The Hi-Tones Archives

(Note: Check out my Wednesday & Friday & Saturday & Sunday adventures)

It’s like Christmas Morning! VIVA is officially here, bring on the bands, shopping, clothes, the bowling, the burlesque etc. etc. etc. But first bring on my wristband for the weekend!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 wristband. — Viva Wristband

Since it was so cold in Toronto, I decided that we needed to hit up the pool. I mean seriously..look how nice and warm it looks outside…

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015

WRONG…oh so very very wrong. It was windy and cold and we lasted a half an hour. Booo Vegas! What’s up with that? So we decided to grab a drink in our room and get ready for a favorite event of mine that afternoon…”Sweetpea’s Hooch and Smooch“.

Sweet Pea's Hooch N' Smooch at Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend. — Poster from the afternoon event-So fun!

What I love about Sweet Pea’s event is that she always seems to find the best bands, has fun games for VIVA attendees to meet each other and there is always a good turn out. It honestly for me is the perfect way to start my Viva weekend.

Of course I had to dress up for the afternoon (this is Viva after all). Vintage 1940s Blouse is from Cabaret Vintage, Belle Blossoms Hair Flower, Luxulite drink tab necklace, Vintage Bakelite bracelets and black pencil skirt acquired on my recent trip to Seattle from Diva Dollz.

The Vintage Inn Blog Vintage Rockabilly Style-Hair Flower, vintage 1940s blouse, pencil skirt, vintage bakelite

Okay back to my Sweet Pea Afternoon. The First band that we heard when we finally got there (and LOVED) was Shuggie B. Goode. Their sound was really fun and fantastic for dancing and when we walked in the band was singing a song about the Lindy Hop (win!).

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015-Bands Shuggie B. Goode — Shuggie B. Goode

Here is the most adorable couple dancing together (they danced all weekend long). I just adore her dress with matching running shoes…too cute!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers-Older couple enjoying themselves. — Dancing is not reserved for the young.

Even Elvis likes to dance!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Dancers — Viva Las Vegas!

Now I’m going to probably mess up the order of who I listened to next but does not really matter. We also heard the killer sounds of TJ Mayes from Oklahoma, who kept the dance floor packed the whole set.

Then I finally got to hear the Roy Kay Trio. They have been on my bucket list for some time of bands I needed to hear live and boy did they deliver a great show. With their country/Hillbilly Bop Rockabilly sound I could have danced all night long to them.

Roy Kay Trio Viva Las Vegas 18 Rockabilly Weekender

Hunger has by this time consumed my thoughts so time for food..really healthy food (wink wink) before we change and attend the first official evening of VIVA.

Dinner of Champions-VIVA 18 Rockabilly Weekender — See mom there is green on my plate!

THURSDAY NIGHT-Tonight we travel around Europe to hear the best sounds of Rockabilly.

Up first, meeting up with my lovely friend Sabine who lives in Las Vegas and is a swing dancer like myself. Sabine always has the prettiest dresses and hair and is an amazing dancer as well.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 vintage 1940s dress and pinup swing dress — Evening Outfit Vintage 1940s Dress from Jack Lux in Toronto

Thursday Night Band # 1-The Hi-Tones from Russia. These guys were really really good and I now know why they played the main Ballroom because they sound is too huge to contain to one little room.

The Hi-Tones VLV 18 Rockabilly Weekender — The Hi-Tones

After the Hi-Tones we all zipped out of the Ballroom to the room down the hall that had the band “Li’l Mo and the Unholy 4″ on stage. We were greeted by a PACKED room (which got really really hot, really really fast). But Li’l Mo was so good and worth sweating to death over.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - "Li'l Mo and the Unholy 4 — Packed Bienville Room

BUT I think maybe the heat was getting to at least ONE of my friends.

Li’l Mo done, time to head BACK to the Ballroom to continue our European Rockabilly tour with “The Go-Getters” from Sweden.They were incredible and the room was super packed for them as well.

During this band my husband decided to ask the lovely lady from earlier pictures in the striped dress to dance with him.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 - dancing at Viva

After the dance we found out that my hubby was the FIRST man OTHER than her husband that had asked her to dance in over 60 years. 60 years! Wow!

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 dancers at Viva

After the Go-Getters we were BACK to the other room for Mike Bell & the Belltones from Finland (I’m getting dizzy from all the running back and forth lol!).

During their set Rockabilly legend “Huelyn Duvall” joined them on stage. Huelyn hit the Billboard charts with “3 Months to Kill”/”Little Boy Blue”. That was a pretty cool experience for fans of Rockabilly.

Huelyn Duvall VLV 18 - Viva Rockabilly Weekender. — Huelyn Duvall

We ended our evening BACK at in the Ballroom for London, England’s Rockabilly Band “The Savage Hornets” and they turned out to be my absolute favorite band of the evening..hands down. So much fun!

I also scored some “It’s really late but don’t we still look awesome” photos with Toronto friends. Then.. I went to bed.

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18, 2015 Rockabilly Style / Vintage Style

And that is my LONG post on the first day of VIVA. Can you believe that was only day 1? Man I’m tired just reliving it thru this post 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and if you attended VIVA tell me who you favorite Thursday band was?

Further Reading:

Liz 🙂

Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, Unique Vintage, RocknRomance Vintage & Collectif are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

I’m not only an avid Lindy hopper but I”m also a big fan of Rockabilly and I’m very lucky to live in a city that has so many awesome bands not only for swing but also for Rockabilly. This coming Friday a night of live music starts again with it’s “Sweet 16th” installment of the Rock-A-Billy Shake-Up, one night only at the Junction’s – 3030 (3030 Dundas St. West).

This event has been a really fun way to showcase the amazing musical talent we have not only in Toronto in the Rockabilly scene but also Canada and even the US, and it is ALWAYS a great show. I’m also really excited because the Toronto Vintage Society has organized a meetup event to the show and I just love meeting other TVS members.

Now I know that many of you that read my blog are not from Toronto and won’t be able to make it on Friday but I really wanted to share a bit of something I love with you and who knows maybe if you visit Toronto you could catch a show.

The first band playing are “The Hi-Tones” from London, Ontario and I have never personally heard them but from what I have checked out on good old YouTube, their sound is really great.

The event page states that: The group have developed a strong repertoire, including original material and drawing inspiration from artists such as Janis Martin, Wanda Jackson, Brian Setzer, and Tarantino film soundtracks. The Hi-Tones studio singles, “Rocco Perri” and “Long Gone Daddy”, have received strong play on college radio, and the group are gearing up to record a full-length original album in 2014.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AxxlqhspM4&w=420&h=315]

The second band is a real personal favorite of mine and should be yours too – “Tennessee Voodoo Coupe“. I LOVE this band and I just love dancing to them as well. Their shows are always so much fun and it was really exciting to have been able to see them perform at “Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend” last year.

The event page states that: TVC’s 4-piece road crew are well-versed in traditional rockabilly, hillbilly, and swing-flavoured sounds, spiked with a punk rock energy. Jump shouter Big Rude Jake is at the wheel, with Steve Good on the doghouse bass, guest picker Johnny Gallagher providing the sizzling leads, and standup drummer Don Dekouchay completing the crew.

Little taste of the band 🙂

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0655nvkPP48&w=560&h=315]

Here are a couple of images of VIVA last year at the TVS Show

Image courtesy of Dean Villafuerte

The Toronto gang at the show

Image courtesy of Dean Villafuerte

Me dancing up a storm with my friend Dean

Lastly the event also has superb music in between with DJ Rockin’ Dave Faris who will be spinning frantic rockabilly and unruly rock ‘n’ roll cuts all night long. Dave is also the original organizer of this event.

So I hope to see you there if you live in Toronto or maybe another time. I will also see if I can get some good photos of the evening to share with you later.

Liz 🙂

Tag: The Hi-Tones

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend 18-Thursday

Toronto’s “Rock-A-Billy Shake-Up!” March 14th, 2014