The RUBBER CITY REBELS at Skippers June 9

Downtown West Events (a JGLB company)
presents
the RUBBER CITY REBELS with Hat Trick Heroes and Roppongi's Ace
Skippers Smokehouse
Friday June 9
sponsored by Sticks of Fire
buy tickets

Members of our band are trying our hand at concert promotion. We are bringing in one of the most fun "punk-rock" bands from the 70's and 80's, the LEGENDARY RUBBER CITY REBELS (32,700 google results) from the punk capital of the world, Akron Ohio! They were contemporaries of Devo and the Dead Boys, and they rock just as manic as ever! And it aint just punk... it's damn good rock and roll. Think Ramones meets Stones meets Three Stooges! We have been RCR fans since the 80's, when we toured California with them. We even wrote a song with them! They were the hottest (and craziest) band around... and they're coming here to Tampa Town!
This is gonna be a great show. We will be updating this page often in the coming days with more info.

Mike "Craze" Flore Memorial Benefit 5-21-06

The Mike "Craze" Flore memorial benefit will take place May 21 at Skippers Smokehouse. Our band will play at about 8:30 or 9. We hope to be joined by some great horn players, perhaps Ron, Bill, Thor and some others? Ron and Bill were like brothers to Mike... And perhaps Mike never met Thor, but I know he'd love his playing. Maybe the Count too? He's a bass player, but he was a buddy of Mike's, they played together quite a bit...
We will update this page as more information becomes available.
St Pete Times Story about Mike "Craze" Flore
jglb blog post: Mike "Craze" Flore
comments re: jglb blog post Mike "Craze" Flore, including a comment from his daughter Marci, and the text of the Columbus Dispatch story about Mike

KREWESKARE / JGLB May 13 (afternoon!)

“The World’s Largest Hurricane Party!”
(To benefit Krewes Kare and Angel Flight Southeast’s hurricane relief efforts)
Hurricane season is almost upon us and Krewes Kare and Angel Flight Southeast have teamed up again this year to prepare for their continuing mission of hurricane relief.
Building on the mission that was begun last year in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the two inter-twined organizations are holding “The World’s Largest Hurricane Party”, Saturday, May 13, 2006, to raise funds and public awareness for hurricane victims.
Everyone is invited to the “The World’s Largest Hurricane Party” that will feature food, fun, dancing, and refreshments. The party will be held at “Hooper’s Hollow”, the outdoor waterfront park owned by the Shriners and located behind the A La Carte Pavilion at 4050 Dana Shores Drive in Tampa. The fun and festivities will run from 3 P.M. to 9 P.M. on May 13th just a couple of weeks before the official start of the 2006 hurricane season.
A $20 donation at the door gets you a fun day with free food, soda, water, and beer and live music by three favorite local bands, including “Johnny G. Lyon & JGLB,” who will play in the afternoon, and “Crossfire.” You’ll also have the chance to win some great raffle prizes.
Come be part of the “World’s Largest Hurricane Party” and have a great time for a great cause. 100% of the proceeds go directly to purchase hurricane relief supplies.
See you May 13th!
Krewes Kare is a volunteer, non-profit, charitable organization comprised of all 57 "parade krewes" in the Tampa Bay area. Following their inception in September, 2005, through the partnership with Angel Flight Southeast, Krewes Kare sent more than 11 tons of supplies on Angel Flights to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and trucked even more supplies south to help storm victims in South Florida after Hurricane Wilma.
Contact: Krewes Kare President Yvonne Painton at 813-839-1302 ext. 629 or via email at chair@interkrewe.organonymous

mp3 of the week: "Comb My Hair"

ORDER JGLB CDs, featuring 33 original songs including "Comb My Hair"
"Comb My Hair" is a song from the first Johnny G Lyon / JGLB album, "Good Cheap Rock N Roll (1990)." Comb My Hair was also featured in the 1985 Columbia Pictures film "Just One of the Guys." Look here or e-mail me if you'd like to order "Good Cheap Rock N Roll." E-mail me before May 31 2006 and I will send you a mp3 of "Comb My Hair."
"Comb My Hair" is a rockabilly-influenced song written in 1981. Authorship is credited to "Johnny Lyon and Rod Firestone." Rod is the leader of the Rubber City Rebels, who come to Tampa June 9, 2006.
We first recorded this song at Mad Dog Recording Studio (then in Venice, Ca.) in 82 or 83. Tchad Blake was the engineer. Firestone produced. Russell Battelene played drums. My buddies from Tampa, Jim West and Stephen Jay also played. Jerry Kaywell, now known as "Father Jerry," Randy Rice, Twila Whidden, Solly Gersh and Gilbert Hansen also contributed. Our manager did a great job of working out the details. Jim played most of the lead guitar. I played guitar and piano, and I sang. It was a kick-ass recording of a kick-ass song.
Not long after, Firestone was approached by some movie industry types who were looking for some cheap original music for movies. They listened to music by his legendary band, The Rubber City Rebels, but couldn't find anything they liked. Previously, Rod had had 2 songs, "Party On" and "I Did It" on the soundtrack of the movie "Hardbodies." I played guitar and piano, and sang backup vocals on those 2 tunes. So Rod pitched "Comb My Hair" to the above mentioned movie industry types. They bought it!
Rod and the Rubber City Rebels are great friends and an awesome band. I have always wanted to produce a Rubber City Rebels concert here in Tampa! That's a great idea, if I do say so myself!
I don't know what exactly happened to that particular master recording of that song. Perhaps I gave the only copy to the movie guys. But you can still hear that recording in the movie, "Just One of the Guys."
The recording from our 1990 album, "Good Cheap Rock N Roll," is the version we have here. We recorded it in 1989. It features Ray Blade, Manny Yanes, Rob Stoney, and myself. Phil engineered, and Phil and I produced it jointly. It's a kick ass recording of a kick ass song.
"Comb My Hair" and all the other tunes from Good Cheap Rock N Roll are available on the CD "Volume One." E-mail me to order "Volume One." Or, e-mail me before May 31 2006 and I will send you a wma of "Comb My Hair."
See more details about "Good Cheap Rock N Roll" (still available as well, e-mail for info)

The Blue Shark

Blue Shark website by Downtown West Events
battleblog Blue Shark site: http://bluesharkonline.com

The Blue Shark has moved to 1502 E. 7th Ave.! Click here for more info!
The Blue Shark is one of Tampa's most oustanding establishments. The Blue Shark is owned by Tampa icon George Wilds, father of Carolina Panthers defensive back Garnell Wilds (formerly of Hillsborough High School). Here's the JGLB post on Garnell, and his JGLB trading card, taken when he played for Washington. You never know who you'll see at the Blue Shark! The Blue Shark is located in the heart of historic Ybor City at 1502 E. 7th Av. The Blue Shark has a full liquor bar. The Blue Shark features outstanding entertainers like Dr. Gary Brown (see the Gary Brown Blues Band's schedule here), Johnny G Lyon & JGLB, and the Backwater Blues Band. Please visit the Blue Shark soon. Say hi to Jerri!
Here's a map.
phone (813) 248-3499
at the BLUE SHARK: for updated schedule click here
Gary Brown Blues Band every wednesday and thursday!
May 19-20: Gary Brown Blues Band
Fri-Sat May 26-27: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB
Fri-Sat June 2-3: Gary Brown Blues Band
Fri June 9: Gary Brown Blues Band
Sat June 10: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB
Fri June 16: Gary Brown Blues Band
Sat June 17: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB
Fri June 23: Gary Brown Blues Band
Sat June 24: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB
Fri-Sat June 30-July 1: Gary Brown Blues Band
Fri-Sat July 7-8: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB
Fri-Sat July 14-15: Johnny G Lyon / JGLB

our concert replayed wednesday 4-5 and friday 4-7

Our concert at Lowry Park was a blast. I don't think I've ever had that much fun playing any gig anywhere. And I have seen the video of the concert, the sound and video quality are excellent!

The concert will be replayed Wednesday and Friday on Brighthouse Cable Channel 15 in Hillsborough County. I think Wednesday's show is at 2 PM, but you might want to make sure it doesn't start at 1 PM. Friday's show should be at 7 PM, but start watching at 6 to be sure.

The confusion is due to the fact that we shared the bill with another band, 360, and i think they have their set first. So if you tune in early, enjoy 360, and wait for our show to begin!

We hope to have copies available soon. In the meantime, go to this page, scroll down the "concert schedule" to "past shows," and click our mp3 and video link!

click for:
schedule
buy CDs