By Eric Fusco

Who thought it could have happened again? Did it really happen the first time? Who can really be sure? Just little ole'me, that's who. Once again your humble servant made the scene at every Fleshtones gig at Nightingales this past August. A five night sweep. Five big nights. Five big shows.

For those who missed it, the most exciting men in rock-n-roll, the Fleshtones, played another month long "artists in residency" at Nightingales, a.k.a., the Center of the Rock-N-Roll Universe. This was a follow-up to their triumphant stand there this past January. Like the January's shows, these gigs were full of surprises. Plenty of great songs from their first record right up to soon to be released all covers album "Hitsburg Revisited " (though rumor has it that the title "Hitsburg Meets The Killer, Boris Karloff" is a contender, more on that later) a follow-up to 1997's "Hitsburg USA" a.k.a.."Fleshtones Favorites".

Oct. 3, 1998 - "Night of the Free Show"

This past August the Fleshtones played gig at the Lakeside Lounge (home of the best jukebox in New York City ) the night before they recorded their new album. The set was all cover material they were considering for "Hitsburg Revisited". I did not realize it when they played that I'd heard Bill Milhizer's lead vocal debut (as far as I know). From my vantage point I could only see Peter Zarenba & Keith Streng. One of the first songs they played that night and this night was "Baby Don't Stop Now". At the Lakeside, I'd thought that it was some friend of the Fleshtones who was doing vocal, not the prime mover Bill Milhizer. He does a pretty damn good job, too.

The opening band was Los Dudes, whom the Fleshtones cover "I Hate You All" from. The Fleshtones did a duet encore of "I Hate You All" with Peter and Jesse. Thankfully, Jesse's mic was real low. He wanted to continue playing with the big boys, grabbing the harmonica, and settling behind the keyboard. Ken put the bass on him, too. And then kicked him offstage. Pretty funny.

During the encore Peter's fly was down. I was kind enough to point out that Lil'Zaremba was in danger of making an appearance. He thanked me afterwards. I told him, no sweat. It was $5 to get in, but there was a free show onstage, so it all evened out.

Weeks earlier, fellow Fleshtones Fanatics Steve Coleman, "Hot Foot" Pat Lozito, Bob Kalison, "Mopar" Larry Higgs, "Uber Grupen Fuher" Gus Niedinger and myself had been e-mailing a list of titles for future albums in the Hitsburg series. Ken told me he and the rest of the band really got a kick out of the alternate titles. He said Peter is considering including some of them in the packaging, the leading contender is "Hitsburg Meets The Killer, Boris Karloff" I knew he would dig that one, cause it is a reference to an obscure Abbott & Costello movie and Peter is a big movie buff.

Oct. 10, 1998 - "Night of the Sixth Fleshtone"

This Saturday was my birthday and I annexed the Nightingales gig as part of my party. (What can I say? My mother is German, we have a habit of annexing things). The week before I invited the boys to come to my pre-gig party. Ken & Jean said they might show, however it was Mr. Baby Don't Stop Now, Billy Milhizer who graced my door. He was kind enough to bring me a copy of the Estrus benefit album "Flaming Burnout" which contains the Fleshtones doing "You Can Get Him Frankenstein" along with killer tracks by The Cowslingers, Hi-Fives, The Insomniacs, Man or Astroman, Southern Culture on the Skids, and The Woggles. Besides it being a great cause, it's also a great album.

Well, by the time I made it to Nightingales, I was shot out of a cannon. Mondo Topless were finishing up their set and were in rare form. They left the stage after two songs and yours truly hit the stage and grabbed the mic:

"I'd like to thank everyone for coming to the 32nd Annual Eric Fusco Birthday Bash. Let's have a big hand for Mondo Topless for getting the show started, whatta ya say we bring'em back for one more...Yeah.....!!!"

The night became a blur of free beers and gifts. Ken Fox handed me a tape of the new Hitsburg rekkid. The tracks include: "Rock-N-Roll Baby", "I'm Comin' Home" (Mel Torme), "Don't Stop Now" (Bill Milhizer on Lead), "Take My Love", "Little Lu", "Down To Tijuana" (Andre Williams), "Find Somebody To Love","Tribute To Hand Ballard" (A medley of Hank Ballard songs including, Switcheroo and Let's Float, and includes Peter's slide whistle solo) "Voodoo Voodoo" (Keith Streng on Lead), "Tearing Me Apart"(Ken Fox on Lead), "Soul City", "Keeley's Twist" and "I'm Over 25 (But You Can Trust Me)"

About half way into the show Peter announced that it was my birthday and presented me with an autographed photo the band for service above and beyond the call of duty. I really can't recall what he was saying, due to my drunken state. I just remember being really touched. A friend in the audience was talking to some guy who asked who the hell I was and she explained that I used to be a Fleshtone, but had to quit cause the rest of the band was jealous cause I got all the chicks. That in essence I was the sixth Fleshtone. A couple songs later they played "BYOB" which was my first fave Fleshtones song. I used to play it on my college radio show and a few years ago, Keith invited me on stage to sing backing vocals with him (though it may have been self-defense, as I was screaming the lyrics in his face at the time..) Well, since it was MY birthday, I jumped back on stage and shared the mic with Mr. Fox. It was great. I could see all my friends in the audience, many there because it was my birthday, and to wish me well on my special day, ALL WISHING THEY COULD BE ME !!!! How many people get to see their favorite band on their birthday, get presents from them, get to sing on stage with them (albeit uninvited...) and not have to sleep with them? Oh, and Ray Davies was there too. He didn't bring a present though...

Oct. 17, 1998 - "Night of Oldies"

Swung by the Lakeside before the show and ran into Botswana Bass man Danny Li. He told me how upset he was that he's missed the first two shows because he'd been in Spain touring. Right about the time he was going to sleep, he realized that the Fleshtones were going on and that he'd miss the show. Now that's dedication. While we were waiting, Ken & Jean Fox showed up. I talked Ken, while Danny got to talk tot he foxy Fox, about what his parents thought of what he does for a living. Do they understand their son is at the center of the rock-n-roll universe?

"Sure,"said Ken, "My Dad is a huge Ramones fan. Or at least he was. He says that it just isn't the same since Dee Dee left."

I totally agree Poppa Fox. Funny, though, the Ramones get a new Bass player and their fans lose interest. The Fleshtones get a new Bass player and they are better than ever.

Tonight's set saw the inclusion of "Way Down South", "Judy", "Reggae Reggae" "Way I Feel" and "R-I-G-H-T-S". Danny Li was quite impressed.

"Fuck man! When was the last time you heard them do "Judy"? I haven't fuckin' heard that fuckin' song in years!!!" commented Mr. Li after the show.

Oct. 24, 1998 - "Night of the Uberbabes"

I neglected to snag the set list from this gig, so the memories are kind of blurry. The Mount McKinley's opened. Their claim to fame is that they have a therimin in the band. Pretty cool. And that they brought all their hot girl friends to the gig.

The best I can recall is that Peter started the gig in the audience and pretty much stayed there for most of the show, when he wasn't at the bar. That is not to say he was drinking at the bar, more that he and Keith were literally on the bar singing and playing. Right on.

I believe that this is the night that Keith sang "Ra-Ra-Renee" for the encore. That's part of the really cool thing about these Nightin-gigs. The band know that there are some of us who will be there every week and mix up the songs. It's a great opportunity to hear songs they usually won't play like "The Dreg", "Deadstick", "I Gotta Change My Life" and "Ra-Ra-Renee". Keith Streng was asking me how "Ra-Ra-Renee" sounded, cause he was supposed to do it the week before, but chicken out. I told him that it sounded great, and that I thought it sounded like the Standells. He had a quizzical look on his face and I said to think about "Medication" and "Ra-Ra-Renee". "Yeah," said Keith,"I guess they are kinda similar. I never noticed that." Yeah, and maybe I think about these things a little too much...

Oct. 31, 1998 - "Night of the Living Fleshtones"

Halloween. In New York City. Soundtrack by the Fleshtones.

Hooked up Jean Fox and her friends at the Lakeside pre-gig. I busted out my white dinner jacket and bow-tie for the evening. I was either James Bond or Mr. Pro if you're in the know. On our way over to the gig, we ran into Bill Milhizer. He informed me that the band had given away the Mr. Pro drums after their last European tour, so he would not be able to play them tonight, per my request. Too bad. Bill was wearing a 1950's tie with a naked broad on it and a clear clown mask. Very disturbing.

When I got into Nightingales, the first guy I spotted was Ken Fox, dressed as a vampire, with a tuxedo shirt with ruffles and a long black cape. Keith Streng was in the same outfit. Ken looked funny in his outfit, what with his Will Robinson-esque smile and blonde hair, whereas Keith looked almost at home in his cape. I mentioned this to his wife Ann and she said that he had been trick-or-treating with their daughter Nascha in the outfit all day.

"If he wears it to breakfast tomorrow, then you should start worrying...." I told her.

Halloween was the perfect time to see The Satanics open for The Fleshtones. (They are the guys from the Upper Crust, but this time with Satan-worshipper theme.) It was also Horn Night, the night during month that the Fleshtones bring back their full horn section of sax and trumpet. So this gig they would be pulling songs from their horn sets and Halloween appropriate songs. During the night we were graced with "Return To The Haunted House", "Morgus The Magnificent", "I was a Teenage Zombie", "You Can Get Her Frankenstein" as well as horn songs like "I'm Over 25" and "Mod Teepee"

During the encore, The band did a great version of "The Endless Tunnel" bringing the whole crowd into a chant. Peter picked up the Satanics lead singer's sunglasses and was, well, possessed. He told us about when he first heard the song, staying up late with his radio on under the covers of his bed.

This was truly amazing show, there was a wild energy because it was Halloween, add in the horns and because it was the last night (not to mention the band had actually practiced that week, too.) The crowd was crazy by the end of the show. I noticed a great thing about Nightingales that night, too. Behind the stage is a huge mirror and crowd can see themselves behind the band. So when the Fleshtones were playing "Gotta Line On You" and I threw my arm up over the crowd and swung it to the music, second later, EVERYONE had their hands up in the air. During "American Beat" the audience and band were totally in sync. The entire crowd shouting: CAN YOU HEAR THE AMERICAN SOUND? HAVE YOU HEARD THE AMERICAN SOUND? DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOU PUT IT DOWN! I did not want it to end.

Luckily, living in New York, it doesn't. As I write this a few weeks later, the Fleshtones will be playing at Cave Stomp tonight, along with Sky Saxon, The Fuzztones and The Chesterfield Kings. Not to mention, they will be playing again in a month on New Year's Eve with The Dictators. Ken Fox complained that I spilled most of the Fleshtones champagne on his shoes last year. Not to worry, this year I'll bring my own champagne to spill on his shoes.

When I spoke to Ken Fox at the Lakeside one night he told me "Everytime we hit the stage it's a mini disaster" If that was a mini-disaster, I can't wait for a major catastrophe.

For more info about the Fleshtones, check out Steve Coleman's mighty Hall of Fame website.