Press Release - By Jim Hoehn - Associated Press  - Tue, 20 Jul 1999

Milwaukee's Convertibles Ready To Roll


With the top down and the volume up, The Convertibles are tearing up the rock 'n' roll highway with their debut CD, Rockin' and Stompin'. "The Convertibles, who celebrated their first anniversary in June, recorded the 14 rocking tracks during the winter at the recently updated 24-track facility of Lulu Records, the Milwaukee-based independent label run by Paul Barry, the group's rhythm guitarist." This is the first project to be completed in the studio since we updated our equipment and we are very pleased with the results,'' said Barry, a veteran of the Milwaukee music scene. "Having our own facility eliminated the pressure of clock watching and allowed us to be more relaxed in the studio.''The end result was the energetic "Rockin' and Stompin,'" which the band refers to as Swingabilly, combining elements of rockabilly, swing and the sounds of the '50s and '60s into their own unique blend of roots rock 'n' roll. "We think the music takes you back to an age when rock 'n' roll was pure and simple,'' Barry said. "Rock 'n' roll the way it was meant to be, when it was fun and stripped down to the bare essentials. "In Convertibles terminology, that means short, uptempo songs with strong hooks and harmonies that beg the listener to sing along. The groove is king and staying in the pocket is the group's battle cry. In addition to Barry, the band is comprised of lead guitarist Tom Sorce, drummer "Chainsaw" Buddy Michaels and stand-up bassist Dennis "Big Daddy  DirtBall" Shaske. Each member is capable of lead vocals, which results in The Convertibles' signature sound featuring intricate and tightly-woven harmonies. Years of combined performing experience are evident in the band's well-defined stage presence, which belies just one year as a working entity. "We've all been there before so we know what to expect,'' said Michaels. "Plus, we all love the basics of rock 'n' roll. "The material on "Rockin' and Stompin'" is a mixture of the most obscure of obscure covers and originals and the band is not quick to say which is which. "We're curious to see if people can tell the originals from the covers," Sorce said." "Rockin' and Stompin'" is the first joint release between Lulu Records and The Rockabilly Hall of Fame label. The Rockabilly Hall of Fame, run by rockabilly aficionado Bob Timmers of Appleton, Wis., offers the world's largest website devoted to that style of  music. "Bob is a great crusader for rockabilly and rock 'n' roll music and we are very pleased that he liked our material enough to include us on his label," DirtBall said. Think real rock 'n' roll has gone the way of tail fins and white sidewalls? Think again! Fasten your seatbelts and come along for a wild ride with The Convertibles.

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