PHOTOS & VIDEO: JOE "KING" CARRASCO, THE FANCY LADS, RADIOSHARK @ EL CORAZON, SEATTLE, WA. 7/31/15

AY YI YI YI YI! VAMOS Y GET DOWN!!!!

This was my reaction when I found out that my "Nuevo Wavo" hero Joe "King" Carrasco would be coming to Seattle! I've been a fan of Joe's since 1981, when I heard "Gimme Sody, Judy" being played at a Madison, WI. record store, promptly bought the Hannibal Records LP it was on, and then bought tickets to see him play soon afterward. His music, sparse, fun, and Farfisa-fueled, reminded me of all my fave Tex Mex garage songs from the '60s from Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, the Sir Douglas Quintet,  and ? and the Mysterians. It was exactly what I needed to counteract '80s hair metal, twee British synth pop, and the last dredges of dreaded disco. Some of the very best times I've ever had were at Joe shows, and that's a fact, vato. So OF COURSE I went on over to the El Corazon last week to see my ol' pals and have another great night out!


I arrived a bit late so didn't catch very much of opener Radioshark's set, but what I did hear was pretty sweet. Be sure to check them out!


Wot's happenin', guv'nuh? Well, next up it's luvverly locals The Fancy Lads, the finest faux-Fabs you will ever see! The Lads played a ripping good set filled with Mersey melodies that got the crowd frantically recalling the Frug! The Fifth Lad was represented by El Corazon stalwart, Lord Stage Pole. Yeah yeah yeah!



The Fancy Lads, El Corazon, Seattle, WA. 7/31/15 Flickr set 







And then at last, Joe time! I wasn't the only long-time fan in the house -- there were many in the crowd whose goofy giant smiles reflected great fondness for the King. We got to hear a marvelous selection of old hits and new faves from JKC's brand-new CD, Chiliando, a hard-rockin' and often hilarious set of tunes that include "My Ding Dong Daddy (Don't Daddy No Mo)," "Arrested In My Hammock," "Who Put the 'P' in Pendejo," and "No Way Jose!" Buy it at the Joe "King" Carrasco Mercado very soon!









Gracias El Corazon, Radioshark, The Fancy Lads, and Joe!