The Reverend Double J: News

Hubert Sumlin passed away today in New Jersey. The guitarist for Howlin' Wolf who played on all his classic Chess sides helped define the genre and influenced just about every Blues and Rock guitarist who came after him. His guitar work on SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING, EVIL, SPOONFUL, KILLING FLOOR is required study for every aspiring guitarist. 

Howlin' Wolf SMOKESTACK LIGHTNING http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP34u6rdscs

Hubert Sumlin DVD excerpt http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uljcbObxSOQ

After 10 years C. Rex will finally be heard! The short-lived but very cool Austin, TX group consisted of Todd Moore (vocals, rhythm guitar) and J.J.V. (lead guitar) with brothers Wayne Willems (bass) and Rich Willems (drums). The music could be best described as Southern Rock, Austin style. When I say "Southern Rock" I mean the original uncompromised first draft, freewheeling downhome tuneage, not the current musical rehashing and political reactionary stuff. Todd Moore wrote all the songs (except PARCHMAN'S FARM of course) and the band worked up the arrangements together. Short lived but a lot of fun and from my own discography one of the albums I listen to most.

The recordings were done with a small DAT recorder inside Wayne's trailer in Bastrop, TX where we used to rehearse. 11 songs plus 2 *bonus tracks* make for and album affectionately known as THE BASTROP TRAILER TAPES. Download them at http://www.jjvicars.com/music-group-186.html

Drummer/vocalist/songwriter Doyle Bramhall passed away today. One of the steadiest backbeats ever, a fine vocalist and a songwriter who wrote or co-wrote many of Stevie Ray Vaughan's tunes including his hits. http://www.dfw.com/2011/11/13/537731/reports-doyle-bramhall-sr-dead.html

Went to Brian Setzer's Rockabilly Riot show at Nakano Sun Plaza last night. First part of the show was a trio later augmented by a fourth piece doing various tunes from the big band and recent solo albums. Then he came out with Slim Jim Phantom and a different bass player to play Stray Cats hits. For the big finale all six guys came out together to storm through some Rockabilly classics. The show was great. The after-show not so great.

Knowing he wouldn't be out for a while we grabbed a bite to eat then headed to the rear exit of the building where other autograph hounds were waiting on either side of the driveway. Setzer came out and signed everybody's stuff, including a Gretsch guitar, except mine. He then headed to the other side of the driveway to the other group and did the same thing (minus the Gretsch). Seemed like he was purposely ignoring me since I was the tallest person in the crowd and had been holding my CD over everyone's heads so he could see it. It was a noisy crowd and I didn't want to add to the chaos. Tired of being ignored even after I called his name a couple times I said, "Hey Brian, don't forget a fellow American!" His manager got a good laugh out of that one but Setzer suddenly looked up at me, dead in the eye, with this guilty puppy-dog look like he just got busted. Immediately he turned away and started sweet talking some Japanese chick in the crowd then left.

What could Brian Setzer possibly have against me personally? I've only met him after shows with the rest of the autograph seekers, Indianapolis '96 and Cincinnati '98. I seriously doubt he remembers me from then despite going google-eyed over my SEXY & 17 double-45. But this time he was desperate to steer clear of me. I can only think of two reasons. One is that there was another tall "round eye" at one or both of the other Tokyo shows who was being a pain in the ass and so he mistook me for that guy.

The other possible reason is not such an innocent mistake. The Japanese throw large sums of money at foreign entertainers/celebrities to do some cheesy shit they don't want folks back home knowing about. Setzer comes to Japan regularly and gets red carpet treatent. The car he rode off in had green plates and a flag on the front; these cars are for politicians, dignitaries and other VIPs. Nope, #2 possible reason is he's kissing yellow ass and doesn't want any honkies to know about it. 'Cause he was eating it up while simultaneously trying to avoid me!

Whatever the reason it was a bullshit thing to do. Thank you Brian Setzer for setting such a fine example of what not to do. I'm happy to say that I take time to talk to everyone who approaches me at my gigs and related appearances (like video previews) and sign every CD. Some people show you what to do by doing the exact opposite.

The MELTDOWN Dance remix is now available! Who else but JJV and his cohorts would dare do a Dance remix of a Surf instrumental and feature a lap steel guitar?

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/prematureevacuation

Featuring Bull Durham on keys and Hugh Ashton on lap steel with Mark "Pookie Bear " Schwarz on bass. Click the link to read all about the rials and tribulations endured during the recording (and mixing) of this bizarre but interesting track. The whip out the credit card and plunk down you 99 cents! Forward the link to your friends!

All money goes to survivors of the March 11th, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan. Not "all profits", ALL MONEY!

The for-charity single MELTDOWN is now available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/prematureevacuatio All proceeds from this 99 cent download, as well as any and all future releases under the name Premature Evacuation, go directly to the relief effort in northeastern Japan. The damage from the March 11th tsunami has been described by U.S. Navy personnel as "worse than Iraq". Download the single to help out. There's also a Dance remix on the way.

This Friday the 22nd Premature Evacuation will once again rock the Pink Cow to its core. Everybody's crazy about that band name so I guess I'm stuck with it. The show starts at 7:00 and we go on around 9:30. If you can't be in Tokyo you can watch the live webcast at http://www.livestream.com/thepinkcowcam Here's the times converted for you;

CA 5:30 am

TX 7:30 am

OH 8:30 am

Too early? Nah! What else were you gonna do before work? Some pile drivin' Rock 'n' Roll will wake you up good! If you're watching the webcast log onto Facebook and leave your comments. If you're there in person stay off your laptop/iPhone/what-have-you and enjoy the show. You'll be too busy drinking and dancing and carrying on to play with gadgets!

As many of you know, lots of Americans in Japan have been reporting online via Facebook and Twitter the real news of events here to contrast the doomsday sensationalism of the U.S. and other media. For those of you who may have missed a few, or are not on Facebook at all, here's a collection of some of the more colorful updates. These are what I call "post news", poking a little fun after the fact. Some of these are mine and some I stole from friends. Enjoy! --J.J.V.   http://www.facebook.com/jjvicars

 Panicked co-workers were unable to stem the flow of adjectives spewing from the stricken journalist.

Rumors of my irradiation have been greatly exaggerated.

I ain't scared of no radiation, I've eaten at Taco Bell.

Americans have more to fear from high fructose corn syrup than any other "contamination".

The U.S. Ebassy's official report. Basically, stay a good 50 miles from the plant. Duh! You think I was planning a picnic?

The evacuation recommendations are for a 50 mile radius of the nuke plant. Not only is it for your own safety, but get the fuck outta the way so the professionals can do their job!

News flash-The British Foreign office has urged all UK nationals to leave the UK if possible because its crap there, cigarettes are too expensive and theres nothing good on the tele!

Working on a Link Wray style instrumental called MELTDOWN. Bull Durham's gonna put some smokin' keys on it!

The conspiracy theorists are just as bad as the media, spreading doomsday scenarios. They're eliciting fear and panic and doing absolutely nothing to solve the problem. Also tired of the anti-nuke shit. Save that debate for AFTER this is over. Now is not the time. Neither group seems to give a fuck about the tsunami survivors up north.

Tsunami survivors up north are having a helluva time. Cold as hell and snowing on top of everything else. A 70 year old woman in a wheelchair was washed out to sea, then washed back up still in her wheel chair (true story). Images of LITTLE BRITAIN's Lou & Andy dance through my head.

Elvis was just over at my place yesterday. We smoked a joint and pressed the red HAARP button, just before he hopped into his spaceship and fucked off. Bastard didn't even offer me a ride.

Still no word on Godzilla.

 ###

The 8.9 quake occurred off the coast of Sendai where the tsunami hit. The northeastern part of Japan sustained the serious damage that's been seen on the news. The quake itself was felt as far as Beijing, China but no real damage. The trains shut down in Tokyo leaving a lot of people stranded in a city where it takes at least an hour to get anywhere. Usually takes me an hour and a half. Some folks in some outlying parts of Tokyo are without power but for the most part things are relatively cool here. The worst in Tokyo is on the east side in Chiba prefecture. The nuclear reactor you may have heard about is in Fukushima where they were still getting aftershocks every 20 minutes well into the night.

 A website has been set up to help find the dead and missing. For anybody in Japan or with people in Japan here are the links:

 http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=ja (Japanese)

http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en (English)

 And here's the Wikipedia page on the quake:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Sendai_earthquake_and_tsunami

For those of you on Facebook I'm keeping my Wall updated with relevant information. if you are outside of Japan and need to call someone to see if they're OK send me the number. Phone lines aren't working too good right now but I'll do what I can. Those of you on the U.S. West Coast stay tuned to the news, you got some heavy waves coming your way and they ain't for surfing!

The re-release of LONGHAIRED LEFTOVERS is now in stock at CD Baby. Visit http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jjvicars4 to listen and buy. The CD includes a disc-only bonus track, a Rock 'n' Roll rendition of "1987" by Jeremy Gloff who plays piano on TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE and SEVEN DAYS A WEEK which he co-wrote and features Mark Schwarz on bass & backing vocals, who designed the jacket.

When in need of promo photos there's only one person in the greater Tokyo area I turn to, Oliver Richter. One of the first times he saw the band playing at the Barge Inn in Narita (near the airport) he asked if he could take some pictures and I told him to do whatever he liked and would he send some to me, there might be something I'd like to use. When I saw the pictures he took I was in shock, they looked so good I wondered if it was really me he was photographing! He shot more pics whenever we played there and when I needed some good live video for my YouTube channel there was Oliver at the Barge Inn with his video camera. The bulk of the photos and video seen on my website, Facebook, YouTube and barely-used-now MySpace are courtesy of Oliver. His work behind the camera is the cornerstone of my visual materials.

So now it's time for a fresh batch of photos to capture the new-and-improved JJV "brand image". I hate that term but it's necessary to use the parlance of our times. Gone is the longhaired BluesRocker, occasionaly labeled "Southern Rock". That was fine when I was in my early 20's during the 90's; it meant downhome, free-wheeling music that blended Blues, Rock, Jazz, Gospel, Country, R&B and Folk into a thick, pungent guitar sound that seared and soared. The late Allen Collins of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd was role model; the blazing guitar (with great phrasing), the rabunctious stage presence and that hair. Refer to the HEARTLAND photo inside the CD jacket. Today it has too many "right-wing" connotations and the music itself is merely a rehashing of the form without any of the substance that made the Allmans, Skynyrd and Marshall Tucker so cool. Original Skynyrd 3rd guitarist Ed King once remarked, "Southern Rock died the day the Molly Hatchet album came out." Add Blackfoot and every other macho-posturing redneck to that statement. And the Johnny Winter / Alvin Lee style noodling just got old. Time for new horizons!

So in this day and age it's time for the kid, who does the math on his fingers and is surprised to find he isn't a kid anymore, to get with the program. After a few years of tinkering the new sound and look is coking together and it's time for a new promo kit. Once again, Oliver Richter is the first and only choice behind the camera. The Barge Inn is no longer booking bands, save for the occasional cover band, but Bryan Harmon is a good friend who's very sympathetic to musicians and he doesn't think twice about letting us shoot downstairs. In fact, when we show up he's got the stage lights adjusted and a fog machine ready to roll. I was reluctant about the fog machine at first, don't want to be confused with Stevie Nicks, but it turns out adding a nice smokey after-hours vibe. More felt than seen.

Oliver is always steady and reliable behind the camera and I give him full license to do whatever he wants with only a general idea of the end result I'm aiming for. Bryan turns out to be the ace in the hole. He studied photography in college and has some very clear ideas on how to compose a shot, especially in terms of selling the artist/band. Between Bryan and Oliver I relinquish control of the shoot to them and become their model. I brought my "vintage" props; Epiphone Wildkat guitar, Shure SM55 aka "Elvis mic", and several different shirts and blazers with black slacks and dress shoes, hair slicked back, pack of Lucky Strikes. Bryan has all sorts of ideas, "hold the mic and the guitar, you're selling yourself as a singer/guitarist" and so forth. Oliver is handling the mechanics such as shutter speed. I'm just taking orders, something I usually do for nobody.

We head up to the nearby temple, one of the oldest and largest in Japan, for some outdoor shots. Oliver does some stuff with the shutter speed capturing background images Bryan didn't think was possible. I'm in awe of both of them. Back at the Barge Inn the stage walls have been painted yet again by another graffitti artist. Now there's a rising sun and a woman on the wall behind me, resembling a sailor's tattoo. This is far out, everything is going way better than I expected and I'm just following along. A far cry from all the times I've had to micro-manage the "hired help". We shoot all the different outfits and all the different things each of them want to try. 700 shots (many of them minor variations of the same image) and four or five memory cards later I can't believe what we've got down. It far exceeds my expectations. A couple days later while the shots are still being processed Oliver sends me a handful as a preview. I post them on Facebook, including soe B&W and Sepia variations. The response is impressive. I owe it all to Oliver and Bryan. Having good friends is something, but having good friends who also do great work when you get out of the way and let them do their thing is rare. Killing time waiting for the first train in the morning (the Barge Inn is traditionally an all-nighter) I keep thinking I must be luckiest dude on the face of the Earth. Or as Hannibal used to say on THE A-TEAM, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

A radio edit of CLIMB A HIGHER MOUNTAIN song is available for download at http://www.jjvicars.com/music-243.html in anticipation of the re-release of LONGHAIRED LEFTOVERS. On this song I tip my hat to the Minneapolis sound that I grew up on.

Yet another reunion is in the works! After years of searching through friends and online my "brother by another mother" Nikki Hills finally found me. During my first stay in Japan when I was still getting my guitar-slinging feet wet Nikki and I were the authentic Toxic Twins. Many jam sessions, parties and what-have-you ensued as we cranked our amps to 11 and blew out windows across Tokyo. His melodic Metal style and my Blues/Roots Rock were an unlikely pairing but for some strange reason it clicked After I went back to the States we lost contact. 11 years passed and I returned to Japan right as he was heading home to Colorado. Internet searches turned up nothing and nobody from "back in the day" seemed to know his whereabouts. After another 7 years he turned up seemingly out of the blue. What a trip, man! As of this writing I'm looking for a venue to set up a quick gig on Sunday or Monday which will be recorded audio and video.

Here's a recording of us "back in the day", Nikki stretching out on a riff that I brought in. Mike Buttrick is on bass and Tomo Takamizawa, Mike's bandmate in Sheep Dip, is on drums.http://www.jjvicars.com/music-159.html

Another recording of us doing a very early version of SOUL SEARCHIN' which later appeared on the HI-TECH HILLBILLY album. http://www.jjvicars.com/music-160.html

And be sure to check out Nikki Hills on MySpace and hear some of his own recordings. http://www.myspace.com/nikkihills/

The book is finally underway. Since nobody else saw fit to document the Austin Roots Rock revival of the 80's I've taken it upon myself to do so. Hell, even the SRV biographers are guilty of some criminal omissions! If you want something done right do it yourself, so I am.

Recently I interviewed drummer Mike Buck who along with the late Keith Ferguson was part of the most infamously greasy rhythm section in the history of Texas and Roots music. Read all about the original Fabulous Thunderbirds, the Leroi Brothers and his current group Eve & the Exiles with guitarist/vocalist Eve Monsees. Mike also reflects on the changes in Austin, SXSW and the pros and cons of the lasting influence at http://www.jjvicars.com/blog.html/mike_buck__texas_drum_legend/

Besides the first Fabulous Thunderbirds album Buck and Ferguson also appear together on the all instrumental guitar orgy TRASH TWANG & THUNDER which the upcoming book derives its name from. Billed as Big Guitars From Texas the Grammy nominated album from '85 features Don Leady, Denny Freeman, Evan Johns and Frankie Camaro on the six-strings giving Link Wray some heavy competition. Frankie Camaro recently got wind of the book and will be contributing his time to an interview. Rumor has it he also has an unreleased follow-up to TT&T with the legendary Buck/Ferguson rhythm section.

Yours truly wasn't the only one to cut his teeth on SRV, the T-Birds, Tail Gators and Big Guitars. Ronnie James came from a similar musical beginning and went on to play with Little Charlie & the Nightcats, then the Fabulous Thunderbirds and is now Jimmie Vaughan's bassist appearing on his new album. This cat is living the dream! Read all about Ronnie's bass playing adventures including time spent with Bill Willis in Jimmie Vaughan's band at http://www.jjvicars.com/blog.html/ronnie_james__living_the_dream/

Somebody actually interviewed ME for a change! Geoffrey Dicker's interview with The Hi-Tech Hillbilly is now online. Lots of sordid tales of drunken debauchery, gratuitous drug use and explicit sex!!! Making tabloid headlines around the world. http://according2g.com/2010/08/g-interviews-singermusician-j-j-vicars/

Six new songs have been added to the Hillbilly Resistance album. Download the 6 new songs, along with the original 10 and an extra, at http://www.jjvicars.com/music-group-2.html

The Rockabilly trio was formed in 2002 when singer/songwriter Michael James Klunk hooked up with yours truly and bassist Michign Mike Horning. Several drummers were auditioned but none gelled so it was decided to stick with the classic Rockabilly trio format- vocal/acoustic guitar, electric guitar & doghouse bass. With Klunk's right hand from hell and Michigan Mike slapping the upright the percussion was covered. Add some reverb drenched electric pickings and the ghost of Sam Phillips seemed to nod in approval. 10 songs were recorded and mixed by Michigan Mike at his Doghouse Studio with the three of us standing in a tight circle facing each other. Backing vocals were overdubbed with all three of us on one mic.

In March 2010 I found a CD of Klunk demos including six songs we had never recorded. All but one, which we did record, were one track of Klunk accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. His meter was perfect and his rhythm driving, as always. All they needed was guitar and bass parts and they would be complete. I worked up guitar parts and also laid down bass parts until Michigan Mike could get his done. Two songs, WHAT I'M LIVING ON and SHE MAY BE YOUR WOMAN made it into my set lists with SDFR planned for some upcoming gigs. Since it will take some time for Michigan Mike to do his bass parts the demo versions have been uploaded already. Looking forward to hearing the songs with slap bass, a necessary componet of Rockabilly, but until then these are pretty groovy.

The J-Pop video I was in last month came out a couple days ago. Team JyunJyo YAHHOO. Two song single and there's  double-disc set with a DVD of the video and what is claimed to be a "making of" but is really just a second video using 'behind the scenes' footage. Nonetheless, I lucked into a feature part right at the beginning. How cool is that? http://item.rakuten.co.jp/hmvjapan/3861026/

Another day, another video. A few weeks ago I was in a J-Pop video and lucked out with a feature part. Today I was in a video for MYSELF, a Punk-Blues artist from New Orleans. Check out his new album at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/myself4 Shooting the video was Michael Condon who does all sorts of music videos and zombie movies along with a bit of journalism. Check out his stuff at http://www.alchemistm.com/ My co-star in the video was Steve Sangthip (link coming soon). We shot at a remote location during the rainy season which was quite an experience. Looking forward to seeing the finished result. When it's done and online a link will be posted here on the news page. Stay tuned!

On June 24th I was ordained by the Church of the Latter Day Dude. Today my Certificate of Ordination and Letter of Good Standing arrived in the mail. Reverend J.J. Vicars of the Church of the Latter Day Dude is now available for all religious services, blessings and consecrations including weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs. So take it easy man, 'cause the Dude abides!

Just recieved word that former Skynyrd Honkette JoJo Billingsley died on June 24th. Our planned interview never materialized due to her illness but there's enough relevant info in some of our e-mail exchanges to make for a fitting blog/obit. She was an excellent singer with strong stage presence and quite a character.

J.J.V. is now an ordained minister of the Church of the Latter Day Dude. http://dudeism.com/ Dudeism is "An ancient philosophy that preaches non-preachiness, practices as little as possible, and above all, uh…lost my train of thought there." A combination of Taoism, Buddhism, quatum physics (reality perception), the Seth material (Jane Roberts) and Fo’-Shizzle-my-Nizzlism filtered through the Zen-like qualities of the Coen Brothers cult movie THE BIG LEBOWSKI and it's main character The Dude. Some times you eat the bar and sometimes the bar eats you, so take 'er easy and go with the flow... shit, I lost my train of thought again...

Marcus Birdman, who was also on the YAHHO video shoot, posted his Blog. http://jamaicaninjapan.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/my-first-j-pop-music-video/#comment-24 Included with his commentary are a few shots of fellow extras, the stage (from the bar) and our after-shoot excursions. Marcus is a talented photographer whom I hope to work with in the near future.

Saturday the 12th was an interesting gig, worked as an extra in a video for a J-Pop group, Team Jyun Jyo. http://www.teamjj.com/ I was one of the lucky ones who got a featured scene at the bar before the music starts. Had a blast hanging out with all the other crazy gaijin. Met a lot of cool folks including Mara, my "co-star". At the end of the shoot they snapped a few pics of the girls with the "audience". http://ameblo.jp/teamjj/image-10561811276-10588697817.html As soon as the video hits YouTube a link will be posted here on the News page. There was also another camera shooting a "making of" documentary so maybe something interesting (but not embarrassing) will pop up.

A batch of Mike Klunk demos were discovered in the Archives last month which included half a dozen that the group never recorded. The sound quality and performance were so good all they needed was electric guitar and slap bass added to them so Michigan Mike, who recorded the original ten songs, is joining the fray to bring these babies to life. The Rockabilly trio is back! Some of these new songs have already made their was into JJV setlists. Download the first ten songs at http://www.jjvicars.com/music-group-2.html

Jack Herer died today. His book THE EMPEROR WEARS NO CLOTHES is the definitive account of how and why cannabis was criminlized in America. Using the Freedom of Information Act he proves conclusively that DuPont bought off the government, which then created the "reefer madness" scare, shortly after patenting rayon in order to eliminate hemp from the marketplace. His book offers sound evidence on the indistrial, textile, medicinal and therepuetic benefits of cannabis and how the petrochemical and pharmacuetical industries lobby to keep it outlawed so they can increase corporate profits. Business as usual. Herer was a true patriot, one who loved his country enough to not stand idly by while corporate greed raped it.