6thannual

Carl Mateo takes the stage, momentarily fronting the wild herd known as the "Guerrilla Cows". Carl (keys & guitar), Johnny "Cannonball" Stevens (lead & rhythm guitar), Tony Perrino (Hammond B3), Chris Peck (bass), Billy Klock (traps), Kenny Savelson (more traps), Brian Mellick (percussion beastie), Henry Stout, Paul Magril, Michael Ashanan, Jeffery Barnes (all on hand drums) and the Horns of Dilema horn-section raged through two stunning sets into the wee hours of Sunday morning, July 13.

Their premier and perhaps only gig provoked wild dancing and mile-wide grins amongst the hundred or so folks lucky enough to have been there.

From Tierra del Fuego to the snows of the Arctic, from the rain forests of the Amazon to the jungles of Borneo, at any given moment during those hours, these guys might have been the premier musical outfit on the planet!

The Sixth Annual Tenth Annual Hooligan Family Festival of Friends

Basically, here's the deal. About 20 years ago (yikes!) the primodial nexus of what would become the notorious Hooligan Band and their associated rag-tag family of rounders, bounders and freaks, kindred and kind-hearted souls all, coalesced in the north country of the eastern seaboard. For the next decade or so, in various explatorations and configurations, the band roamed the country-side spreading psychedelic cheer and wearing out the towns' folk's dancin' shoes until, finally, in a spiraling fit of utter road and financial exhaustion, the bus refused to ride furthur.

Well, about a decade later, we noticed that we were all still the fastest of friends and figured that this was as good a reason as any to have a huge party and make some of the music that we so love. Thus was born the first 10th annual Hooligan Family Festival of Friends. Being a rousing success, we've been having tenth annual festivals every year since. This year we and over a hundred of our best friends from all over the country came together once again in the rolling foothills of the Berkshires at beautiful Bucksteep Manor.

Friday night, July 11, featured acoustic solos and jams, poetry from the Mad Bard, Carl Holt, tall stories of the Psychedelic Internet Frontier by yours truly, John Coster and Suzannah Kieth with musical friends... and, naturally, the unwearied and wisened Hooligan Band for a fully electric set.

Saturday afternoon we celebrated the truly bizarre athletic spectacle of the Day Glo Veal Patty Toss followed by a suitably lurid yet incomprehensible Awards Ceremony. Nancy Rockland-Miller was on hand with special entertainment for the kiddies. On Saturday night we again abjured to the music barn for the world debut of the Guerrilla Cows, they dispensing indescribable, undefinable, improvisational, uh, musical, er, um, whatchamacallit.

The following select photographs provide only the merest glimpse into the merriment!

Steve S.

Garrett "Ranger Roo" Andrews, aka The Incomprehensible Man, introduces the "Cows" to a crowd that could in no way be prepared for either the approaching musical stampede, nor Roo's bizarre and impenetrable explication of the band's origin. Suffice it to say, where clarity and logical prose were absent, extreme mirth served to fill the vacuum.

Is there a Medicine Man in the house? Alvin Chiappolini, co-presiding this evening with the Reverend Jeffrey Lee Witcher Barnes III, offers thanks to the Spirits for all gifts afforded us. In Alvin's arms is his daughter Sierra.

Elric Walker and friends take the stage for a beautiful set prior to the Guerrilla Cows.

Say, who is that Mad Poet? Looks like Carl Holt holding forth before a wrapt crowd.

Our proud Champa-eeeen for 1997, Patty Toss King Tom Humphries displays his festive trophy while gaily festooned with his Crown of Nuked Beef.

Here's to Tom, winner in his first ever DayGlo Veal Patty Toss competition!

In a moment of over-exuberance as the crowd goes absolutely wild for Tom's great achievement, a rowdy fan tackles the new champ. Identified later as one Jon Mathewson, he was removed from the field by Toss authorities and beaten soundly prior to being handed over to the police for further abuse.

Only minutes earlier, the champ displayed his near perfect form in a record breaking toss. Note the flying disc of meat as it sails toward frame left and into the history books.

Tom cedits his superb mental attitude for his success. As he said while standing in the Winner's Circle: "I became one with the Patty. I was the Patty!"

The competition was earnest, intense and fair. Clockwise we see competitors Barclay, Cooney, Hatalsky and John "Big Foot" Coster.

Lower left, Event Organizer Marjorie Macey displays the Regulation DayGlo Veal Patty as specified by Commission Rules, Chapter VII, Verse 11. These specifications were established following the Great Plywood Counterfeit Patty Scandal of 1986. For his role in the scandal, Roger Cooney was officially banned from competition for over a year.

Summer's here and the time is right for men in funny hats!

"Kill the Wabbit! Kill the Wabbit!"

Richard Wilhelm "Elmer Fudd" Wagner; 1813-1883

Other Faces

	Alvin, getting ready to lead the little ones aound the camp-ground with his flute and drum. He scared some of the grown-ups, but the kids seemed to recognize him as one of their own.
Young Tex Klock. Billy actually killed the leopard that supplied the band for his natty hat with his own bare hands. If you ever see him on the streets of Laredo, give this pardner wide berth.
	What a smile!
You are entitled to just one phone call!

Photos: Steven C. Solomon & Arlen Gould 1997