Copyright © The Barnshakers 2006
design: Rhumboogie Design
 
"Sing Me a Blue Song"
Name & instrument:
Vesa Haaja – vocals & acoustic rhythm guitar

Born:
April 1968

musical history:
I was born in small town, Hamina, just about 20 miles from Russian border. As 9 years old I started taking piano lessons, bought a guitar and formed my first band The Whistle Bait (still going strong) when just 15. I got influenced of 50’s rock’n roll as 11 years old, started collecting records and getting deeper in it. I started composing my own songs already when 16 and made my first record at age of 18 with The Whistle Bait. Plenty of my songs has been released by my bands and other artists since.

influences:
I am a big fan of good singers and great composers. I like good music in a wide scale; from western swing to r&b, from wild rockabilly to mild rock and roll, even from garage surf to soul and motown groups. Whatever it is, it has to have a good feeling or a catchy tune in it, no matter from what era it comes. As a singer my biggest influences has to be Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Clyde McPhatter, Arthur Alexander, Charlie Rich, Gene Vincent, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, Johnny Cash, Charlie Feathers, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Del Shannon, Bob Luman, Slim & Slam, Hank Thompson, Benny Joy, Ronnie Self, Louis Prima, Dee Clark, Amos Milburn, Howlin’ Wolf etc. etc. Generally singers in wide scale of styles with an attitude and soul in whatever they perform. I’m nuts for those sleazy, bad, stripper-kind-a tunes you may find in Las Vegas Grind –type collections. There is also lots of good new music coming on all the time and you may count me as a fan of Big Sandy, Deke Dickerson, Cave Catt Sammy, Four Charms, Nick Curran, Barnstompers, High Noon and so on. I am also a big fan of sleazy b-movies from 40’s to 60’s. I collect them as movies and as one-sheets, half sheets, inserts, lobby cards, pressbooks – you name it.

instrument:
Kay flattop or Orpheum Leader acoustic guitar from late 40’s with 50’s D’Armond pickup. I’m a sucker for cheap 50’s-60’s instruments which may be bad and difficult to play but look and sound just great. In studio I prefer old tube mikes (Neumann U67, RCA 77 etc.) and on stage use usually Shure microphones. I also play on stage some songs with Danelectro baritone guitar.

amp:
Normally I play acoustic guitar connected straight to desk, but use sometimes my small Gibson or Silvertone amps from ca. 1950. For baritone guitar I use the same amps.


some Barnshaker highlights:
I like to perform on stage, wherever the music takes us. I have fond memories of tours in States, especially the first Denver Weekender 1996, Viva Las Vegas and Green Bay, shows in Texas, California or upper north. Hemsby and Rave appearances in England, a gig in Barcelona, and Callela, Spain, wonderful first gig ever in Italy, Ancona, countless tours in Europe and of course all over Finland, in cities and small villages. I love to meet people, talk with them on tours and see many familiar faces all over again. I feel honored to see world so much with the music I love – and of course to play with bunch of so talented musicians and nice persons. One of my greatest highlights as a rhythm guitar player was of course to back mr. Hank Thompson in France.
"Lester Leaps In"
 Name & instruments:
Jussi Huhtakangas ("Lester Peabody") – electric lead guitar & steel guitar

Born:
January 1967

I've been playing guitar almost as long as I've been a big time music fan. I got my first guitar when I was twelve and first guitar heroes that caught my ear were Scotty Moore, Eddie Cochran and all Gene Vincent's lead players. I mainly play with the thumb-pick but occasionally use a flatpick too. Playing with the thumb-pick comes of course from the style that was popularized by Merle Travis and Chet atkins, two of my most important influences. If not for those two gentlemen, you probably wouldn't be reading this and I'd be out playing tennis somewhere. Another guitarist, whose music has had a great impact on me, is Johnny Smith, man with a perfect taste and technique. And of course I could go on here forever listing names of musicians past and present, whose work I enjoy, but I guess that's a subject for another website.

Gear:
I've played various guitars during these years, and somehow they've always been hollowbodies. Nothing wrong with the solidbodies, I've just never had one. The guitar I have now is an arch top made according to the blueprints of a 56' D'angelico New Yorker. It was built by a super gifted luthier, Juha Lottonen who has his workshop in my home town, Helsinki. Some people consider built-in pick- ups unacceptable on guitars like these , but I chose to have two DeArmonds on it. Despite of the pick-ups, the guitar has a nice acoustic sound also.

My amp is a reissue Standel 25L15. To my purposes, it's a perfect amp and oh so well made. And of course, there's the tone!

I grew up listening to all kinds of vintage American music, from rockabilly to pop and jazz etc. and I come across new things all the time. New things created by the old masters or the present day musicians. That's the great thing about it; you're never done with it. And to be able to play in a band, doubles the fun.

I'm glad you found our site, hope you enjoy it and the music. Hopefully we'll meet somewhere ( if we already haven't ) and have a chance to talk face to face. I think that's the best part of this business; getting to meet new friends around the world. And sure you can drop us a line or two to our mail box.

Happy trails!

"I Got Rhythm"

Name & instrument:
Miikka Salminen – drums

Born:
11 December 1967

Musical history:
My first contact with 50's rock'n'roll was at the tender age of 12 when my neighbours son had the biggest and the most beautiful collection of rockin' 45's and LP's in the whole neighbourhood. We spent most of our time listening to Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Johnny Burnette and others.
I joined my first band, the Fairlanes, in January 1985. After two years we broke up but I was already busy with another group, the Dell-Tones. The Fairlanes being more of a straight forward rockabilly band, the Dell-Tones had more sophisticated, melodic approach to 50's music. That's when I first got a chance to play country boogie and even some western swing, something I had never tried before. We did some recordings, but the Dell-Tones was already dead and buried when those songs appeared on Goofin' Records' compilation LP "Finnabilly 1990".

Back in 1989 when the Dell-Tones was still in business I became friends with Mika Liikari and Jussi Huhtakangas who were members of jive rock'n' roll outfit the Rhythm Hogs. Their drummer was busy with his other bands and couldn't make it to the gigs, so the fellows asked me and I've been sitting on that stool ever since. So when Pete Hakonen of Goofin' Records needed a warm up/back up band for Johnny Carroll in 1992, all we had to do was ask Vesa to join us and so the Barnshakers was born.

Influences:
I'm crazy for western swing, especially Bob Wills, Spade Cooley and Tex Williams. I also listen to small jazz groups of late 40's like Lester Young's and King Cole Trio. I've always loved Jumpin' Rhythm and Blues, 40's and 50's country and, ofcourse, rockabilly.

My drumheroes are swingmen Chick Webb and his apprentice Gene Krupa. Rockabilly & country session drummer Buddy Harman has always been one of my favourite musicians. I can't but admire the relaxed style of Roy Harte, but when he breaks loose, WATCH OUT FELLERS! I've always dug Pee Wee King's drummer Sticks McDonald and Bob Wills' Johnny Cuviello but my biggest heroes ever are the two stickwizards of Spade Cooley and Tex Williams; Muddy Berry and Warren Penniman. When it comes to todays greats, there is one above all; Bobby Trimble of Big Sandy's Fly Right Boys.

Drum topics:
In my opinion one just can't reach a proper sound by using heavily built drumkits of today, and clear pinstripe heads just suck, BIG TIME.

The most beautiful drumkits were made in the first half of the last century and I've managed to hunt down couple: On the Barnshakers' gigs and recording sessions I normally use my light blue and silver AJAX-kit from 1939. I've mounted reindeerskin heads on kickdrum and tom toms, I'm so sorry Santa Claus!.

When I need a "bigger" sound, I'm using my mahogany,rope-tension kit approximately from 1910. There's no information anywhere who built this kit, but the Finland's Salvation Army used this kickdrum as marching drum, so I'm calling it "Salvation Army Special". Again, some chubby reindeer lost its hyde! This kit is more suitable for rhythm and blues or western swing, so I'm using it when playing with Dr. Snout & the Hogs Of Rhythm (ex- Rhythm Hogs), Hal Peters and the Stringdusters and on some Barnshakers' recording sessions.

Soon we'll be celebrating the Barnshakers' 10th anniversary and I must say I've had the greatest time ever touring around the world with these three knuckleheads. I'm sure we'll be eventually celebrating our 20th anniversary also, but while waiting for that to happen, please look for us at those honky tonks and other smoky joints, we'll be performing the music we love so much, straight from our hearts to you and everyone else who knows what the real music is all about.

"Rollin' The 88"
Name & instrument:
Harri Saanio ("Boogie Boy Harris") – piano
"Bull Fiddle Boogie"

Name & instrument:
Mika Liikari – upright bass

Born:
july 1966

musical history:
Got hooked to rock’n’roll & rockabilly as 12 year old, in the 80’s I started to dig deeper the roots of rockin’ American music and found more and more great records; from 1920’s to early 1960’s there’s enough stuff to listen for the rest of the life.

I started to play guitar and later upright bass. I got to know Pete Hakonen at that time and that has led to many great projects. I played in a couple of rockabilly bands in the 80’s, “The Buzzsaw” made even some recordings for Goofin’. There was also a project called "Red Davis & The Typhoons", a bluesy rockabilly band that was paving the way for creating The Barnshakers. That combo already featured me on bass, Jussi on guitar and Mike on drums. And we also played with same guys - still do - in our jumpin' rhythm & blues band, nowadays called "Dr Snout & His Hogs of Rhythm" So, Pete Hakonen hired us to back Johnny Carroll and we asked our friend Vesa - a talented composer & singer of The Whistle Bait from little town of Hamina, that's about 15 kilometers from Russian border - to join us. And The Barnshakers were born. I think we are lucky with these guys to think the same way about this music and the songs and arrangements come out easily and relaxed way.

I am also a graphic designer and have done art work for a few bands, usually together with my girl friend Minna. I love the vintage record covers but still try to create something new in an old fashion way... the same thing goes with the sound of music that we play, try to get it authentic but still creative, fresh & individual...

various bass influences, old:
jazz & blues masters like Pops Foster, Milt Hinton, Bam Brown, Ray Brown, Billy Hadnott, Ransom Knowling, Count Basie’s rhythm sections, Willie Dixon....the list is endless.

Dig these "bassic" jazz/blues recordings: Slam Stewart & Don Byas at the Town Hall Concert of 1945, most of the Big Three Trio tracks, "Pluckin' the Bass" by Cab Calloway featuring Milt Hinton on bass, Memphis Slim & Willie Dixon; all versions of "Rockin' the House". Robert Nighthawk's "Kansas City" with Ransom Knowling on bass.

Country and rockabilly slap players like Fred Maddox, Bill Black, Bob Moore, Marshall Lytle, Connie "Guybo" Smith....Guybo's great rockabilly upright sound on Eddie Cochran and Glen Glenn recordings. Bob Moore - the legendary Nashville session bassist - who played on so many classic rockabilly and country recordings, including part of Johnny Burnette Trio's cuts! The sound of those Owen Bradley sessions, including Grady Martin on lead guitar and Buddy Harman on drums has had a great effect on the Barnshakers-sound too...

some music influences, old:
From early jazz to be-bop, from early blues to rhythm and blues & doo-wop, honky tonk & western swing, bluegrass, mambo, cajun, easy listening, early soul and of course rock and roll & rockabilly and many other forms of vintage American rhythm music. I could mention Lester Young, Slim Gaillard, Joe Turner, King Cole Trio, Wynonie Harris, Big Three Trio, The Treniers, Billie Holiday, Mickey Baker, Little Walter, Muddy Waters, The Five Keys, Les Paul Trio, Bill Haley, Johnny Horton, Pee Wee King, Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, Hank Thompson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Gene Vincent, Johnny Burnette, Pat Cupp, Sid King, Sonny Fisher...

about bands that I like, current:
Rockabilly bands like Wildfire Willie & The Ramblers, The Sleazy Rustic Boys, High Noon, The Sureshots, Cave Catt Sammy. On the honky tonk/western swing side The Lucky Stars, Big Sandy & The Fly-Rite Boys, Smith's Ranch Boys, Dave Stuckey & The Rhythm Gang, Hot Club of Cowtown, Hal Peters & his String Dusters, all Deke Dickersons' projects, The Derailers. I'm very much into rhythm and blues and love bands like The Four Charms, Swing Session, Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums, Lavay Smith & her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, Nick Curran, The Mighty Blue Kings...also the Django Reinhardt sound of the Dutch Rosenberg Trio. And watch out for a chicago/jump blues combo from Sweden - Knockout Greg & The Blue Weather, they are really a hi class act! The quality of the bands that play rockin' 40'/50's music is really high today, these are just a few examples what I like.

some current upright bass players that I dig:
Kevin Smith, Billy Horton, Jimmy Sutton, Wally Hersom, Slap Sally, Alf Östlund, Beau Sammy Sample, Eric Troestler + many more...If I should recommend something to listen of the current rockin' bass players, I could suggest The Four Charms' new record featuring Jimmy Sutton and Carl Sonny Leyland's Goofin' CD "Farrish Street Jive" featuring Kevin Smith, also his work with High Noon and the video that he has made with Mark Rubin - "Slap bass - The Ungentle Art".

instrument:
an upright with a cutaway from c.1930’s-1940’s, a similar design that some Swedish Bjärton and German Framus basses have but I don't know what this doghouse really is? I prefer the smooth sound of gut strings (“Pyramid”-label). I have a brand new microphone/pre amp system, "Rockabilly Slap Special" by K&K. It gives a good fat and accoustic like sound and doesn't easily feedback. There's 2 separate channels; "The Bass Max" for the bridge and for slap there' a transducer attached to the back side of the fingerboard. I recommend the system! I also mike the amp on the bigger stages = mike to the front of the amp, instead of line. But love to play in small joints with plenty of wood around with a low volume.

amp:
Ampeg Portaflex B-15-R, I have the new re-issue model that has more power and a warm tone.

some Barnshaker highlights:
Playing in Hemsby (1994) & Denver Weekenders (1996), a gig at Austin’s Continental Club in 1996. Viva Las Vegas of 2000. And many other gigs all over Europe and USA.

A barbeque party at Kurt Ohlen’s house in Denver July 1998 - there was a great jam session with many musicians from different countries.

Have had a chance to play with many of the old influences; like Johnny Carroll, Sid & Billy King, Jack Scott, Narvel Felts, Dale Hawkins, Larry Donn and others.

Also had a chance to play with- and even make recordings with some - very talented people like Shaun Young, Kim Lenz, Darrel Higham, Martí Brom, Deke Dickerson, Mack Stevens, Kekka Uitto, Jussi Raittinen, Nono Söderberg and others.

The most fabulous thing here besides playing is meeting nice people all over the world!