cheese). For Bongo Beat, Dave Rave creates orchestral pop/jazz albums, the newest of which, ‘In The Blue of My Dreams’, will be available in early June (and possibly in time for Liverpool). In 2004, Dave closed the night at The Cavern with everyone up on stage for the final number for an evening of unforgettable pure rock mayhem and for 2007, Dave promises more of the same - pop craftsmanship and a party!
“Dave Rave is surely synonymous with the purveying of quality rock and power pop.”
Whisperin And Hollerin
RALPH
Label owner and Billy Fury fan, Ralph Alfonso, surprised many back in 2004 by managing to get Kimberley Rew on stage at The Cavern for a raw set of rock 'n' roll and a special homage to Billy Fury. The RALPH band is always a special line-up of surprise guests so we'll see who Ralph manages to cajole on stage this year (sadly, the stage shy Kimberley Rew will not be making an appearance this year...maybe next time). Ralph has been working on a new CD seemingly forever and one day, when his label work eventually slows down (hahahha), he'll actually finish it...
“Skipping like daisies over songs dedicated to John Coltrane, Paul Desmond and Jack Kerouac, Ralph manage to be heaps of fun as they take the listener on a rare and worthwhile journey.” Max Bell, Evening Standard
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