Those of us that grew up in the '70s fondly remember the 1976 "King Kong" remake, even though it wasn't quite the same as the original. So, we're kindly disposed to Louisville quartet King Kong, whose funky update of the disco sound of 1976 is also not a carbon copy, but rather something with a little different sound.
Over the course of four LPs, the group, comprising singer and organist Ethan Buckler, backing vocalist Amy Partin, drummer Ray Rizzo and bassist Willy Maclean, has toiled away quietly, perfecting a sci-fi sound-bolstered, disco-era funk with a rock and roll edge.
King Kong's latest disc, "The Big Bang," released by Chicago's Drag City Incorporated, was produced by labelmate Neil Michael Hagerty and is uplifting, fun, groovy and energized.
To promote the disc, the band is hitting the road on a 16-city U.S. tour that kicks off in the Windy City and heads next to Milwaukee's Cactus Club. They perform there Wed., Aug. 7 at 9 p.m. Check 'em out. Cobra and The Brown County Sermon also play.
The Cactus Club is located at 2496 S. Wentworth Ave. in Bay View. For more information, call (414) 482-0160.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
