Oct. 27, 1973: The Dogs
A lot of familiar faces in one seriously smokin’ band …
Oct. 27, 1973
‘The Dogs’ Teach Each Other Musical Tricks
“YOU DOGS,”
guitarist Ralph Parker barks from his perch in front of the TV at the other end
of the house on
The rest of the band is trying to lure him back into a
discussion of music, but that’s something Ralph can talk about any time. Much
more compelling is the World Series, which comes only once a year. And Ralph
has money riding on the Mets.
Ralph’s reply slides off the group like fried eggs off
Teflon. “Dogs” is Ralph’s favorite epithet, but the sharp side of it – the
insult – has lost its teeth from overuse and the kinder bite of camaraderie is
what survives.
* * *
THEN TOO,
calling the band Dogs may have something to do with it. Since a dog can be
anything from a floppy, boisterous, fun-loving cur to a loyal, sensitive man’s
best friend, the group thinks it suits them just fine.
“We’re sorta like the old dogs and the new dogs, teaching
each other new tricks,” says Steve Nathan, who plays clavinet, an electronic
keyboard instrument with a buzzing tinkle that approximates a harpsichord.
Stevie Wonder plays one. Steve’s was a present from his
wife Kathy.
While Steve is the chief proponent of new tricks – he’s
responsible for the group’s generous serving of Stevie Wonder and Billy Preston
numbers – the old tricks are the province of the band’s other keyboard man,
Stan Szelest,
* * *
STAN’S HIGH-SPIRITED, honky-tonk keyboard work, with its echoes of Fats Domino and Jerry
Lee Lewis, has propelled bands to frenzy hereabouts for 16 years, discounting
the time out he took to tour with
“It’s two different styles,” Steve explains, “but we’ve got
the same basics.”
“It keeps you workin’ for the young people,” says Stan,
who’s 31. “It keeps ‘em from shippin’ you out to the farm.”
On recent gigs at Granny Goodness on
And structured it is. The solos, while crisp and tasty
(especially Ralph’s, which have improved mightily over the past year),
generally take a back seat to the band’s tightly pulsing mass.
“We’ve all been playing long enough to play without
stepping on each other’s toes,” says Steve. “The only concern is how the whole
thing sounds.”
Hence, there’s only occasional individual forays into the
limelight. Like Steve doing his excellent rendition of Stevie Wonder’s
“Superstition.” Or Stan getting in at least one rock ‘n roll classic a set.
Vocals were given a boost by the addition of Pete’s strong
voice, but they’re still uneven, with sloppy moments among the good.
Dogs evolved from the last band Stan formed last winter
around Ralph and Eric, who have worked with him on and off for several years.
Steve, former pianist with Parkside, arrived late last spring.
To replace their original drummer, Sandy Konikoff, the band
had to search far.
“We have the distinction of playing with almost every
drummer around,” says Stan, “inside of three weeks.”
Steve adds: “Ralph and I used to go out and look at bands
and figure out how to steal their drummers. And they knew what we were up to.
We weren’t secretive about it.”
* * *
THAT’S HOW
they found Pete. A former member of The Fugitives and Ricky & The Rockets,
he was doing gigs with Phil Dillon and Carl Gottman.
But filling out the band didn’t end their struggles. There
was still the problem of finding work. When Granny’s cut them from three nights
a week to two nights, Stan, with a wife and four kids to support, starting
thinking about getting a day job or maybe going back to play country music.
* * *
STAN PUT AWAY
his emergency plans, however, when Dogs landed a Wednesday through Sunday night
engagement which began this week at the Belle Starr in Colden. They hope it’ll
keep them warm through the winter.
For Steve, who already works full time for his father in
the Festival East ticket office, it looks like a heavy load. But he’s
enthusiastic about it.
* * *
“ANY BAND
that can get me out to work five nights a week when I’m working six days a week
has got to be something special,” he says, “and this band is.”
“I could be talkin’ to myself,” Stan muses, “but I’d like
to make a record with this band.”
“We’ve already made a few records,” says Eric from a couch
on the far wall. “Like most cigarettes smoked during one set … “
That’s a signal for Steve to pull out a solo tape he made
in his music room, Stevie Wonder style. As the others talk about going out for
some food and drink, Ralph emerges from his preoccupation with the Series long
enough to make a contingency bet on the Mets with Pete.
“Ralph,” Pete says, “you’re a dog.”
“You’re darn right,” says Ralph.
* * * * *
IN THE PHOTO:
From left, pianist Stan Szelest, guitarist Ralph Parker, drummer Pete Holguin,
bass guitarist Eric Ferguson and clavinet player Steve Nathan.
* * * * *
FOOTNOTE: Two keyboard legends here – Stan Szelest was
Ralph Parker, seen here without his middle initial J.,
showed up in many great
One of Ralph’s associations was the Billy McEwen Band,
formerly the Soul Invaders, a
And finally, I’m pretty sure bassist Eric Ferguson is
the well-traveled veteran of the Ronnie Hawkins band who these days serves
on the executive board of American Federation of Musicians Local 148-162 in
Atlanta. He's played in a lot of theater productions and has been a sideman for artists as varied as Minnie Pearl and the Sir Douglas Quintet.
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