Ichi-Bons w/s/g Everly Hillbillies at The Hangar On The Hudson 3-11-23 -Recap By: Ed Conway

Recap/Photos By: Ed Conway

On a fine Saturday night, for mid March anyway, a hard rockin’ band from Toronto made a visit to the Hangar.  I first saw the Ichi-Bons at the recent Ameripolitan Music Weekender & Award festival in Memphis, Tennessee, where they were nominated for Ameripolitan Rockabilly Group 2023.  I was blown away by the frenetic pace of the music which kind of straddles the border between Rockabilly and Surf.  I once described it in a post at Rockabillyish/Surfish high Octane rock.  Well, there show at the Hangar wasn’t any different as they ran through originals, including a few selections from their recent Hi-Tide EP release, Ichi Bon #1.  Guitarist, Mamoru Bonzai, was a constant blur on stage, only stopping to sing a few of their selections, including the intro to their opening song intoning “Itchi-Bon #1.”  Beyond those few occasions, he danced, twisted and put on a general fine display of guitar work, In fine juxtaposition, bassist, Hideki Saito, while rather stationary, still added a solid foundation for Bonsai.  Most of the singing, as well as beat keeping, duties fell to drummer Paddy Burn.

Starting things off for the evening was Everly Hillbillies.  Made up of Los Straitjackets drummer, Chris “Gringo Starr” Sprague, guitarist Graham Tichy and bassist, Ian “Ritz” Carlton, they got the party started with a selection of 50s and 60s rock with each taking turns singing the lead.  They even played an Everly Brothers song, “Cathy’s Clown” (why does everyone think of me when they do that song?).  Finishing of their set, they headed into a truly inspired version of “Caravan”, with Tichy providing stellar work on, and around, the driving melody and punctuated by a roaring drum solo by Sprague.

All in all, it was a wonderful night of music.  For a band out of the area, without a lot of local ties, it was a very nice crowd brought in by promoter Hey Greasy, many of whom spent the night dancing.