Horns: Lou, Steve, Pete, Mons, Dan, Russ, Mark... the list grows.
Influences
Brian 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.
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.
"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
UBANGI STOMP - Enjoy the fun under the Spanish Sun!!!!
View from the hotel
Hotel Bali Swimming Pools 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
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)
