Photo by Merri Sutton
ROOSTER ROCKERS. The Fabulous Wailers will be playing material from their new album at the Swiss on Dec. 17.
Tacoma’s own Fabulous Wailers take the stage at the Swiss on Dec. 17 for a combination holiday bash and food drive. The show has become a tradition for the band, according to keyboard player/vocalist Kent Morrill.
It will also be an opportunity for fans to hear the group play material from their new album “Rooster Rock.” It is a collection of the Wailers’ interpretation of old blues, R&B and rock ‘n roll classics written by other artists. Among them are “Good Bye Johnny” by Chuck Berry, “Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke and “Madison Blues” by Elmore James.
Morrill explained how when the Wailers were young men in the late 1950s and early 1960s they often caught shows at the long-gone Evergreen Ballroom in Lacey.
Many of the acts that played the venue were black artists. He recalls seeing Bobby Bland with the late Wailers frontman Robin Roberts. “All the black acts played there,” Morrill recalled. “We might have been the only white people there that night. It was really magic.”
They learned a lot from those artists, not only in terms of music but also showmanship. Many of the Wailers’ stage moves were copied from artists such as Little Richard. “We picked up on all of that. Our fans thought we made it all up.”
The group spent nearly two years recording “Rooster Rock,” with some delay when the studio they began recording in shut down. “When all was said and done it turned out pretty nice,” Morrill said. Some songs included on the album were big hits, like “Willie and the Hand Jive.” Others were more obscure. What they have in common is their influence on the Wailers. “We are reaching back to our roots. We wanted to do songs by our heroes,” Morrill remarked. “Not all of them were big hits. We relived our memory banks.”
Bass player Buck Ormsby and drummer Ricky Lynn Johnson are also playing with the Sonics right now. They will wrap up a tour in Europe and get back just in time for the Wailers show at the Swiss.
A Tacoma band formed in the early 1960s, the Sonics were another local band that had a long-lasting influence on scores of rock musicians who followed. They had been broken up for decades before reuniting in 2008.
Morrill thinks the renewed interest in the Sonics could lead to the Wailers touring in Europe next year. “We might go over there,” Morrill said. “There is definitely interest in us. People are realizing the Northwest bands had some great songs.”
The group recently hired a new booking agency and is looking to play live a lot in 2010. “It could turn out to be a very good year,” Morrill commented.
The show at the Swiss takes place from 8-11 p.m. on Dec. 17. Cover is $15, or $10 with a non-perishable food item. Several special guest artists will take the stage as well. Jerry Miller has committed and Little Bill has been invited. “Come on out. It should be a fun night,” Morrill remarked.
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