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Big Al & the Fireflys
R&B / Blues / Jazz

Rockin' Jive & Jumpin' Blues



Portsmouth & London
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  11702




Last Login:  5/26/2009
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   Big Al & the Fireflys: General Info
Member Since11/30/2005
Band Websitewww.bigalandthefireflys.co.uk
Band Members

Drums: Big Al

Vocals & Guitar: Karl

Bass: Paul

Piano: Adam

Horns: Lou, Steve, Pete, Mons, Dan, Russ, Mark... the list grows.

InfluencesBrian Setzer Orchestra mainly.

But also Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Louis Jordan, Colin James, Mike Sanchez. That kind of thing.

Some of us, but not the bass player, own up to a taste for down-and-dirty white-boy AOR like ZZ-Top and even the 'Boss' Mr Springsteen. And Lynrd Skynrd for gawd's sake. But with a dose of Guanabatz slap bass everything turns out OK. There's always some loungey jazz chords on the piano too, fighting for the rights of proper music.

Sounds Like

Rockin Jive and Jumpin Blues

Type of LabelMajor


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   About Big Al & the Fireflys

Hello. If you're checking us out cos you've seen, or would like to see us play ... cheers!

When you've had a listen to the tunes above (some of them are just demos...), turn off the jukebox and check out some of the clips below. They move, in glorious fuzzicolour.

Our Story. It is a nice one.

Al was born Palan Artridge in Vancouver, Kent, shortly before the Cuban Missile Crisis. His mother sent him to a trainer school for deceased blues-rockers, and that's where he met Karl (born Carl Woodshack, of a love triste between Count Dracula and a Southsea fish wife called Brian). Karl was trying to file his way out of a bag of grocery.

The two hit it off instantly, over a shared love of ZZ Top and Jason Donovan. They formed a band doing covers of songs and shit, but they weren't any good enough for hit show Razzmatazz, so they burned their bongos over a portable stove.

It was a chance encounter with some of Portsmouth's best kept secrets that lead to the formation of Big Al (he'd grown a bit..) and the Fireflys in about 2005 I think. They were so secret Al and Karl kept losing them, so together they stole the person attached to the biggest saxophone and called her Loo. She had on quite a tight red corset, and could blow lots of notes very big.

Flushed with the smell of escape, they found a lounge-jazz-hillbilly combo called Saddam and Saul, with a collection of keys and a tea-chest bass. There wasn't anyone else around, so they put them in a bag and shook them up like a shaker-maker, and out came a piano-legend called Adam (he was but a baby) and someone with a hat and more double-basses than he could slappity-thud in a month of tuesday afternoons. And the band was complete.

Except for some other miscreants who happened by one day, and demanded that Sighing Steve be put out of his misery and forced behind a microphone, whether he could smoke on stage or not. And some other metal instruments that had bits of flesh flapping around the mouthpieces. They're all listed over there.

Did I forget anyone? Thankyou. We are Big Al and the Fireplaces, and we come in pieces.

Here are what we look like...

And here are what we sound like, at the same time as looking:

'Jumping Jacks', Sinah Warren Boogaloo weekender, March 2008

'Caldonia'. Too fast for the dancers, but at least one person in the audience was diggin' it. Hell yeah!

'Jumping East of Java'

'Big Ten Inch'. You know what we're talking about. Record.

'Let the Good Times Roll'. And they did.


   Big Al & the Fireflys's Friend Space (Top 24)
Big Al & the Fireflys has 349 friends.
 Lou 


 4StringsKing 


 The Cadillac Kings 


 Mike Sanchez 


 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy 


 Al! 


 The Jive Aces 


 Big Boy Bloater 


 Imelda May 


 RED HOT 'N' BLUE 


 King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys 


 DJ Claire 


 James Hunter 


 The Fat Cats 


 Sweet Hollywaiians 


 Kitty Daisy & Lewis 


 Louis Jordan 


 Brian Setzer 


 MPoppitt 


 Blue Harlem 


 Fat 45 


 The Sentinels of Rhythm 


 Ray Gelato - tribute space 


 Boothill Foot-Tappers 





Big Al & the Fireflys's Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 107 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Sweet Hollywaiians





Jul 15 2009 6:31 PM


"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)

"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
Screamin ROCKABILLY Weekender





Jun 9 2009 4:21 PM

 
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OF SCREAMIN’ 2009 THE WILDEST FIESTA!!!!!!!!


SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!!!!
 
UBANGI STOMP, OCT 29 - NOV 1, 2009





May 30 2009 9:13 PM

front
UBANGI STOMP - Enjoy the fun under the Spanish Sun!!!!


View from the hotel
View from the hotel

Hotel Bali Swimming Pools
Hotel Bali swimming pools
Jivin’ Contest
Jivin' Contest

+ EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN SHOWS + TOP INTERNATIONAL DJs + RECORDS, VINTAGE AND RETRO CLOTHING VENDORS + MUSIC TILL 7 AM + MASSIVE WOODEN DANCEFLOOR + FLEA MARKET + CHEAP BAR PRICES… ALL THE SHOWS AND RECORD HOPS ARE IN THE HOTEL BALI BALLROOMS!!!
CHECK OUT LOW COST FLIGHTS TO ALICANTE, SPAIN
Info at www.americanrootspromotion.com
El Toro Records - Screamin Weekender





Apr 22 2009 2:36 PM

DON’T M ISS THESE WILD NEW RELEASES!!!!!!
NO TE PIERDAS LOS NUEVOS LANZAMIENTOS


MR WHIZ
NEW VINYL ALBUM!!








NEW PACKAGE: VINYL 10” ALBUM + CD



Great Shakin Fever Weekender PORTUGAL





Mar 28 2009 10:06 AM

Photobucket

Check out last year's event:



..



TrailerPussy





Mar 19 2009 12:38 PM

Click flyer for adv tickets and details

London's home of Rock N Roll returns on Friday, 3rd of April. Presenting live performances by Punk Blues one man band HONKEYFINGER, The TRASHVILLE SLAMMERS and LAS PISTOLAS... Plus Burlesque Performances and all night BLACKJACK table... all until 3am with blasting tunes by DJ Franky. See you all on Friday, 3rd of April 2009.
Sweet Hollywaiians





Mar 6 2009 10:19 PM




HELLO!!

wigsville spliffs





Jan 3 2009 11:34 PM

cheers for the add.
the spliffs
The Sentinels of Rhythm





Sep 21 2008 8:23 PM

Great gig last night folks. I really enjoyed it.
Cheers,
PC
Jive-O-Matics





Aug 19 2008 6:48 PM

Great Sound folks!
Thanks a lot for the friendship and jivin' regards from Hamburg/Germany!!!
Photobucket
UBANGI STOMP, OCT 29 - NOV 1, 2009





Aug 10 2008 6:37 PM

Hi, don't miss this year the UBANGI STOMP FESTIVAL, it's gonna be a blast!!
Remember, all the live shows and record hops will be inside the huge hotel Bali, so no need to drive or even walk after the shows!!!

all the best
AMERICAN ROOTS PROMOTION

Ps: You can check out cheap flights to Alicante (also Valencia or Murcia airports are close)
Sweet Hollywaiians





Aug 4 2008 12:43 PM


ALOHA!!!
The Sentinels of Rhythm





Jul 26 2008 9:18 AM

Hey,
Good to see you all last night (despite the circumstances!)
PC
Sweet Hollywaiians





Jun 22 2008 5:58 PM


ALOHA!!!
JazzyDan





Apr 14 2008 6:55 PM

Awesome vids, they sound great! =D
Moi Non Plus





Mar 7 2008 3:55 PM

Hello guys!

Thank you so much for the add.
We love your tunes and groove.
We wish you all the luck, for the project.

See you soon.

MNP.
The Old Boys / Network





Feb 4 2008 1:11 PM

Wotcha Al.

Love the songs.....Wish i'd been able to come to the gig more now.

Steve Hampton.
Simon Partridge





Feb 4 2008 11:02 AM

Many thanks for the add!

Best wishes,

Simon
Ange





Jan 20 2008 10:46 AM

Enjoyed the show last night. Even sacrificed Match of the Day to come and see you!! It was worth missing it though.

See you next time.
Ange x
50s 60s, Rock n Roll Band, Johnny and The Zephyrs





Jan 10 2008 8:05 PM

hows it going there!!! your on our list now...
Brighton Jive





Dec 20 2007 11:03 AM

Xmas Card
Mr and Mrs Big Bullfiddler





Dec 20 2007 7:37 AM

Photobucket
Imelda May





Nov 27 2007 8:42 PM

Great to meet you again the other night. Hope you had a good night. All the best to you and the gang.
Imelda x
Sweet Hollywaiians





Oct 28 2007 3:57 PM


Aloha from Japan,
Mahalo!!
Pip





Oct 16 2007 4:18 AM

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
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