The (Amazing) Royal Crowns
An interview with drummer Dana Stewart
by Mark Phinney
The boys and girls boppin’ to the big beat, while the dance floor takes on a life of its own. Out front, the rims and the fins let the squares know that there’s trouble waiting inside for them. You smooth your way through the crowd, pass the cats and the kittens, and up to the stage where the real action is goin’ down. The big bass man, Jack “Swinger” Hanlon, is plunkin’ out that crazy sound, while across the way, Johnny “Lucky Tiger” Royale is freewheelin’ that ever-so-sweet Gretsch guitar. From the rear, you can feel the thumpin ‘n’ bumpin of the slick skins master himself, Dana “Daddy-O” Stewart. Finally, stickin’ that big boot with a whole heap of badass on the heel is Jason King Kendall, waving that checkered flag of vocal harmony. Where are you? You’re at the Royal Crowns Dance Party.
Why has rockabilly become such a movement in the Boston music scene of late?
I believe it’s always been there, a lot of trashabilly, punkabilly, that basic 1-4-5 sound, roots of rock ‘n’ roll stuff from the late ’80s. There’s more and more cats meeting up realizing it’s still alive. I was putting shows together seven months ago, they were just more scattered. Now I think the people know where they can find the music.
How would you describe the difference between the Royal Crowns sound and more traditional rockabilly bands?
The Crowns are an ideal crossover band. With a lot of people listening to punk rock music, you get a hardcore feel to it and people like that feel, that energy, that’s coming off the stage. When we’re blending all this with that upright bass, Johnny’s Gretsch guitar, and Jason’s vocals, it’s a crowd pleaser.
Is this rebirth of rockabilly going to last?
Rockabilly has always been, in some style or another. People like Sleepy La Beef, and Little Frankie from the Cranktones, these guys have always been around. It’s always going to be there, whether it’s in trashabilly, or a more country-oriented style. That train beat and twang guitar, people are always gonna dig it; it’s American rock at it’s best.
What have been some of the main influences on the Crowns’ music?
Of course we all have our personal favorites: Lucky Tiger prefers that old Chet Atkins guitar great stuff, while Jack the Swinger digs rockabilly from early 1954, when it was switching over from hillbilly to a bit more R&B. Myself, I listen to anything from early ’20s gutbucket jazz to quite a bit of ’50s rockabilly, also a lot of late ’40s R&B rhythms.
Is it just the music, or a deeper appreciation of the ’50s altogether?
It’s definitely that whole time. It was a great era in this country; the politics were starting to get a little fuzzy, it was a time when the youth were getting wild.
The birth of the rebel.
Exactly. A lot of cool styles: Cool cars, a real slick look, the chicks with their hair done up, and the dancing. It wasn’t necessarily the first stage, but it was definitely the start of something a lot more dangerous. A cool state of mind.
The future of the Royal Crowns?
Well, things are going straight now. It’s tight and everyone is happy, we have the album that were shoppin’ around, and with Big Rig looking at us, things are coming together. We’re going on the road a lot, some shows coming up with the BossTones that look pretty promising… We want to spread that Royal Crown word.
Who are some of your favorite bands?
Local stuff like the Cranktones, Country Bumpkins, Speed Devils, a lot of rockabilly, but I also dig the surf scene in town.
What other endeavors are you or the band taking on?
Well, besides the Boxcar Phantoms, my other more traditional band, I’ve worked on some articles for a ‘zine which covers the rockabilly scene. I did a piece on diners, see I guess you could call me a dinersore. You always have to find a good diner on the road.
Your not a side-of-the-highway McDonald’s guy?
Oh no, always looking for that flashing neon sign in the night. This all goes back to the old style traditional way: The service, the sassy attitude of the waitress, hash slinging in the back – it’s a part of this country that I think we all miss and need to get back to.
Do all you guys use Royal Crown?
No, but we drink a lot of it.
Is rockabilly just as big elsewhere in the country as it is here?
Oh yeah, we’ve been all over recruiting bands from Philadelphia and down south like the Belmont Playboys, the Vibrochamps from Minnesota, and the Frantic Flatops.
Would you rather be playing this music here and now, or back in the thick of it?
The thick of it, without a doubt. Especially going back to that time with the knowledge you’ve picked up about punk rock, and the New York Dolls, Johnny Thunders, and mixed with that Eddie Cochren, Gene Vincent stuff – it would really shake up the airwaves.
You might get into some trouble.
Gotta like that word trouble.
Are the Royal Crowns pyschobilly?
We’re a much more happy, friendly sound, apart from the more insane psychobilly. There is still danger to it, not so much dark and eerie, but more of a swingin’ jumpin’ sound.
Is this it for you? Are you ready to take this on for the rest of your life?
Well, I’m not ready to move to Mars with it, but it’s working for now.
Dana and I went on to discuss the case of the Lady in Red, who caused the downfall of John Dillinger, Rebel B movies from the mid-’50s, and Dick Continos pants, but that’s another interview in another issue, on another planet.
