The Ponderosa Stomp has slipped in a surprise addition to its lineup for October: Northwest garage legends the Sonics. Arguably the prototype for all garage bands, the Sonics are known for some of the grittiest and shaking-est– and for some of us, just plain greatest– rock and roll records in history. The band busted out of Tacoma, WA with the 1964-65 records “The Witch,” “Psycho” and “Strychnine”-– none of which were national hits at the time but all had staying power, later covered by everyone from Heart to the Cramps.
Another Sonics classic, “Have Love…Will Travel,” became an after-the-fact hit when it appeared in a Land Rover commercial. The crude recording quality, barely-controlled rhythm section and singer/organist Gerry Roslie’s blood-curdling wails all inspired punk bands for decades to come. The band was history by 1967 and Roslie became a recluse– but in 2007 the impossible happened and the Sonics reunited with him and fellow originals Larry Parypa (guitar) and Rob Lind (sax) for two shows in New York. (Though the original bassist and drummer are alive, neither wants to tour and younger guys take their place on the road). The band’s played infrequent, well-received shows every year since, and it’s been rumored that the Ponderosa Stomp has made a few unsuccessful attempts to book them. This year they’ll play a Stomp lineup that also represents garage rock with the Standells (of the national hit “Dirty Water”) and the Sloths (of the cult gem “Makin’ Love”).
The Sonics' classic 1966 album.
Further Stomp news came this week when the schedule of panels was announced. All panels will be at the Wyhdham Riverfront, 701 Convention Center Blvd. Former OffBeat editor Bunny Matthews will moderate the first panel, “The Unknown Field Workers,” which will include painter Hudson Marquez, who is credited with helping bring Professor Longhair out of retirement. One guitar hero will interview another when Deke Dickerson talks (Friday at 11am) to Charlie Gracie, whose admirers included George Harrison. Also notable that one of the Stomp stars, Chris Montez will be interviewed (Friday at 2:45) by Cyril Jordan— the leader of another legendary band, the proto-punk/power pop Flamin’ Groovies, and cowriter of their 1976 cult classic “Shake Some Action”. Jordan’s been a friend to the Stomp in the past, turning up to play surprise sets in previous years; and he’s recently reunited the “Shake”– era Groovies for a few shows. Wait and see if that means another surprise set is in the offing.
