The Cocktail Corner: Drinks for the sophisticated Mod

To all my fellow Mods and Modettes, Rude Boys and Rude Girls and all lovers of finer things in life, I introduce to you The Cocktail Corner.

If the history of Mods teaches us one thing is that we love to live La Dolce Vita. Everything we do, we do with style. It transcends in the way we dress, the music we listen to and our mode of transportation. Let’s face it, we have class! Our sophistication relates to the times when women were treated like ladies, men wore hats and a deal was made on a handshake.

This is why I chose to write about a social aspect that we sometimes take for granted: the drinking. When I have a drink, it’s a ritual I don’t take lightly. You can ask my friends, they’ll concur. I usually put a lot of thought in my choice of libation.

Our first lesson will be in the fine art of mixing the perfect Martini. I chose this classic cocktail because of the image it conjures in my mind. A dark club, dressed in my finest 3 button suit, handkerchief in my pocket, one inch tie well straightened, shinny tasseled loafers, neatly cut  hair, pork pie hat slightly tilted, one eyebrow raised, one elbow resting on the bar, my lips delicately sipping an ice-cold Martini while casually listening to the likes of Mose Allison.

I also think of my favorite invincible spy, James Bond. It’s no wonder a lot of Mods and Rude Boys are intrigued with ultra suave secret agents. They have charm, sophistication, this magnetic je ne sais quoi and… they know how to order a drink.

This extract from Ian Fleming’s Casino Royal will convince anybody.

'A dry martini,' he said. 'One. In a deep champagne goblet.'

'Oui, monsieur.'

'Just a moment. Three measures of Gordon's, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?'

'Certainly monsieur.' The barman seemed pleased with the idea.

'Gosh, that's certainly a drink,' said Leiter.

Bond laughed. 'When I'm...er...concentrating,' he explained, 'I never have more than one drink before dinner. But I do like that one to be large and very strong and very cold, and very well-made. I hate small portions of anything, particularly when they taste bad. This drink's my own invention. I'm going to patent it when I think of a good name.'

Well all you hepcats out there, doesn’t that put your taste buds in overdrive? Get your shaker out, drop the needle on your favorite soul tune and prepare yourself to mix the ultimate cocktail. Here’s a selection of my favorite Martini recipes.

 

 Everything you need for the perfect evening

"When pouring Martinis, make sure they are filled dangerously close to the brim."

Joe McQuirk, bartender

The classic Martini:

Pour 2 ounces of London dry gin, 1 ounce of French vermouth and a dash of orange bitters into an ice-filled shaker. Shake then pour in a well-chilled glass and garnish with lemon peel or olive. This is the way the Martini was done before the Prohibition.

Orange bitters is not easy to find so I usually replace it with your widely available Angostura bitters.

 

The modern dry Martini:

Pour 4 ounces of gin and ½ ounce of dry vermouth into an ice-filled shaker. Shake then strain into a glass. Garnish with a lemon twist or olive. A pearl onion makes the drink a Gibson.

 The James Bond Martini:

Bond named the drink The Vesper (do not mistake with the Vespa!) for a beautiful double agent he loved. The recipe is 3 ounces of gin, 1 ounce of vodka, ½ of blond Lillet and a large thin slice of lemon peel. Pour the liquid ingredients into an ice-filled shaker, shake and strain into a Martini glass. Add the lemon peel and keep your eyes open for enemy agents.

 The Cajun Martini:

Pour a fifth of you favorite gin or vodka into a large jug, jar or bottle. Add 2 or 3 fresh jalapeno peppers (sliced, seeded and deveined) and a single chili pepper (don’t over do it!). Let sit in refrigerator for 2 days. Shake with ice and vermouth in a 5 to 1 ratio. Serve straight up or on the rocks. For the wimps out there, if it’s too hot, dilute with more gin or vodka. I sometimes use the spicy vodka in a Bloody Caesar and my girlfriend loves it!

Now that you possess the knowledge, impress your friends but please, do not allow children to mix drinks. It’s unseemly and they usually use too much vermouth.

 If this is not meant for Mods, I don't know what is.

"If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt."

Dean Martin

An unforgettable night with a soul legend...

"I like cocky people. Cocky people always have something to live up too."

Allen Toussaint, Montreal, July 4th 2010

When do you get to see a true legend of soul in an intimate setting with only 424 other lucky, dedicated fans? Well, for me, it happens only once in a blue moon. Allen Toussaint is one such legend. He's "the" reference in New Orleans soul and R&B. Before my trip to the Big Easy a few months ago, I didn't know much about this prolific singer, songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, record label owner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and all around musical genius. Many of you will know his songs without realizing he's the talent behind it. Working in the Coal Mine made famous by Lee Dorsey is the perfect example. Maybe you are familiar with a few of the obscure artists that he collaborated with or covered his songs: The Who, Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, The Hollies, Paul Weller, Otis Redding and the list goes on...

 A few Allen Toussaint produced 45s on different labels 

brought back from my trip to the Crescent City

It's been a while since I've been to a concert and felt privileged and grateful to be there. Without overstating things, it was a once in a lifetime chance. Mister Toussaint, a stage and a piano in a small venue is all I needed to be in a blissful state.

 In a span of two hours, he made me go through a myriad of emotions. He was charming, funny, touching and endearing. One moment, I was laughing uncontrollably and the next I had tears in my eyes. And the hits succeeded one another, A Certain Girl, Mother-In-Law, Everything I Do Gonna Be Funky, and Yes We Can. I was lucky enough to have heard one of my all time favourites, Fortune Teller recorded by Benny Spellman. Another little known band called The Rolling Stones later covered it. "I liked the Rolling Stones. They made me roll all the way to the bank", he said, "I just wished they would have kept on rolling..."

This is just one of the little gems he came up with when he introduced a song. The high point of the evening had to be his 15 minute long rendition of Southern Nights. The piece itself is enough to bring you to tears but to have Allen Toussaint add anecdotes from his childhood all throughout the song is enough to bring you over the edge. His visits to his family in the country is said to be the inspiration for the song. "I loved visiting my aunts and uncles. They lived in an old grey house. Really old. So old, I think they built them that way." he would reminisce. "You heard sounds and saw animals you didn't see in the city: cows, horses, chickens... You know...The type of chicken that doesn't come in a bucket."

I liked Allen Toussaint before I ever saw him live. But now that I did, I can honestly say that I appreciate him even more. I left with a smile on my face, knowing that I was just in the presence of greatness. Come back soon Mr. Toussaint...

A good dose of dirty reggae with The Aggrolites

I’m not exactly sure what “dirty reggae” is but I can definitely say that it’s damn good! The Aggrolites have successfully fused a perfect mixture of ska, soul, rocksteady and roots reggae. The result is what they call “dirty reggae”. All I know is that it works.

Currently promoting their fourth album appropriately titled IV, we were fortunate to have them make a stop in Montreal during the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Even if they are performing almost every night, this doesn’t stop them from being very energetic and in great spirits on stage. They sure know how to get a crowd going! That’s all thanks to singer-guitarist Jesse Wagner. It was quite a different vibe then The Animals show a few days earlier.

When I see an act like The Aggrolites, it gives me hope that there’s a new generation of musicians ready to take the reigns and keep the scene alive. This bunch of young fellows not only have respect for the traditional sound but can also be contemporary and have their feet firmly planted in the 21st century. Plus, I would be foolish not to underline Roger Rivas’s emphatic and dynamic organ playing. He bangs on those ivories like he was trying to put out a fire. He’s an organ-playing maniac!

Want some proof? Check out a video I took of their performance.

The Aggrolites live in Montreal

They were not only a great act on stage but they are a class act offstage also. They took time to take pictures with us and chat a bit.

I also picked up a 45rpm from the vendors table. I didn’t know anything about The Impalers but for 3$, how could I go wrong? I was pleasantly surprised to hear a very infectious traditional sounding ska / rocksteady. My favorite track was the B-side with a tribute to the king of pop himself entitled Return to Jackson. You should check out their MySpace page at:

http://www.myspace.com/theimpalerssf

Eric Burdon and The Animals live in Montreal

 I’m lucky to be living in a city that has the biggest jazz festival in the world. That's right, the largest. With around 2 million people attending every summer, the Montreal International Jazz Festival or as we call it "The Jazz Fest" can attract some of the biggest names. Not limited to strictly jazz, it's a Mod's playground. For instance, last year I went to see an amazing free outdoor concert called Rocksteady: The Roots of Reggae with legends like Ken Boothe, Stranger Cole, Hopeton Lewis, Leroy Sibbles and The Tamlins. Toots and the Maytals also played The Jazz Fest last year. So I was very excited to learn that Eric Burdon and The Animals were joining the already impressive list of artists to be playing at The Jazz Fest this year.
 

I don't usually have any expectations when I go see a group I have never seen before. For some reason, this time, I had this antiquated image of a bunch of lads dressed up in nice suits, slim ties and mop tops rocking a frenzied audience. In other words, I was picturing the guys on my Animals LP. Well, maybe that is a bit far fetched but I was at least expecting to be leaning against the stage, rocking the night away.

Check out this video and the flawed image I had in my head of their upcoming performance.

The Animals - Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood




This romanticized picture was far from what actually happened. Since it was a general admission concert, I decided to arrive well in advance. I didn't mind arriving an hour and a half before, to make sure that I was up front. I wanted a few nice shots of the group for this post. A line had already formed around the corner of the Metropolis. "This must be a good sign of things to come", I thought to myself.
 

When we finally entered the venue, I was surprised to see tables all over the dance floor. What? Did I just enter a cabaret? Luckily, I was sitting in the second row. With half an hour to waste before the start of the show, I had time to look around. I soon realized that I was one of the youngest people there. I was one of the rare fans without grey hair. Come to think about it, it makes sense. It is a group from the sixties...
 

But for such an influential group, I anticipated a more feverish, intense and energized atmosphere. One scene I didn't picture in my mind was a couple sitting at a table beside me reading a novel while sipping a glass of wine. Am I about to see Eric Burdon walk on stage? Am I in the right place? This is surreal, but not necessarily in a good way.

Once the group entered the stage, things started picking up a bit. Ironically they started the show with When I was young. I was relieved to see that Eric Burdon's voice was in full force. To add to the already particular mood, this annoying, overzealous security guard kept people from taking any type of photo. Approaching the stage was simply out of the question. I had just reached in my girlfriend's purse to take out my camera that the security guy was already waving his finger. This can't be how it was back in the sixties. I did manage to snap a picture while he wasn't looking.

At least the group didn't disappoint. They played all of their hits: Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, House of the Rising Sun, Don't Bring Me Down, It's My Life and many more. One of my all time favorites has to be John Lee Hooker's Boom Boom. They performed the classic superbly. Burdon should get praise for his warm and bluesy voice. All in all, I'm glad to have seen them. They will keep being legends in my mind.

Authentic vintage accessories for the Lambretta - A Mod's wish list

It's no secret that Mods did not come up with the idea of putting loads of accessories on their scooters. Scooterists in the fifties had a wide variety of aftermarket products to choose from. In my humble opinion, some of the best-looking chrome goodies were made for Series 1 and 2 Lambretta scooters. But there's no denying the fact that Mods took the whole accessorizing craze to an entirely different level. Their contribution to scoot culture has been so influential that today, when you see a vintage Vespa covered with shinny chrome parts, you automatically assume (rightfully or not) that you are dealing with a dedicated Mod.
 

In pure Mod tradition, I have started looking for those sought after accessories for my recently acquired Lambretta TV175 Series 3. I might have my priorities wrong, maybe I should be ordering essential parts for the scooter like cables, gaskets and rubbers.  Plus shopping for bearings is boring . Searching for a rare pair of authentic NOS Jag lights is infinitely more exciting.
 

I have scored a few desirable items on eBay that I'm looking forward to install on the Lambretta. Since I'm leaning more and more towards repainting the scooter in the original factory light metallic blue, all my accessories will most probably have blue accents. My first purchase was a  nearly pristine sixties mud flap with the classic road signs on them. Can't get more Mod than that!

I also put my hands on chrome side panel embellishers. Usually made for the Series 2 Lambretta, I have also seen them on Series 3 panels. I don't have any information on the company who manufactured them but I have no doubt they are the real deal.

 To help me in the inspiration department, I have recently added a 1966 accessory brochure from the Nannucci Company to my collection. 

  

Nannucci was based in the UK and aside from an ad that I saw in a 1960 scooter magazine, I knew nothing about the company. They distributed your typical line of bumpers, crash bars and seemed renowned for their seats for both the Lambretta and the Vespa.

 Scooter & Three Wheeler - May 1960

Scooter & Three Wheeler - June 1963

 So for all you rare accessory fanatics out there in search of that perfect authentic touch, here are the scans of the brochure in question.

 

If you know more about Nannucci accessories and want to share your knowledge or you simply want to brag about the fact that you found an ultra rare Vespa Ulma Cadillac legshield embellisher in an old box of parts that was about to be thrown in the dump, go ahead and do so in the comment section. Tell us about you favorite chrome bit or about the one that got away. Happy hunting!

A little Northern Soul for the Mod on the run

Just in case it hasn't been clear yet, let me just formally announce that I love everything that is retro and vintage. Much to my girlfriend's dismay, I can hardly resist stopping at a garage sale every time I come across one. I regularly attend antique shows. I frequent flea markets and thrift stores religiously. I make the rounds of my favorite antique shops whenever I get the chance. I genuinely get excited when I find that one item I've been looking for. I’m thrilled when someone spontaneously says: “Where the hell did you find that?”

It takes time, dedication, a good eye and a decent amount of luck to be a treasure hunter and a skilled bargain hunter. But the best feeling of all is when you find something you didn’t know you wanted until you laid your eyes on it for the first time. My loft is full of them.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was making my rounds at my favorite local flea market, I came across this unassuming small styrofoam box. Finding an item in its original packaging is always an added bonus. I have often bought collectables because of the graphics on the box and didn’t really care what was inside.

This is what I saw when I pulled the styrofoam top off. Honey Pet? Even if I didn’t have a clue what it was, the name had me hooked. It had to be something cool.

And yes, the batteries were included!

When I pulled the cover off, I had the same reaction my friend Steph had when I showed him: “Awesome!” My own little portable 45rpm record player. At 20$, I thought it was a steal. Now this is what every Mod should have when he’s out on the town! One small problem, it had no needle.

So I had two options. Find a replacement needle or search for a donor turntable. I ended up with both. If I was going to find a needle, Addison Electronique is THE place to go. You'll find everything you need, in this warehouse type of store, to build your own stereo from scratch. I once found NOS knobs for my 70's Electrohome turntable at a dime a piece.

I showed up at the electronics counter with my Honey Pet in one hand and asked the clerk if he could help me. Dumbfounded, two other employees joined in. They had no clue what I needed. One of them told me that if one person at Addison could be of assistance, it had to be Jim (not sure about the name). I waited 45 minutes for his lunch break to be over and as soon as he picked up my strange piece of low-fi, he said: "Oh... I thought this was going to be a challenge. This is easy!" Five minutes and 5$ later, he had the needle installed. This place amazes me every time.

Meanwhile, I had found an untested mini record player on eBay. Best-case scenario, I would have two working turntables and the start of a new collection. Worst-case scenario, I would have spare parts. When I received my Commodore Micro Record Player, I couldn't believe it was even smaller then the Japanese Honey Pet.

After much tinkering and tweaking, I got both of them working. They remind me of a Lambretta engine. They are temperamental and not always reliable. They are cool gadgets nonetheless.

 But what would be a very cool record player without sweet soul music or some catchy 60's garage to spin? I had just learned that my friend Ben had come back from New York City with 2000 singles. That's right 2-0-0-0! He selected some 200 from the lot that would most likely be of interest to me. He came over to my place and we had an intense listening session. I ended up with 40 or so 45s. I basically bought all that I could with the money I had on hand. Amongst them I got a bunch of classic Tamla, a handful of groovy R&B tunes, a few Northern Soul gems, some rare and obscure 60's garage and a couple of weird and quirky space age tracks. The perfect mix for the Mod on the run...

Here is a sample of some of my favorite picks:

- Peaches "n" Cream by The Ikettes on Modern Record

- Some Kind of Wonderful by the Soul Brothers Six on Atlantic Records

- (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet by the Blues Magoos on Mercury Records

- The "In" Crowd by Dobie Gray on Charger Records

- Little Bit O'Soul by The Music Explosion on Laurie Records

- Mashed Potato Time by Dee Dee Sharp on Cameo Records

- Night Time by The Strangeloves on Bang Records

- Lies by The Knickerbockers on Challenge Records

- You Make Me Feel So Good by The Buckinghams on U.S.A. Records

- The Boy From New York City by The Ad Libs on Blue Cat Records

Check out these videos I posted on YouTube of a few of the records I added to my collection. Enjoy!

Northern Soul - INEZ FOXX - He's The One You Love - 1963.AVI

Northern Soul - R&B - The Jerk - The Larks - 1965 - Money Records .AVI

60's Garage Rock - Liar Liar - The Casteways - 1965.AVI  

Ben Sherman: official member of the Parka Avenue Mod Hall of Fame

I sometimes hear people complain about the direction Ben Sherman took in the last decade. "It's too commercial." "The quality is lacking." "It steered away from it's Mod roots." "It's made in China." "My uncle wears a Ben Sherman." Although some of those complaints might be legitimate, I have to confess that I still love Ben Sherman. That doesn't mean I will buy every piece of a collection but every once in a while, I'll will put my hands on a shirt or a pair of slacks that I must add to my wardrobe.

Photo of Ben Sherman's original factory building 

taken in 2009 while on a trip to Brighton

I like the fact that I can walk into the Bay store in downtown Montreal and choose something off the rack. And if I wait a few months, I can buy it at half price at Winners (our name for TK Maxx). Buying a Ben Sherman in a store in Montreal a few years ago was simply unheard of.

2010 spring collection from the Bay in downtown Montreal

And I don't miss the days before the Internet when I had to order my gear from the Merc catalogue. Every time I would cross my fingers and hope that the shirt would fit and the color was right. I would usually send out an order form with a postal money order (in £) and wait a month for the clothes to arrive. I wouldn't phone in my order for two simple reasons. One, I didn't have a credit card. Two, I tried once and I didn't understand a word the Merc employee was saying in his thick cockney accent. I must remind you that although I write this blog in English, French remains my first language.

Merc catalog - winter 1998

Merc Catalog autumn-winter 1999-2000

Merc Catalog autumn-winter 2000-1001

The selection was also pretty scarce. It was limited to 2 pages in the catalogue. You had your basic gingham shirt in 3 colors: blue, red and black. They also offered the classic polos in a few different colors. To some of you from across the pond, your common Ben Sherman gingham shirt might not be anything to brag about but back in the day, I was one of the rare ones to own such a shirt. Besides, none of the people I went to college with had a clue about this Ben character. So considering the limited availability of the garment, if you had one, you stood out.

My Ben Sherman collection has grown considerably since then. I have just recently given my two first Ben Sherman's away to a couple of friends. It's not because I didn't like them anymore. Let's just say that my physique has changed a little since I was 16. One thing hasn't changed. The shirts still look great, a true testament to the brand.

My closet has now opened its doors to trousers, shoes, jackets, ties and even underwear. Lately, my favorite product has to be the watches. As a true watch fanatic, it's only fitting that a few of them find their way in my collection.

So here's to you Ben. I tip my pork pie hat and raise my martini glass in your honor. You've given me years of quality, smart clothes and you've helped me look my best. For this I thank you. So it's a pleasure for me to officially induct you in the Parka Avenue Mod Hall of Fame.

Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings: Pure Mod Heaven

When my friend Lee mentioned to me that Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings were coming to Montreal, I could tell he was elated. “Patrick, it’s the best concert I ever saw in my life.” That is quite a bold statement. “Imagine a female version of James Brown”, he added. I had never seen her in concert before and didn’t know much about her, to be honest. Without being skeptical, I took his comment with a grain of salt. But I kept an open mind. Lee is not the type to exaggerate.

Well… I have to say, Lee was dead on! A Sharon Jones song is sweet soul music at it’s best. And she did remind me a bit of James Brown. But not the James Brown I saw the last time he came to town. I’m not talking about a cheap Vegas type revue where JB was a sad caricature of himself. It wasn’t like the tacky, tourist trap acts I saw on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Hell no! She had class and the band is the real deal! Two words: Old School. No wonder the concert was sold out.

When you have two talented back-up singers, a complete horn section, two guitarists, a bass player, a drum player and a cat playing the congas, you can tell they are serious about their craft. They also looked the part. You couldn’t fault them with their cool looking suits and slim ties.

Let’s not forget about the queen of soul herself, Ms. Jones. What a powerful voice! She blew my mind! And she got to do it up close and personal too! I don’t know what I did to attract her attention but when she extended her hand to invite me on stage, I didn’t hesitate one second. When I left my flat a few hours earlier, I wouldn’t have expected to be serenaded by her on stage. I literally had chills running up and down my spine. She had me under her spell.

The rest of the show was obviously going to be hard to beat. Not surprisingly, the rest of the set was all very tight and solid. I still have a hard time believing that there’s an incredible contemporary soul act, with all original material, touring these days. For once I am content not to be living in 1964. I can see why they have such a loyal following.

After the concert, I made sure to visit the merchandise table. Lee had warned me that Daptone Records, the band’s independent record label, had most of their catalog on vinyl there. How many soul record labels do you know that still come out with 45s these days?

Final count: I bought the Daptone double LP compilation and six singles. And to top it all off, as I leave the concert hall, I cross paths with Binky Griptite, the guitarist of the group. I asked him if he could spare a few seconds for a picture. He graciously accepted. As he leaves, he turns around and says: “Great dance moves by the way…”

A night that will be hard to top…

Check out this video I took of one of their songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bkkwj9aV5Nc

A Mod scooter in the making: Lambretta TV175 series III

Let me introduce you to my dream bike, this Lambretta TV175 series 3. I love the story behind this scooter and for a blogger like me, a good story always helps. I have just recently acquired it. Technically, I'm the fourth owner but in reality, I'll be the second one to actually have a chance to ride it.

And these days, to actually know the provenance of a bike in such good condition is getting pretty rare. First, I'm just glad I didn't have to deal with a Vietnamese death trap. Cheap Asian restorations have flooded the market in the last few years and I've heard of many horror stories. A lot of the scooter shops in North America won't even come close to one, afraid that they might catch something.

My beloved Lambretta has quite a different background. A young, recently married couple bought it new in the sixties with a simple idea in mind; use it as transportation to go on their honeymoon to Niagara Falls. For those who are not familiar with the honeymoon capital of the Great White North, picture a kitsch Las Vegas but with a huge waterfall.

In the sixties, it was the place to be on your wedding night.

It's quite a romantic beginning, don't you think? According to the daughter who sold the scooter for her parents, the two-wheeler was stored after the trip and hibernated in a cozy garage for decades, taken out only occasionally. This would explain the absence of rust, dings and the very low mileage.

The scooter then entered its dark phase. Thankfully it wasn't for long. The daughter eventually sold the TV175 to an old Italian fascist who revered Mussolini and Hitler. My buddy who bought the scooter from him recalled seeing a picture of Hitler and his wife on the living room mantle. Creeped out by the hate speech and incoherent ramblings of a racist old man, he paid him and bolted out of the place in 4th gear.

More proof of the old geezer's stupidity is that he spray painted the whole scooter with a rattle can. Don't get me wrong, I've seen some amazing things done with spray paint but this was simply a lazy, bodged job. The scooter looked like a big blue-grey orange peal. He didn't even bother taking the badges off! He even painted over the horncast grill! You can see evidence everywhere of where tape was applied. From what I can tell from the gentle wet sand I did on the scooter, the original scooter use to be white. Can you imagine? I could have had a stock TV175!

My friend kept it in his garage for a year and eventually passed it on to me. I did lose the original front disc brake in the transaction. He used it on his stunning SX200. Quite the dream bike in his own right!

So here I am with the scooter I always wanted in my living room and illusions of grandeur. This is where the real work (and headaches!) begins. I was looking to have it run and put, as is, on the road for the start of the riding season but I have since changed my mind and I'm looking to have a complete restoration done. Do you have any suggestions? I'm listening...