humpin, thumpin and bumpin with andre williams

last nite josh and i saw a living legend: andre "mr. rhythm" williams played at the beachland tavern. seeing performers who began their careers in the fifties and sixties and are still playing shows today can be a gamble (for example: if you ever get the chance, DO go see little anthony and the imperials or the turtles! but pass up the chance to see bill haley's comets or dion...meh).

neither one of us had ever seen andre williams, but we gave it a go. we figured we probably couldn't lose because of the man's wild reputation and the fact that he writes songs about bacon and rib tips and biscuits. i think it's safe to say that last nite's show far surpassed our expectations and i'm SO glad we went -- andre williams might be 74 years old but he's STILL got it!









first there was a book signing for his new book, "sweets." i got a copy and he signed it to "to erin luck"...i don't know what that means because it's not my name and we didn't talk about me being lucky or anything. heh. maybe that was just his way of wishing me good luck? i also got a photo with him and he came up behind me and put his hands on my hips and squeezed me real tight (i think you can see the look of surprise on my face, ha). if it was anyone else i would have felt really violated, but the fact that he is such a pimp totally excuses him (if you don't believe me, just check out his stage outfit -- oh my!)







i thought the opening band was really lame and they played for a damn hour. NO opening band should play for an hour! seriously. HAY OPENING BANDS: DON'T DO THIS!!! the only redeeming thing about them was that they had a song about a girl who just wants to sit inside her house and watch "the monkees." i would adopt it as my theme song if i wasn't so grossed out by the band who wrote it.

the party stompers were andre's backing band and i thought the two were a good match together, although it seemed like they might not have had much time to practice together because whenever they tried to end a song everyone did it in a different way. still, i can't knock a band with 7 people on stage for not being able to match up just right (especially when they are having so much fun PARTYING!) plus, the sax player was playing not one but TWO saxophones AT THE SAME TIME! that's something i have never seen before and it ruled.

andre was awesome and his stage banter is totally hilarious in between songs. my favorite was when he introduced a song as "a real tearjerker...the kind that makes you wanna go home and beat your husband...and you haven't even been home for a week!" he played his hits ("bacon fat" and "jailbait") as well as some covers ("mustang sally" and a diablos song). he didn't do any of his raunchy material and he was a perfect gentleman on stage (although i have heard stories to the contrary!) it was a pretty decent turnout and lots of people were dancing and having a grand ol' time. my friend keith who was at the show said he has seen andre 7 or 8 times and this was probably the best yet. it was wonderful! i wish more friends would have shown up, but y'all missed out for real.

if you ever get the chance to see andre williams in your town, DON'T MESS THIS ONE UP!





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