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Lowell musicians wow Europe
Grand Rapids Press
John Sinkevics
Al and the Black Cats are living proof you can never go home again.
Well at least not when you're selling thousands of records, climbing the charts and wowing fans an ocean away.
The rockabilly band -- a sensation in Europe where they began touring last April -- has even written a song about it, "Never Gonna Make It Back Home,"
which will appear on a new live album they'll record at a renowned Netherlands nightclub later this month.
It's not that they don't love West Michigan; it's just that Europe can't get enough of these rising stars, booked at festivals and nightclubs from England to
Spain to Switzerland to the Czech Republic through August 2007.
"Sometimes, I think you're just in the right place at the right time with the right product, and I think we are," said Al Krivoy, 57, bassist, singer, manager,
chauffeur and father figure to his three much-younger bandmates oft regarded in Europe as the new Stray Cats. "Over here, these kids have become big
stars. I believe that sometime within the next year, if they keep their heads on straight, they will be the next major rock 'n' roll act. They're that talented."
In the category of serendipity, fate, perfect timing, and how-the-heck-did-this-happen, I bring you the store of three young musicians from Lowell (drummer
Hugh Skiffington, guitarist Tony Cozzaglio, and upright bassist Eric Soules, 22) led by a veteran electric bassist from Grand Rapids (Krivoy, who fronted The
Fabulous Rockabillys in the 1980s). It's an energetic band skyrocketing to surprising fame in Europe while few in West Michigan have heard of them.
"We'll have fans coming up to sign CDs or to sign their bodies. A lot of the fans are just really crazy," Cozzaglio said en route to another Dutch gig.
"I'm a little blown away by it. It's the time of my life," Skiffington said. "I always hoped, but I never thought it was going to happen."
It all started last year when an old Fabulous Rockabillys tune started getting attention overseas in Europe, where American roots music always has piqued fan
curiosity. Demand for a tour followed, though the Rockabillys hadn't been a band for 20 years. Krivoy's search for new musicians, aided by local
photographer/pal "JohnB," led him to the young Lowell trio of rockabilly devotees.
They came up with a name, quickly recorded an album at Audio Bay Studios in Cannonsburg and headed to Europe, where they figured they'd spend a few
weeks playing clubs last spring. Krivoy returned home briefly this summer before incessant demand for the boys sent him back to Europe to organize another
tour. They haven't been back since.
As he puts it: "I've got a tiger by the tail. Even in our hometown, no one knows who we are. But over here, we're extremely well known." To be sure, the Black
Cats' four-month occupation of Europe has been impressive:
The band has sold 8,200-plus CDs through four distributors (including England's Pollytone Records), not to mention "a few hundred out of the back of the
truck" at gigs before signing distribution deals;
- They've played for 100,000-plus people, including a Netherlands festival attended by 60,000.
- They're booked to play the prestigious Hemsby Festival in the United Kingdom next April and plan a 2007 tour of Japan.
- Their debut CD, "The Fabulous Rockabilly Sounds of the Black Cats" has ascended various UK charts, with the band featured as a hot new act on
the popular New Music Express Web site. They've been interviewed by magazines, newspapers, radio and TV.
"That's how popular the kids have become. I don't pretend it's me. It's the kids, it's the energy," said Krivoy, who sings and plays for about 25 minutes, letting
the "young cute guys" take over the stage.
"When they do a show, nobody stops moving. Tony is always in the audience, he'll be climbing on the rafters. High Flyin' McFly (Skiffington) leaves the stage
and starts playing glasses, starts playing people. Eric will take that big flat bass and be kicking his legs up on the dance floor. The kids did the work. It's that
West Michigan work ethic. They stepped up, and I'm really proud of them. They've only gotten better and more confident."
And though they're now based in southern Netherlands, they haven't forgotten their roots and plan to come home for a visit around Christmas. They send
regular e-mail updates to friends and relatives back home, who are agog about their success overseas.
"We bill ourselves as another kicks Michigan band that happens to play rockabilly," Krivoy said. "We represent Grand Rapids and Lowell. We say, "we're from
Michigan. We're very proud of where we're from."
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E-mail: jsinkevics@grpress.com
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© 2007 Al and the Black Cats unless credit noted otherwise. *Tour dates, prices, and content of this website subject to change without notice.
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