Desi Ramone, who has no connection to legendary New York punks the Ramones other than fandom, combines the music of that band, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash and Link Wray into something that straddles the line between rockabilly and punk. He performs at the Cinema Bar on Friday, and he told the News about what he has in store for Culver City…
When did you start playing and performing?
I started playing around the age of 18 (a late bloomer). [I played] drums in a rockabilly band up in San Francisco – Reggie and the Rebels. An all ‘50s cover band. The lead singer Reggie Rebel was an African-American man with a bleached pompadour. At the end of the first set, he’d tell the crowd, “Ok folks we’ll be white black,’ and then leave the stage. I was a terrible drummer and they canned me after a month. It didn’t stop me, no way. I moved on to other bands that were more like Generation X or Pretenders. At the time, in San Francisco, if you didn’t look or sound like Jane’s Addiction doors were not going to open. So I moved to L.A. I moved up to playing guitar around 2004 when I joined forces with a banjo playing pal of mine, and forming the Sunshine Bros of Hollywood. It was just the two of us and we played some covers and originals. Also, I worked out some dance moves and became very popular. I’ve always played guitar, but with drums it was a lot easier to get work. Anyway, the Sunshine Bros were doing good and getting gigs and fans. Everytime we moved up, my partner would find a reason to drop out. On the third time, I called it quits and never went back to being someone else’s sidekick or hired gun. I decided around 2010 to just play my guitar alone. I started writing songs and jamming at parties and on New Year 2013, 60 years after the death of Hank Williams (my number one hero) I said to myself, “I’m going public.” It was the only way to do what I had in my vision for the whole world and I to enjoy.
Describe your sound…
My sound? That’s very simple because I only play three styles: Johnny Cash, Johnnie. B.Goode and Johnny Ramone, with vocals as painful as Johnny Rae. Buddy Holly made every one of his masterpieces danceable. These three styles just make folks groove. It’s the style I’ve been drawn to since birth. Folks have called me “rockabilly” and I guess that’s ok from a marketing point of view ,but I’m more than three chords and a standup bass.
What are your career highlights so far?
On paper, I’ll have to start with my constant invitation to play on Radio Venice w/Michael Jost. An internet radio broadcast live at 4:20 p.m. almost every Sunday, high above the Venice Boardwalk. Second on the list would be my singles played and live performance on KXLU Fm. Fred Kiko, Robert Douglas, and Stella Stray POP have played my singles and Robert brought me on to promote them live. Third would have to be a Mexican disco. After releasing my third single, my version of “Rockin Robin,” I received a message on my Facebook. To my surprise it was from a Mexico City DJ begging for any other songs I could send along with a video. Unbelievable to my eyes and ears. The camera was set high above a packed dance club where hundreds of youngsters were dancing and bopping to my RR recording. The DJ could be heard in a sexy man voice saying, “Esta es nueva cancion de DESI RAMONE.” Very cool.
What have you been up to in the year since we last spoke?
Recordings! And in today’s world, the way it ‘s set up, put up material. I tell you I have a lot of new respect for the old record companies. Everything with you today on our phone, pictures, videos artwork, recording live video makes it so easy. In olden days. video analog tape. The photo session was expensive. And most artists were on a trial basis. The record labels didn’t have any guarantee of the return. I’m sure for every hit record. There were a half dozen no hit records.
What are your latest recordings?
Yes I do. I have a 45 vinyl record with two originals on side B. And let me tell you, both songs sound amazing and I’m really happy with the final product. It could not have been done without my band members and recording engineer.
What do you remember about your last Cinema Bar show?
It was back in November and we were playing with the Sons of the Engineers. The funny thing about the Cinema Bar is the late night crowd, [which is] always young and tipsy, and eager to be entertained. Last Christmas season, halfway through the set, a group of Christmas clowns came in. A dozen people showed up as Christmas clowns, all in makeup. They came in straight to the dance floor, applauding and screaming. You just can’t buy that kind of story.
What can we expect from the set this time?
The same fun, the same energy, the same lights and fog machine with one or two new songs for the live performance.
Desi Ramone and special guest perform at 9 p.m. on Friday, January 16 at the Cinema Bar. Go to thecinemabar.com for more information about the venue.
Elsewhere this week
The Culver Hotel will be hosting the likes of Sylvia & the Rhythm Boys and and Scotty Bramer. Go to culverhotel.com for more info.
The next concert at Boulevard Music is on January 17, with The String Revolution. Go to boulevardmusic.com for more info.