Last Saturday was the 7th Annual Freaks Ball at Southpaw in Brooklyn. Let me first give some background on the Freaks Ball. Way back on January 20th, 2000 Aaron Stein (aka Neddy and my former camp counselor) started a message board for like minded live music addicts living in NYC called the NYC-Freaks. A forum to talk about everything and anything music related. Starting with less than 10 members (mainly Spreadnet transplants), the NYC-Freaks now has over 350. I joined in September of 2000 and it has definitely changed my life. So many bands and shows I never would have known about…not to mention all the great fellow freakers I’ve met over the years. It’s a comforting feeling knowing you’ll run into someone from the list at just about every show you go to. The NYC-Freaks also enabled me to see first hand how a group of fans can launch a musician’s career (Robert Randolph & the Family Band). The Freaks Ball happens every January in honor of the anniversary and it’s always one of the best nights of the year.

Here is a rundown of the past six Freaks Ball…
Freaks Ball I – RRFB / The Squad @ Tribeca Blues
Freaks Ball II – Butter pre-party @ Galapagos / RRFB @ NorthSix
Freaks Ball III – RRFB / Rana / The Duo @ Bowery Ballroom
Freaks Ball IV – Bustle In Your Hedgerow / Campbell Brothers / Neddy’s 30th B-Day
Freaks Ball V – The Duo / Rana / Ollabelle
Freaks Ball VI – Coxygen / Metzgerville / Secret Government

Upon first hearing the lineup to the Freaks Ball VII I was instantly excited…The Dansettes / Apollo Sunshine / Chris Harford & The Band of Changes. Apollo Sunshine were my band of 2006 to check out, The Dansettes have been the talk of the NYC-Freaks these past few months and you can never go wrong with the Band of Changes (Joe Russo, Scott Metzger, Dave Dreiwitz).
The Dansettes starting off the evening with some sweet sweet soul. My first time seeing them and they are definitely the only ones around playing this type of music. Three singers (picture white Dreamgirls) who take turns on lead vocals and a retro soul band backing them. It really is an act, a performance, a show…all the guys wearing matching suits, the girls wearing matching dresses and the classic introduction of the ladies onto the stage. They are going for and succeed in creating that 50s/60s/70s vibe…The Dansettes will take you back in time. It would be great to see them in a lounge setting rather than a rock club…too bad Fez wasn’t still around, but Mo Pitkin’s will work.
Next up was Chris Harford & The Band of Changes. I mentioned Russo, Metzger & Dreiwitz…but to make the Freaks Ball a little more special…Harford added Michael “Mickey” Melchiondo, Jr (aka Dean Ween, Deaner, Mickey Moist) to his Band of Changes. I’m not the biggest Chris Harford fan…his sit-ins with Metzger’s band RANA are always a pleasure, but his music doesn’t really appeal to me. However, Harford is great frontman…a bit flamboyant, but a great frontman and was able to lead the Band of Changes through an incredible set. The highlight of the night was watching Metzger and Deaner have a SICKdown…each one trying to top the other…the looks on their faces were priceless. And Russo on drums was out of his mind…insanely good. And lets not leave out Dreiwitz holding down the fort on bass as the rest of the band shredded the night away. Only lasted an hour, but it was one of the SICKEST hours I’ve ever seen. This set didn’t change my mind about Harford, but give me the BOC any night of the week I’ll be there.
Next up was Apollo Sunshine. Hadn’t seen them since early 2006 (missed their two most recent shows in the city) and was excited to get my AP on again. Sam Cohen and not Jesse Gallagher started off the night on the double guitar (bass/guitar), so I knew some things had changed…normally Jesse Gallagher the bass player is slinging this monsterous axe around (which he would do later in the night). A bunch of new songs and some rearrangements of the old ones resulted in a memorable night. I was hoping the boys from Chowda Town would put on a SICK set and turn some NYC-Freaks onto them…Mission Accomplished! My only complaint (and it’s kind of a big one) was that the sound was way WAY too loud…the bass made my chest feel like Mola Ram from the Temple of Doom was trying to pull out my heart. Unfortunately I know this turned some people off and forced them to resort watching their set from the back of the room. They also unfortunately let a fan from the audience come up on stage and sing a song he had been requesting (I guess for weeks)…Gallagher said, “we don’t even know how to play that anymore…we’ll do it if you sing it”. The kid was atrocious, but I give him credit for knowing most of the lyrics. Although it was hard to watch, it’s part of what I really like about Apollo Sunshine…they love playing live and truly enjoy having fun with the audience…whether it’s taking random song requests (like the Mo Pitkin’s show), having them shoot a basketball into their open arms (like the Mercury Lounge show) or having some kid come up on stage and sing. Can’t wait to see these guys again!

And last up was Chris Hartford & The Band of Changes Part Deux…this time without Deaner. Unfortunately I had to leave after only hearing about twenty minutes of their set, but I’m sure nothing could beat the first one.

I also want to mention the party rawkin’ music between sets…four NYC-Freakers were picked to be Guest DJs and did an excellent job of keeping the party going all night long.

Another Freaks Ball, another incredible night…until next year!!!

Oh, if you want to download and listen to the show…Neddy has the links up. And if you want to join the NYC-Freaks click here and tell them I sent you.