Frankie Tease Blog

Easy Star All Stars greeted by police and sniffing dogs. Photo from their Instagram  post 2.12.18.

Left to right: Taylor, Evan, Budda of Through the Roots These last couple years have been fun for reggae. As I settled back into living in my hometown of Long Beach, California, I have found many great reggae shows including live dub, conscious, and roots music events . Many of you may not know but Long Beach (aka LBC: Long Beach California) was a mainstay of live reggae in the early 90's, birthed Sublime, and has always had a ton of islanders as its inhabitants. Lucky us. 

A review of Friday and Saturday One Love Cali Fest by Frankie Tease  One Love Cali Fest '17, Rebelution, One Love Stage Atmosphere Feb. 10-13 The One Love Cali Reggae Festival , in year two, (previously at OC Observatory Santa Ana) decided to bring the fest to Queen Mary Park in Long Beach, CA. There are a lot of notes on how the event could could be improved should it go forward into 2018 but I'd like to thank the organizer  Jeffrey Shuman  for his decision to move it to my home (native) city of Long Beach and to the Queen Mary Events Area.  Other iconic events have found a home there including: Shoreline Jam (#), Ink & Iron, Scots Festival and more. May the One Love Cali Reggae Festival run long.

Satin Dollz and Jive Aces  Sunday 4/20/14 Orleans Showroom

The Franks & Deans - Las Vegas,NV Mar. 2014 As I walked into the Pandora Lounge in Las Vegas, I saw a mild-mannered mix of audience loungers distributed throughout the place while the band was on break. Some were playing Wii bowling, while waiting for their second of three sets from local talents the "Franks & Deans". An homage to earlier lounge greats, the band calls themselves the "Punk Rock Rat Pack", and rightly so. The band are made up of Rob DeTie (bass, singer, band leader), PIP (drums), Tyler Newton (rhythm guitar) and eldest member still in his early 30's and married, Hoss (guitar,vocals) (Hard Rock Las Vegas, Reverend Horton Heat crew) . 

Director Peter Berkow and Frankie Moreno Celebrate Feb. 11, 2014 It was Tuesday February 11, 2014 in Las Vegas. The Showroom at the Stratosphere Hotel (the tallest structure in Las Vegas, Nevada) was the place to be that night, as a call had recently been put out to fans of Frankie Moreno, that he wanted them to show "dressed up and loud" for his upcoming live taping with his amazing high energy band. This is the band that plays Wed. through Sat. shows together. Brother Ricky Moreno gave stamps on hands as people mobbed the entrance and free show, on a non-show night, a Tuesday. 

Satin Dollz at Viva Las Vegas 2013 by Frankie Tease Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend is swiftly approaching its 17th year. The world-wide rockabilly festival that has only seen it's equal in the UK comes to the Orleans Hotel again in Las Vegas April 17-20, 2014. So many new and expanding things about this festival kept creeping up, I had to email my home town of Long Beach to reach the legendary organizer of this event directly. Tom answered and gave me some good preparatory information on what's cookin' for 2014, in addition to the return of Audrey Deluxe for all burlesque productions. He also told me the details of a new October weekender he's behind, which are contained in the Q&A below.  FT: How did you choose this year's headliners? TI: It is always tough choosing headliners. The old acts are not getting any younger so gradually there has to be transition to younger headliners instead of the original acts. FT: How has the Burlesque Showca

Scott Churilla, Jim Heath (aka the Rev) and  Jimbo aka Jim Wallace photo by Frankie Tease (Vegas 2012) Today the Revernd Horton Heat released his new music video leading to the forthcoming album entitled The Rev, to be released January, 2014. It features the Duchess of Chicago, Michelle L'Amour. Oh yeah. Visit reverendhortonheat.com for details and tour dates near you.

Tempest Sotrm "Burlesque Queen" On Kickstarter thru Oct. 9 A new film documentary by Director Nimisha Nukerji is due to be released in 2014 about 84 year old burlesque star and Life-long Stripper Tempest Storm . During 2013, the film project is seeking the help of devoted burlesque fans of the Legendary Stage Performer and Model Tempest Storm on Kickstarter (through Oct. 9,2012). Friend to Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe, mistress to both Elvis and JFK, betrayed at the height of her career by MGM for falling in love with a black man, it's safe to say we don't have stars like Tempest in this day and age. Recognized by Oprah Winfrey for her documentary "65_RedRoses" Director Nimisha Nukerji has a knack for telling stories and has brought those skills to one of America's favorite characters and sex symbols. Tempest Storm shares the camera with Dita Von Teese (Strip Strip Hooray), Melody Sweets (Absinthe), and Lou Lou D'Vil (2013 Queen

Reverend Horton Heat by Frankie Tease As a long time fan of the Heat, when I got the confirmation for the interview with the man live at Vegas's Vinyl at Hard Rock, December 2012, I almost had a private Psychobilly Freakout. Some of my friends and readers are very long-term and hardcore music devotees of Reverend Horton Heat, and in my Wildest Dreams I never thought I'd be interviewing someone who's provided me with so much entertainment over the years. I used my Martini Time to gather my best questions to make sure I could do the interview without Goin' Manic. Jim Heath has been a Texas Rockabilly Rebel for a long time, and his trio has been a mainstay on the American Stage since the late 80's. I had a lot of questions already in the queue. You Gotta Hand it To Me, this was one of those amazing opportunities. Out of Dallas, Texas, Jim Heath (53) can still tear up the stage next to a modern psychobilly act or some of the top punk rock and roll groups of our

L-Scott Churilla (long time rock drummer extraordinaire returned), C- Reverend Horton Heat aka Jim Heath (Founder, Composer Namesake, Guitarist, Singer), R- Jimbo Wallace (Upright double bassist longest term member other than the Rev.) Photo by Frankie Tease Dec. 28, 2012. Read the Reverend Horton Heat Interview HERE . I arrived at the Vinyl at Hard Rock (Las Vegas) to tons of people getting ready for the revival to start. I missed the opening band Tijuana Panthers, and arrived about ten minutes prior to the Reverend Horton Heat (Texas) taking the stage. I found my place at front of stage and started to get anxious with the rest of the crowd. A lowish stage, and hanging speakers were great conditions. The sound was amazing with just the interim recorded music.  The house lights go down and a stage-hand leads each band member to their place on stage with a flashlight. As the stage lights go on, we are treated to "Hey Las Vegas, it's a Psychobilly Freakout" s

Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas Bikini Contest  Grand Master Flash. Photo by Joey Ungerer Hard Rock Bikini Contest Final Announced HRH Vegas has been going all out this Summer for its ten year anniversary celebration. A parade of celebrities were involved in the multi-part contest including Zowie Bowie's Chris Phillips, Jennifer Farley (Bravo, Real Housewives of Miami) and the one and only Grand Master Flash, a legend of hip hop (and many other famous titles) was the mega-celebrity DJ in the house. First Place Winner: Stevie Lynn Photo by Joey Ungerer Let's see what the winner of the Bikini Contest takes home as quoted by HRH.  "The overall winner brought home $25,000 in cash, received representation by a top modeling agency and an entry fee for the Miss USA State Pageant; the runner-up received $10,000 in cash; the three finalists were given $5,000 in cash; the top five received a custom bikini designed by a famed Brazilian designer; and the fourth th

Eric Wilson (bass), Josh Freese (drums),  Rome Ramirez (vocals/guitar) now make up  Sublime with Rome. On red carpet for Rehab 10. The DJ music rang out as cheering bikini and beach-attire-wearing fans gathered for the Sublime with Rome performance Sunday Apr. 21, 2013. Sublime with Rome set the tone for a summer experience with all the references to Long Beach anyone could fit into a musical set. Original founding member Eric Wilson (bass) is the only one left of the power trio, but the band plays music of deceased Bradley Nowell (1996) with new members Josh Freese (drums since '12) and front man Rome Ramirez (vocals/guitar, since '09). The music of Sublime is kept alive and in tact, as anthem-like songs ring out during their performance and at least 1000 people sing every word. It's what they grew up on around Cali.  The occasion was the 10 year anniversary of Las Vegas's most naughty pool party, Rehab, and the best and first ever dayclub. Lasting du

Eric Wilson (L-bass Original Sublime member), Josh Freese (C-drums since '12), Rome Rameriz (R-vocals and guitar since '09). Sublime with Rome fans got a treat for Rehab's 10 year anniversary at Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas. Full event coverage will follow on this site, stay tuned. Photo by Frankie Tease. SEE FULL COLLECTION OF  EVENT PHOTOS OF SUBLIME WITH ROME AT REHAB 10 YR. ANNIVERSARY PARTY, HARD ROCK HOTEL LAS VEGAS 

Jennifer Keith Photo and Article by Frankie Tease Dominating the air waves in late 40's and early 50's you'd have found Patsy Cline, Peggy Lee, Wanda Jackson, and Keely Smith. Cut to present modern-day and I'll show you that the latter has special meaning in this particular story. The story starts in early 90's when a band began to permeate Hollywood bandstands, its name was Royal Crown Revue. Impeccable originals and new takes on oldies took the power-packed band around the world, and they have never stopped. The co-creator of that band is Mando Dorame, and he's the founder and tenor sax player for the Jennifer Keith Quintet. Jennifer Keith is a Los Angeles based singer who's been making waves in Vegas. Her great grandfather put the K in RKO, so her family is familiar with the entertainment business, and more, she's Hollywood royalty. But the talent is where people are raving about Keith, and rightly so. Dorame met Keith, now his fiance,