FIRST BOMBAGE GIG
SPRING 1982
The first official Bombage gig was at the Towne House Restaurant on Route 1 in Ashland, VA. At that time, the band consisted of Dave and Liquorman on electric guitars and vocals. Fred on one set of small bongos. Mel Torment on vocals and trumpet. Billy Ray on harmonica. For his only gig with the band, Sylvester Taps also blew a bit of trumpet.
THE BAND HAD SOME ORIGINALS AT THIS POINT, LIKE MISSIONARY BOOGALOO, BOBBIN' AND WEAVIN' AND YOUNG AND HETEROSEXUAL. COVERS PLAYED WERE BY THE CLASH, GRATEFUL DEAD, DOORS AND RAY WYLIE HUBBARD.
This is the "Fro" haircut phase for Liquorman. Many bad haircuts to come.
SOME KAPPA SIGMA GIG
THIS PERFORMANCE MUST HAVE BEEN SHORTLY AFTER OUR FIRST GIG.
NOTE FRED PLAYING PERCUSSION FROM THE COUCH AND SOMEONE FROM THE CROWD SHARING THE COUCH WTIH HIM.
These photos are from an early 80s gig in the Irby Courtyard at RMC after Dave graduated. Billy Ray and Mel Torment had left to pursue careers and lives.
Fred Shirey (pictured on left) was the original Bombage bass player.
We also had a drummer for a short time named Karl Honkala. I am not sure how we met Karl. We have not see or heard from him since 1982/83.
DAVE'S CAR IN THE CORTYARD
WHAT IS IT DOING STAGE RIGHT DURING A SHOW?
This iteration of the Bombage Band was actually starting to sound a tiny bit more like a rock band. (Not too much!)
AT THIS POINT, Dave is sporting the big beard years before it became fashionable. Also, Fred had added his "Gig" of assorted
HERE IS AN EARLY PHOTO OF FRED'S HOME MADE PERCUSSION STAND, KNOWN AS "THE GIG".
NEIL THE DRUMMER CAN BE SEEN PLAYING HIS DRUMS, WHICH ARE SET UP IN THE BACK OF HIS PICKUP TRUCK.
New horizon
marquee over the adult book store
The band played several shows at a Richmond club called new horizon. It was a club that hosted regional and national acts. It was located on the 2nd floor of the building and the 1st floor was an adult bookstore. Classy!
The tape of the first show there is one of the best recordings of the band. A FEW TRACKS FROM THIS SHOW ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE.
With the addition of Chico, Kenneth and G.H., we were starting to gel as a musical force.
That first show was so well attended that we were given a few other Saturday gigs at New Horizon. These included the lightly attended wig night. At least our heads were warm.
End of the Floyd mansion party
Ken and Chico and GH joined the band a few years before we had to check out of the Floyd Mansion.
This photo features GH focusing on his playing, Note Eric Soble and others in the crowd enjoying the spirit of the thing.
Dave and Chico
This event was almost over around 1 am, when the crowd finished all six kegs. However, Paul Soble saved the day. Bringing a half keg of Bud and some bottles for the band (which the crowd quickly gulped).
A cop drove by when I woke up at 1 pm the next day and said there were still people on the porch partying when he came on duty at 6 a.m..
Fred laying it down
The END OF THE MANSION show was legendary. The opening act, Ray Ban and the Shades rocked the house while the pipes literally burst! Also the house phone was stolen! Those were the days!
ROCKIN DOWN AT THE KINGDOM HALL
THE YETI
JAMES "PAPA" KENDRICK WORE HIS APE SUIT THAT HE REFERRED TO AS HIS YETI COSTUME TO MANY EVENTS, INCLUDING THIS HALLOWEEN BASH ORGANIZED BY DOUG SEAY AT HIS LOCAL KINGDOM HALL. HIS DAD HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME WE PLAYED ON HIS BACK DECK THE NEXT DAY WHERE HE SERVED US LUNCH!
BOURBON BARITONE
FRED FOONMAN SINGS
IT IS A RARE OCCASION THAT FOONMAN CAN BE LURED ON STAGE TO BELT OUT "GOIN' DOWN THE ROAD FEELIN' BAD". THIS EVENT WAS JUST SUCH AN EVENT.
THE RICHMOND AREA ARTISTS MUSIC FESTIVAL WAS HELD ON A FARM IN GOOCHLAND. THE BAND PLAYED AFTER BEEX AND BEFORE MUD HELMET. LOTS OF POST MUSIC BONFIRES, PASSING OF BOTTLES AND TELLING OF LIES.
SOBLES HALLOWEEN
YEAR OF THE BATMAN VILLIANS
CHICO AS THE JOKER - FRED AS THE PENGUIN - DAVE AS THE RIDDLER - KENNETH AS EGGHEAD - LIQUORMAN AS KING TUT
THIS GIG WAS FUN AS IT WAS DIRECTLY NEXT DOOR TO THE FLOYD MANSION.
Fun in Nags Head
Chico decided to take a break from playing in the band so he could be in the crowd during shows. Our friend, and excellent drummer, Danny Fisher joined us to play the skins.
Bruce Ruddock got us this Nags Head gig in the lounge of the Best Western. At the time, he was bartending and told the manager that we would sell a ton of beer! He was right!
Dave and Liquorman were interviewed on local radio where the DJ opined that we were sort of like Weird Al Yankovic. Many amusement figures traveled the highways to this weekend long get-away. The show was rife with our crowd slugging' brews and also some confused tourists.
After our first night, the manager made it clear that she did not like our lack of light show. This was quickly remedied by a trip to the Radio Shack where Dave bought clamp lamps flood light bulbs and extension cords. It was the barest minimum and thereafter referred to as "light show in a bag". It got plenty of use at future gigs.
Part of the compensation package for the band was a little house for us to crash in. It was "between the highways" and very modest. After the Friday night gig, the crowd descended for an after party that was out of control. It didn't even start until we got unloaded from the gig. Everyone was already well lubricated and it raged until the wee hours. Saturday we would have to rise, load in and do it again!
Halloween food figures
KENNETH AS CAPTAIN CRUNCH
KIM HAYNIE AS LUCKY CHARMS LEPRECHAUN
GH AS COFFEE COMMECIAL CHARACTER JUAN VALDEZ
The band played many a halloween gig. We always picked a theme for band costumes (Batman villains, Traveling Wilbury type band, topical news figures, etc)
This particular grouping was some random year... maybe 1990?
The band rocked the downtown RVA Holiday Inn as food figures.
HERE'S DAVE AS THE CUCKOO FOR COCOA PUFFS BIRD.
LIQUORMAN AS COLONEL SANDERS
FRED AS THE QUAKER OATS GUY
This era of the bombage band was the loudest! new songs were being written and kim haynie (returned from l.a. and his stint with the witt lincolns) was rockin the kit.
it was in this era that we played the irish brigade in fredericksburg a few times and a wedding reception at a hotel in charlottesville!
Fun times, but after this the band took a hiatus for quite a few years.
THE REUNITED CLASSIC LINEUP
RMC NEW GYM - AUG 2014
WITH CHICO BACK ON THE KIT, THE CLASSIC BOMBAGE LINEUP REUNITED IN FRONT OF A LARGE AND APPRECIATIVE CROWD. OLDER BUT NO WISER.
40 YEARS INTO THE TRIP AND STILL ROCKING HARD!
MANY BOMBAGE SHOWS REMAIN WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OR AUDIO (THANKFULLY). HERE IS A PARTIAL LIST OF EVENTS NOT MENTIONED ABOVE:
- SEVERAL SHOWS AT PHI KAPPA SIGMA AND KAPPA SIGMA (RMC) - FOR ONE PHI KAP SHOW, PAUL ALMANY GOT HIS BUDDY TO RUN SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE JOINED THE GROUP CHICAGO AND IS THEIR GUITAR PLAYER TO THIS DAY.
- several new years eve gigs at the richmond best western airport.
- A GIG OR TWO UNDER THE TOBACCO COMPANY AT WHAT WAS THEN THE RICHMOND COMEDY CLUB. (TRIVIA - THIS IS THE TAPE BEING LISTENED TO DURING THE ORIGINAL HAIRCUT VIDEO.)
- DOUG AND CODY'S APPARTMENT AT RMC. I THINK WE USED DOUG'S STEREO AS THE PA.
- THE RAILROAD CAFE IN ASHLAND (WITH TORN PANTIES). papa drove home in the ape/yeti suit.
- OWULE AND SMILIN' BOB'S HOUSE IN THE MUSEUM DISTRICT.
- A BUNCH OF TIMES AT BARRY'S, WHICH WAS LOCATED NEAR UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND.
- three seafood gala SHOWS AT A FISH PLACE ON THE JAMES (ANYONE REMEMBER THE NAME - EMAIL US BOMBAGEBAND@GMAIL.COM). danny from the panties told me recently that he came up and sang a few cover songs with us at one of these.
- A PARTY WITH 20 KEGS EAST OF RICHMOND. THE FINAL STEP OF THE DIRECTIONS TO THIS PARTY WAS TO PARK NEAR THE OLD TRACTOR. I BELIEVE JAMIE BOOTH HELPED PUT THIS TOGETHER.
- A SWEET 16 BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE DAUGHTER OF A CO-WORKER OF LIQUORMANS AT THE SMOKEY PIG.
- A FEW VCU FRATERNITY PARTIES - WE WERE AWFUL. THEY LOVED IT.
- rmc alum mark williams wedding reception in a charlottesville hotel. we were never louder.
- fred's sister's first wedding reception at Radford college
- because Liquorman worked at bennigan's, we played a St. Patrick's day party in a tent in their parking lot. i think Ivan's band, Hoods-a-go-go opened up.
- A BACKYARD GIG IN THE RITZY NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED WINDSOR FARMS. BOMBAGE FAN PHIL WAS BEING CELEBRATED FOR HIS ENGAGEMENT. CHICO WAS OUT OF TOWN SO LIQUORMAN DID HIS BEST TO DRUM.
- hill arnette's wedding reception at a day care center (toddler town).
- a backyard party in oregon hill in the shadow of the state penitentiary.
- PARTIES IN THE FAN DISTRICT OF RICHMOND (INCLUDING A FEW IN TY YOUNG'S BACK YARD).
- A FEW FUN HOUSE PARTIES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA - INCLUDING THE TIME THE RENTAL van BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO BE EXCHANGED FOR A LARGE truck. UPON ARRIVAL, THE CROWD CAME OUT TO HELP LOAD IN AND THE TRUCK BAY DOOR OPENED. THERE WAS MUCH HUMOR WHEN THE BANDS FEW PIECES OF GEAR COULD BE SEEN FAR IN THE FRONT OF THE BAY WITH TONS OF EMPTY SPACE IN FRONT.
- steve blands house on the northern neck - it gets dark out there.
- CHIP RAY'S WATER COUNTRY (WITH THE MEEK). LIQUORMAN SLEPT IN A CAR.
- a winter basement party just south of forest hill avenue where everyone got dancing and hot and sweaty.
- phil wright's brunswick stew keg bash in danville va (with andy penland's band krankenhaus)
- RICHMOND CLUB, ROCKITZ, OPENING FOR WITT LINCOLNS (KIM HAYNIE AND KEVIN PITTMAN AND ANDY PENLAND).
- A nye party at a warehouse in shokoe slip - gig ended when someone spilled beer down liquorman's amp.
- A PRIVATE WEDDING CELEBRATION for ed and ana donohoe AT (RICHMOND CONCERT VENUE) FLOOD ZONE. THERE IS A DECENT SOUNDING RECORDING OF THIS. A COUPLE OF TRACKS ARE AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE.
- A PARTY AT A HOUSE IN THE FAN RENTED BY DENTAL STUDENTS (OPENING ROB CICCONE'S blues BAND).
- MANY EVENTS PUT ON BY OWULE AND OTHERS AT THE shokoe bottom ART SPACE - MUCH AMUSEMENT!
- PAUL SOBLE'S 4TH OF JULY BACKYARD SHINDIG (WITH JIM RUSHING'S BAND THE ACES).
- SOME SHORT LIVED RICHMOND CLUB - FAMOUS FRANKS - I CAN'T EVEN PICTURE THE INSIDE OF THIS PLACE OR ANYTHING ABOUT IT!
- AN OUT OF THE WAY HOTEL BAR CALLED THE ABBEY, LOCATED IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA BEHIND THE RICHMOND DIAMOND BASEBALL STADIUM.
- A PIG ROAST SOMEWHERE IN DELEWARE HOSTED BY MATHEW - THE BAND ARRIVED THE EVENING BEFORE AND ALL SLEPT ON HIS FLOOR. GREAT CROWD! (IS THAT YOU, HEAVY?)
- THE "UP TOP SUB SHOP" ON GRACE STREET IN RICHMOND - WE ALMOST GOT CAUGHT UP IN A BIKER STREET FIGHT.
- the basement bar of what became baja bean at lombardy and main st in Richmond. with the loners.
- A PARTY AT MR. SCIENCE'S HOUSE - WE PLAYED IN THE SNOW ON HIS BACK DECK. EVERYONE WAS INSIDE. HIS STEREO WAS USED AS OUR PA. IT GOT BLOWN UP.
- A FEW SHOWS AT A SMALL BAR CALLED WHISTLER'S - I DON'T REMEMBER THE SHOW, BUT I REMEMBER THAT SOME FOLKS GOT TOWED FROM A PAY LOT.
- UPSTAIRS AT MCCORMACK'S PUB IN SHOKOE BOTTOM with chickenwire helmet (the future unknown favorites).
- RMC HOMECOMMING WEEKENDS AT ANDY'S AND AT ASHLAND COFFEE AND TEA.
- A FEW GIGS AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE BREWERY - GREAT CROWDS!
IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS, WE CAN'T REMEMBER THEM ALL. THERE ARE MANY STORIES FROM THESE GIGS THAT HAVE BEEN RETOLD MANY TIMES.