1983-89
Frank Anderson: guitars, pedal steel, lap steel, accordion vocals
Jeb Stewart: guitar, vocals
Pete Anderson: bass, vocals
Sleepy Hacienda: drums
1989-92
Jeb Stewart: guitar, organ, vocals
Pete Anderson: bass, vocals
Sleepy Hacienda: marimba, accordion; percussion, vocal
Paul Revelli: drums, vocals
1992-95
Jeb Stewart: guitar, organ, vocals
Sleepy Hacienda: drums, marimba, percussion
Pete Anderson: bass, vocals
Ned Selfe: digital pedal steel, lap steel, dobro
As Steve Solder so aptly wrote in BAM magazine around 1988, "file this one under hyphen music, as in rockabilly-TexMex-surf-ska-bubblegum-country-cajun-pop". For about four years Call Me Bwana was a hot band on the SF club-circuit and college radio stations around the country - "Rodeo Girls", off our first album "Big Fat Fun", even went to number one at the Sonoma State University station, right above Sting and David Lindley. We performed at the Fillmore, we we're invited to Austin to play the Continental Club, we made our own records, we got love letter from DJs from Steven's Point, WI to Mallorca. And though many years have passed, the Bwana sound is still completely one-of-a-kind – as “hyphen” as it ever was.
Bwana was formed when Frank Anderson and his brother Pete got together with Jeb Stewart and drummer Dave Casini (herinafter known as Sleepy Hacienda). Frank, a multi-instrumentalist with fantastic pedal steel chops, and Jeb had been writing songs together for several years, so we pulled in Pete on bass and Hacienda on drums and started playing local clubs as "Jeb Stewart and the Crazy Beets". Around 1983 we went into the studio and laid down several tracks, direct to two track. Then Jeb moved to Arizona for a couple of years, while Frank, Pete and Slee continued to write and record. When Jeb returned to Marin we went into the studio again and laid down several more tracks - enough to put out on vinyl - and, shortly before release, Frank saw this wacky Bob Hope movie - "Call Me Bwana" - and thus we changed the name and put out our first album, "Big Fat Fun".
Before the album was even released Frank moved to Wisconsin, and, as we watched the album gain popularity, we wondered what the hell we were gonna do. So, we moved Slee onto the marimba, Paul Revelli joined the band on drums, and we put ourselves out there. Two years later we made another CD, entitled "Pigs in a Blanket", and, with manager Jean Greendyke at the helm, rode the wave all the way to the big stage at the Fillmore and the record company audition at Club Lingerie in LA.
Eventually Revelli got busy playing better-paying gigs, so we re-formed again, this time with Ned Selfe on the digital pedal steel, and Hacienda back on the drums. We put ourselves out there once again and even got invited down to Austin to play the revered Continental Club for a three night stand. Meanwhile we went back into the studio and made "Bowlegged". Then, after several successful solo albums, Ned moved to Hawaii, and Bwana has been sleeping ever since. Until now.
Preview song from 'Tucson Moonshine' album, produced by JD Foster & feat. Calexico members Joey Burns, John Convertino & Jacob Valenzuela plus Nick Luca. Photos by Susie Hug. Photos of Susie Hug by Joey Burns. Recorded at Wavelab Studio in Tucson, Arizona. Engineered by Chris Schultz & Mixed by Craig Schumacher [who also played harmonica].
The Monophonics @ The Great American Music Hall TONIGHT Jan 10th. All Ages! TICKETS AVAILABLE @ www. gamhtickets. com Also check out our NEW SINGLE "250" available on our upcoming 7" Record @ www. myspace. com/monophonics
