Ancel, of Ancel and the Electric Church, at Don Hill's

July 1st was officially Canada Day. I'm certain many New Yorkers weren't celebrating this monumental holiday at their local happy-hour establishments. Instead of honoring my northern pals, I thought I'd tell all of you what I really did. I was invited to see Ancel, of Ancel and the Electric Church, perform at Don Hill's. I was fortunate enough to meet Ancel while working as a cigarette girl aboard the Love Boat, or as it has been dubbed, "The Titanic" on the Frying Pan ship docked at Chelsea Piers. The Squeezebox party, previously at Don Hill's on Thursday nights, moved there and changed its "official" name to Cap'n Crunch. The evening that Ancel and I met we discussed music, people, places and events. I asked him what his songs were about. He replied, "Sex, Drugs, and Attitude," which also happens to be the title of his new CD due out this summer.

Ancel

Ancel mentioned that he usually plays a full-blown show complete with fireworks and all. But on July 1st, Ancel took the stage accompanied by a bottle of Jack Daniels and guitar. The line-up was sans Greta (bass) and Thommy Price (drums) – not just a childhood fable anymore (Ancel and Greta, get it?). Acoustic Ancel started strumming his guitar sensually. He began singing melodically about a female friend asking him for advice on posing nude for an adult magazine. He told her to "Go for it. What the fuck." He later received a copy of the publication in the mail complete with centerfold. Another memorable song was Ancel's cover of the artist-formerly-known as-Prince's "Darling Nikki." You know the one... "The lights went out and Nikki started to grind," and when he "woke up all he found was a phone number and used condom on the stair." I also remember hearing a song about addiction. I'm not sure if he was speaking of sexual or drug-related; nonetheless, it was a seductive tune. Ancel's flawless guitar playing combined with his sultry bluesy rock-and-roll voice would make any girl gush. It was a breath of fresh air watching this type of unpretentious sound at Don Hill's. When Ancel

Ancel

walked off the stage at the end of his set, the crowd begged for more. I even heard a rumor about groupie shenanigans backstage. Rock and roll! While Ancel was working the room, I chatted up the bartender about the new club Peter Crowley, Master Jeffrey and I are putting together. A very glamorous rock venue, I might add. Enough shameless self-promotion. This topic will be continued at another more appropriate time. In closing, I'd like to let everyone know that Ancel and his Electric Church will be "rocking your world" this summer. With talent like this, who needs to go to Canada? Just remember where you heard it first.
Lots of Love,
Miss Adena