This past weekend, I drove up to San Francisco to visit my family and to catch the once-a-year performance from the Cheap Suit Serenaders at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley.
I had caught them 2 years ago, and they had only a partial band that night due to a family emergency cancellation by stringed instrument great, Bob Brozman.
This past weekend, however The Cheap Suits had the full crew which included Director Terry Zwigoff (Crumb, Ghostworld, Art School Confidential) on Cello, Robert Armstrong (Mickey the Rat Cartoonist) on Steel Guitar and Saw, Bob Brozman on Steel Guitar, Al Dodge on Ukulele, Mandolin. and Professor Gizmo on Trombone and Jug, and finally Tony Martin on the Guitar.
Deja Vu hit me while waiting in line, as I saw the same faces from 2 years ago.
The Sweet Hollywians from Japan opened with 4 songs, and were really tight.
The Cheap Suits performed some of my favs: Hapa Haole Hula Girl, Home, Singing in the Bathtub, and My Gal Sal. They were really tight for a band that only gets together for one night a year, and are all accomplished musicians in their own right.
My evening ended with a playlist I was able to get from Brozman, that all the Cheap Suits signed.
I am thinking about making this an annual tradition, and maybe we can get the jumpin fleas van pool to go up next year!
