Bammo! ammo

The Smoking Jackets launch the AS220 label

by Michael Caito

The Smoking Jackets

Sam is, in the case of the Smoking Jackets, a jet-black kitty with thirteen front toes. Kinda angular, kinda stupid. Retardo-cat, if it wasn't politically incorrect. The first time Jackets' pianist/singer Keith Munslow played the song "Sam" for Sam, the subject stretched and went over and started eating. 'Bout right.

We discussed the first Jackets full-length Bammo!, the maiden offering of AS220 Records. The two-pronged debut was in the final mix stage when the gent honored on the record cover -- the boxer/artist dad of Pork Chop Lounge's Lizzie Araujo -- passed away. For Munslow, whose inspiration Professor Longhair also spent time in the pugilistic pursuit, the passing hit hard.

So does Bammo! The Jackets started as the Saturday night house band with Sir Guy d'Guy at AS220 as His Panic Band, with snare drummer Paige Van Antwerp (also of Plymouth Rock and, until recently Amoebic Ensemble) and bassist Rick Massimo. In addition to doing time at the Journal, Massimo was recently taking grad courses and has spent a long time with the Neo-'90s Dance Band, among others. The initial His Panic/ Jacket quintet once included genii Chris Adams and Al Redfearn, who later started Space Heater (who evolved into the Amoebic Ensemble and who have released Amoebiasis in Europe and domestically). Trumpeter Gerry Heroux, who has done exceptional work on French horn in V Majestic, joins George Thomas Blues Band alum Randy Bishop (sax) in the Jackets' horn trio with trombonist Pam Murray. Van Antwerp, another Journal employee, did a lot of producing for the Amoebics, who recently gained Mark Pedini but lost percussionist J.T. and trumpeter Shawn Wallace after the recording of Amoebiasis. Her snare on Bammo! is a major guiding force in the Jackets' barrelhouse arsenal.

The first time through, I was listening for mistakes just to hear how well the live thing worked and what happened was interesting. They'd done a series of Sunday live performance/recording sessions on Empire Street to no avail, and then one magic night saw Bammo! take form. Sure, there are some misfires here and there, but the ever-elusive live vibe is located. They've always been a stylish-lookin' outfit, and some grumbled that the songs' simple subject matter showed a lack of substance and heart. They're in constant motion onstage and the live route was quite a risk. Huge, actually, but it works today, whereas the focus was cutesy in the early years. Too in-jokey.

Munslow takes cues from John Brim through Marcia Ball. His voice ain't so special, but they've slugged their way through most of Bammo!'s tunes for years and one can sense confidence on their quicker pieces, such as the sizzler "I Don't Like Fish," and the following "Ol' Blue," which swings hard. Iknow that "swing" word gets beat up far too often in the music press, but if you're searching, start with Bammo! and Roomful, the Vipers and the Rollers, and especially keyboardist Erik Marzocchi in the Blue Manatees. There isn't a keyboardist alive in Rhode Island who doesn't know and revere the work of Dave McKenna in jazz and the occasional blues. Those are the camps -- campground, not campy -- the Jackets are closest to. They're savvy enough to continually prevent their boiling rhythms from rising too high and spoiling the top of the stove with frenetic playing. Like a good athlete, the Jackets play within themselves, feasting on songs of southern vittles (hear "Sweet Pepper Sauce" and "Bean-Snappin' Woman") as well as blue leitmotifs like hard luck, mercenaries and tightening belt buckles. The horn trio has rounded their sound expertly, taking the pressure off Munslow's vocal and leaving it on his ivories, which is where his confidence lies. Heroux and Bishop have scads more wind training than Murray, but she sticks close throughout bubbling charts, like the closing burner "Green Car Line."

Talking with Munslow about the new label, he made mention of the Knitting Factory, the respected New York room which also started its own record label, Knitting Factory Works. Though there are still knotty issues involving setting up a for-profit element in cooperation with the non-prof AS220, Munslow said the success of Knitting Works artists gives way to more exchanges with other performers and visual artists, like the recent show with artists from the Southwest which the Space's Richard Goulis helped put up. Personally, I'd love to hear a record of original jazz compositions next up on the label from guys like Hal Crook or Buzz Buzzerio's gang. Maybe a Whompers disc once Chris Turner and Rachel Maloney finish Christmas Carol at Trinity (with Steve Jobe and Kev Fallon). Those could be crazy good. But for a celebratory opening offering, AS220 made the obvious winning choice. Added bonus:the Jackets needed to get a good CD out, ran with it and they do deliver.

The Pork Chop Lounge, featuring the Smoking Jackets' CD release party, happens on Sunday at 7:30 at AS220.

HO. Very special late breaker at Lupo's with Kilgore Smudge, Shed, Freakshow and more on Friday. At the same room, DJ Lefty and Bucket are ramping up with Cocoa City on Sundays. Tough night to spin: Hula Bomb and King Kendall max the wax at Century Lounge. On Friday, the Met has the Bastards, heavy, no-frills punters wearing your ears down with powerful riffery courtesy of Evan Williams (Medicine Ball, ex-Plan 9), Pop, John, Sean (ex-Tipper Gore) and new drummer Greg Bass. Lemmy from Motorhead mud-wrestlin' the late great Country Dick Montana with your referee Mojo Nixon. Pop brought up a good point the other night on the phone. "If Mojo Nixon lived in Rhode Island, you know he'd live in South County." Brooklyn Steamer open. Naftule's Dream headline AS220 on Friday, and Premik Russell Tubbs, formerly of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, performs in List Auditorium at Brown on Saturday. Info at 751-5743. I heard Craig's Place in Newport was packed last Saturday; this Satnite it's Mother Jefferson and Dopey Lopes. Don't forget Duke Robillard at the Call on December 26. No, I haven't been to Hell (but Ikinda like the music); all I heard is Psycho and his boys are running the tunes in the former location of Rocket and Babyhead. The Gamma Rays generate rockabilly mayhem at the Green Room on Friday. Tribute bands generally annoy the snot outta me, but Killer Queen actually do nail it. Back in quasi-reality, their new post-Mercury single is nowhere near the league of "Tie Your Mother Down" (which is also on the real band's "new" album) and Medicine Ball refuse to cover "Ogre Battle," so Killer Queen will have to suffice. They're at the Station on December 26. Absolutely finest blessedly unhip new Christmas song:Tom Petty. That's right. Ho. Drive safe.