Rootin’ & Tootin’ in BrooklynThere are some bands I go to see just because they are pure fun and Uncle Leon & The Alibis is one of those bands. My good friend Neil is the bass player, so I’ve been seeing UL&TA for years now and it’s always a good time. While it was strange seeing them at some place other than Hank’s, it was still a honky-tonkin barrel of fun. Their influences are Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Sir Mix-A-Lot. Uncle Leon on lead vocals sings in the style of Mr. Cash, but his lyrics are upbeat and fun. With songs like “Hot Rod Mamas”, “My Love Is Like A Monster Truck”, “Beer Train” and of course their famous cover of “Baby Got Back” you can’t help but have a smile on your face. Most people wouldn’t know it, but Honky-Tonk music is alive and well in Brooklyn and you have Uncle Leon & The Alibis to thank for that. The gang departs on their first tour in June, but you can check them out at their second home Hank’s Saloon on Friday, April 6th…hey, it’s FREE so no excuses for not showing up and having a good drunkin’ o time.I went to Southpaw on Saturday to see Uncle Leon & The Alibis, so what happened next took me completely by surprise. Not having ever heard a note or even seen a picture of Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers I had no idea what to expect. Lead singer J.D. Wilkes came out and immediately got my attention and never let go…picture Jerry Lee Lewis (replace piano for a blues-harp) meets Iggy Pop. His stage presence and insane antics were mesmerizing. J.D. was pulling off chest & pubic hair, throwing confetti and said for mentioned hair, head-butting himself with his harp vox, hanging from the rafters, running & dancing all around the stage, and even making himself bleed from his forehead by just thinking really hard (wish I had a picture to show you). Now don’t think Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers are just a one trick pony with frontman J.D. Wilkes…they are an AWESOME rock-a-billy band to boot. Mark Robertson on stand-up bass, David Lee on guitar, and Brett Whitacre on double-bass drums had the place rockin’ from start to finish. Add in J.D.’s wild antics, Tom Waits esq vocals, his ripping blues-harp and you have yourself one hell of a fun band to see on a Saturday night. I should give you a warning, if you ever go see Th’ Legendary Shack*Shakers I would avoid being in the first five rows…J.D. was constantly throwing water, spitting, and blowing snot from his nose into the audience…the good natured fun was soaked in (literally) by the crowd. I was speechless with a big grin on my face their entire set. It’s such a great feeling going to a show and being blown away by a band you hadn’t even planned on seeing…THANK YOU Legendary Shack*Shakers and I can’t wait until the next time you come into town. Check out this YouTube montage of live clips for their song “Ichabod”: