I try not to have expectations of shows, but whatever expectations I may have had of this show by The Funky White Honkies were blown out of the water by the reality of it!

The Funky White Honkies

I had never been to a show where the staging was destroyed at the end of the night! It seemed to be a gentle destruction – the drum kits were gently tipped over and the guitar looked like it was playable after restringing – but it was fun to watch Dinty Child create the mess!

Destruction on the Set

This show was one in a series of farewell concerts at the legendary Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant and Music Club which is closing in the middle of March after 47 years of presenting the widest variety of acts of any club that I know. Dinty mentioned that he played at the venue as long as 40 years ago, so he and presumably many of The Honkies have a long-standing relationship with the venue.

Dinty Child airborn

As soon as they took the stage – or should I say some of them took the stage while the six-member horn section was set up on one side of the dance floor – I knew the show would be fun. Dinty sported a boldly checkered jacket while Jerome Deupree and Phil Neighbors wore what appeared to be pajama bottoms.

Dinty Child

Jerome Deupree, Phil Neighbors

The set included both original and cover songs. One of the original tunes was ‘Beertown’ which I first heard performed by Session Americana, another of Dinty’s projects. It sounded completely different by FWH and was every bit as enjoyable. As with the other version, most of the spectators knew the audience participation parts!

FWH

The other Honkies, at least for this performance, were Glenn MacKillop on trumpet, Lennie Peterson on trombone, Mike Monte on baritone sax, Mike Moss on tenor sax, Mike Crowley on alto sax, Mark Caughill on soprano sax, Linda Viens on vocals, special guest Catherine David on vocals, special guest Isabel Walsh on vocals, Sam Davis on guitar, Asa Brebner on guitar, Malcolm Walsh on keyboards, and Steve Levesque on bass.

Lennie Peterson, Glenn MacKillop, Mike Crowley, Mark Caughill, Mike Moss, Mike Monte

Sam Davis

Linda Viens, Catherine David

Asa Brebner

Malcolm Walsh

Dinty Child, Isabel Walsh

Dinty Child, bass player, Linda Viens

Sam Davis played on the floor, Dinty destroyed the set, and in general there was mayhem on the stage.

Sam Davis on the floor

Dinty Child (behind Asa) destroying the set

General Mayhem

This was a big dance party! As soon as the music started, the dance floor filled and didn’t empty until the band played the last note. Everyone had a blast and it was a great start to two months of send-offs for Johnny D’s!