THE DIRDY BIRDIES JUG BAND
It was one of the greatest years ever for rock ‘n’ roll: Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” came out in 1965, as did The Rolling Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and The Beatles’ Help! and Rubber Soul albums. However, when The Dirdy Birdies Jug Band formed that year, at Montclair State College (not yet a university), they embraced old-timey music. And they stuck to their guns. Billing themselves as “The World’s Most Dangerous Jug Band,” they maintained a strong following for many years on the New Jersey area folk circuit.
They no longer do a lot of performing, though they will present a 50th anniversary show July 12 at the Turning Point in Piermont, N.Y. Singer-songwriter Rick Ilowite, who was briefly a member of the group in the early ’90s, will also perform. For information, visit turningpointcafe.com.
Check out, below, their infectious version of “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me,” a song from the Hit Parade … of 1919.
New Jersey celebrated its 350th birthday in 2014. And in the 350 Jersey Songs series, we marked the occasion by posting 350 songs — one a day, from September 2014 to September 2015 — that have something to do with the state, its musical history, or both. To see the entire list, click here.
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
1 comment
Those old enough to remember when 77 WABC was the most-listened to Top-40 radio station east of the Rockies, may recall that in 1967, The Dirdy Birdies Jug Band won the annual Big Break talent hunt, hosted by Cousin Bruce Morrow. The Big Break was the biggest Battle Of The Bands in America. The finals were held at the New York Hilton, the bill included the 10 best amateur bands on the east coast – and headliners, The Blues Magoos. The Dirdy Birdies won the contest with their rendition of “Duncan & Brady”.