DaWillys – Live at McGovern’s in NYC – June 18, 1990
DaWillys were one of the coolest bands on the NY scene in the late ’80s and early ’90s. They weren’t garage; they weren’t punk, at least not in the traditional sense. Some lumped them in with the nascent “Scum Rock” scene, but to this day, I’m not sure that’s accurate.
The “Philippe Marcade” they bring up to play harmonica on “Kitchen Action” is the singer of The Senders.
The intro was done by the band’s manager, Chet.
Lynne Von Schlicting – vocals
Leon Ross – guitar
Peter Landau – drums
As to bass… I can’t remember if Willy was still there or if he’d handed the tennis ball – yes, really – to Jenna McGrath.
Leon died in the early ’90s. Willy moved to Pennsylvania. Pete Landau now lives in California. Jenna’s been in Texas, NY, and – from what I hear – is now somewhere out west. Lynne kept going, first w/the Trick Babys and then The Carvels. These days she has a band called The Vondells.
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Posted by blair in Out of the Vaults, Into Your Ears, Podcast | 15 Comments »
2006-08-10 at 11:39
Do you post some more Lyres?,I know there’s much more
,No Reason To Complain…
2006-08-10 at 11:55
I plan on posting a couple more live Lyres shows, sooner or later. Stay tuned…
2006-08-10 at 15:40
Hei,I’ll be there
2006-08-11 at 18:24
I may also have a Lyres’ show that can be used. But I’m not sure how much I like the quality right now. I’ll have to listen to it a few more times.
In the meantime, it’s good listening to DaWillys again. Quite the band.
2006-08-23 at 20:01
Whoever posted this, do you have more Da Willys stuff? I’d love to get them from you. Let me know. PeterLandau@mindspring.com
2006-08-29 at 08:41
Stumbled upon this post while doing a search for Da Willys, I too would like more stuff from them. Leon was my brother, I was a teenager when he died. I never got to see them play.
2006-09-05 at 18:23
Robin,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I know this is many, many years after the fact, but I want you to know that Leon touched many lives.
I only knew Leon from going out to shows, but back then that’s how I spent probably 5-6 nights a week. Leon was at a large percentage of the ones I was at. I could count on seeing him probably at least 3 nights a week at one point. I always enjoyed his company.
I wish you could have seen him play with DaWillys; they were a fantastic band.
I don’t have any other live tapes of them that I know of, but my friend Jeff – who taped lots of stuff back then – may have some.
Feel free to contact me through my MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/speedofsoundpodcast
2006-10-16 at 17:26
Hey Robin:
I was the drummer in Da Willys with Leon. Email me and I’ll make you copies of some of the stuff I have. I miss that guy a lot. (My email is in the post above.)
Peter
2006-12-29 at 01:04
hey! hope you get this email, even tho this thread was a few months ago. i went to all the shows of da willys waaaaaay back when. i remember seeing them a lot at parties … giant parties, some of the best nights ever. i could absolutely still sing several of the songs, i’m sure: i think i was the number one fan. it must have started around 1987 (i met my college-boyfriend at a willys show, i think that year.) i can remember after one show late on night there being a sort of food fight in that — oh lord i’ve forgotten — kiev, was it, on the corner of 7th, and leon throwing food and everyone was drunk and thinking this food fight at 4 a.m. was the funniest thing ever (or i thought so at the time; i was about five years old myself). i i remember when leon died (tho i totally didn’t hardly know him.) they were definitely one of the best bands around in those days ….. bess
2007-01-07 at 19:46
Hey Bess, I’m sure I know you, but I’m terrible with names. Good to hear some people still remember Da Willys. You should check out Amber’s visual archive of flyers/photos: http://flickr.com/photos/greenfuzz/sets/72157594364048351/
2007-02-09 at 12:38
HI Peter! Do you remember Hank’s Crystal Palace? (If you remember Todd Norlander — harmonica? — you might vaguely remember who I was… ) I’ve been trying to figure out where Hank’s Crysytal Palace was….Bess
2007-02-17 at 14:28
i got a million-an-one stories about DaWillys. I put out their first 7″ on Baylor Records. Great band. Great people. Hank’s Crystal Palace was on the Bowery down the block from CB’s. When the liquor stores in the area closed for the night, Hank’s had cases of MD 20/20 stacked behind the bar that the winos would come in off the street and purchase. Dem was da daze, right, Peter?
2007-02-26 at 01:28
Da Willys was one of greatest bands I ever saw live and I only saw them once at 6A (Ave A & 6th St). I’ll never forget Lynne Von’s vocal on Back Door Man, brilliant and she could sing a 2-note octave at once, just like Janis! Leon’s death was a great loss to punk rock, to music…
2007-04-07 at 13:17
I was recently in Bilbao in the Basque region of Spain setting up an art show. One day I was wandering through this shitty ghetto looking for hash when I came upon a storefront punkrock record store. There was wall space to hang maybe 9 albums and one of them was da Willy’s sole LP.
As Bess mentioned above, I used to play harmonica with da Willys on Captain Beefheart’s “Frying Pan.” I recorded with them at Wharton Tier’s Big Fun studio, but rumour had it that Mike Edison accidently erased the tapes (which he denies). When they recorded again Phillipe played the song as I was out of touch.
Da Willy’s recently had a reunion show at a bar on Fourteenth St. featuring Lynn, Willy, Al of Hammerbrain on guita,r and bar owner Steve on drums. The old cheering section were all there: Amber, Marnie, Pebbles, Fastlane,Liz, Unk, Dave Linsay, Jeff Doucett, Johnny Stiff and many others. Mike Edison’s band also played.
2007-05-30 at 21:52
Robin, are you still out there? I finally made Da Willys tapes for you, but I think I’ve lost your email. Please get back to me. Peter