The Right Stuff

In 1990 a bunch of brash youth from Beantown had already paved the way for the pop revolution of the coming decade, and were beginning their descent into the hell of declining sales, solo projects, pubertym and probation. It all came to an apex with a little ditty customized with the classic top-40 parenthetical title of "You've Got It (The Right Stuff.)"

Well, about that same time in America a not-so-brash bunch of not-so-youthful youth were paying homage to that number one hit in order to bring attention to themselves, and to let audiences, everywhere, know that an evening was about to happen.

Here, friends, is the first of what will probably be many, clips of the late, great Mobile Hombres. This is from the start of a show at SLO Brew in January (or February) of 1990. Opening that night was an acoustic third of Rhythm Akimbo. The second clip is one of my favorite things we did, the trumpet-led arrangement of "I Go Blind," a nearly-known track by Canada's 54-40. That is the phenomenal Jen Elson playin' her horn.

The film was shot by RA trombonist and all-round amazing talent Brad Bennet who, so many years later, is about to unveil his cinematic directorial debut, Breakfast on Catalina, this week at the SLO International Film Festival!

So, here's to Brad, and here's to the Hombres. I will be adding more from this show and others in the weeks to come.