Rockabilly Corner featuring the fabulous Pin Up Boys!
by Sheila Broderick
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This month’s feature is Denver’s Pin Up Boys! This group rocks the house with the traditional rockabilly sound. Front man Les Coopers brings it all together with a voice that makes you move. They are set to release a new EP sometime this summer or early fall, which promises to be all original material.
CMB: Give us a little background.
Les Cooper: First I should give you our personnel: Dave Devore (lead guitar and vocals), Mark Verschoor (upright bass and vocals), Ken Raikes (drums), Les Cooper (lead vocals and rhythm guitar).
Dave and I met June 15, 1994, at my tryout for a then unnamed honky-tonk western swing group that was later named the Dalhart Imperials. I played for 13 years with that band, eventually deciding to leave in 2007. Dave Devore played for about 8 of those years, Ken Raikes is my neighbor, and is a former music teacher, and Reno/Tahoe area musician. [He] has played with artists such as Mac Davis, Shirley Jones, and Lena Horne, to name a few. I did not know him well, but knew he played percussion, and when the drummer for the Dalhart Imperials, Rodney Bowen, went down in a motorcycle accident, I asked Ken if he would sub until Rodney was able to return. Dave, Ken and I messed around for a couple of years trying to put a project together after the Dalharts ended. I was trying to do something a little less traditional but it proved very difficult to find a bass player.
We played some Gospel tunes in various Metro area churches, and worked with a charity for the homeless and working poor called Mean Street Ministry. I throw a big BBQ every year and got the chance to play a few songs with Mark Verschoor. At a rockabilly show at Tambien one Sunday, I sat with Mark, and we decided to give it a go. Our first show was just an opening gig for the Lucky Few at the Skylark in March of 2011. We play a mix of covers and originals. I am slowly writing more originals, but didn’t try too hard at first because I am only inspired to write when I know it will be played publicly. Our sets are mostly rockabilly, but there is a dose of all the music we love. You will hear hillbilly, jump blues, traditional and alt country.
CMB: Where do you find your inspiration and influences?
Les Cooper: I can only speak for myself, but I grew up in a small town called Woodway, Texas. My family loved music but nobody played. They were big country fans, and I have seen a lot of my heroes play, but at the time was dragged, kicking and screaming, to the Grand Ole Opry, CMA‘s and Fanfare. I wish I had had the sense to enjoy it. I grew up idolizing Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. George Jones and Faron Young are two of my favorite country singers. In college, after delving into punk and new wave, I stumbled back into roots music after hearing Dwight Yoakam’s first album.
CMB: What is your take on the Denver RB scene?
Les Cooper: The scene has a lot more bands now than when I first moved to Denver in 1992. There are several new bands like the Atomic Drifters, Cora Vetta and the Vinyl Tops, and Phantom 88. A good bit of the old guard is still playing either solo or with other groups like: Ethyl and the Regulars, the Chuck Hughes Band, El Rancho Vegas, and the Informants. I would say the scene is alive and well, but not real unified like when I was living in LA in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Part of the problem is the pay for bands has remained stagnate for as long as I have been playing, and I hear from even before that. That makes it very difficult to get more than one band on a bill and make it financially viable for them. As a result, you get nights with a few shows that can segment the crowd. Experienced bands that can play all night want to get paid, and who can blame them, so they play alone. Shows would be more fun with 2 or more bands, but venues can’t, or won’t, put out the money it would take to do so.
CMB: Do any of you have side projects?
Les Cooper: Dave, Ken and I only play in the Pin Up Boys, but Mark plays with Daisy and the Dynaflows, the Lucky Few, the High Gear Daddies, and the Chuck Hughes Band.
CMB: Who are you listening to?
Les Cooper: Dale Watson, Skeets McDonald, Nick Curran, Big Sandy, George Jones, JD McPherson, Ronnie Dawson, the Avett Brothers, Old ‘97s, Etta James, Orbison, Chris Isaak, Justin Townes Earl and too many more to list.
CMB: What shows do you have coming up in June and where can our audience find you?
Les Cooper: June 2, Eloy’s in Ft. Collins; June 10, the Sit N Bull in Indian Hills. We have several shows coming up in July as well. Our new website should be up and running soon. We have a Facebook page that you will have more luck finding if you find my page, Les Cooper, first. So go to my page and reference the link.
CMB: Is there anything you would like out readers to know that I haven’t asked?
Les Cooper: I hope some of the younger, new generation of rockabillies will give us a listen. As your youth fades you realize you have to get better at your music. Besides, I’m still just as stupid as I ever was. I can’t run as fast as I used to, so I engage in less criminal mischief. Doesn’t mean I don’t think about it.
One thing I find fantastic about Denver’s Rockabilly Scene, is that everyone is involved with their community and with fellow bands. It is amazing to me how well most of the scene supports and comes together with one another.
Online: facebook.com/pages/The-Pin-Up-Boys
Category: The Post
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wassup with a site called music buzz with NO MUSIC?? I came here looking to hear some of this band’s music to see if I wanted to go see them live…. but alas there is no samples on line… not even at a site caled music buzz…. REALLY??