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Shake N’ Vibrate Does The Turkey Trot

Brendan Toller | November 21st, 2018

Shake N’ Vibrate Does The Turkey Trot

Cafe Nine  |  Music  |  Ninth Square

 

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This is the second installment in a monthly series we’re doing on Shake N’ Vibrate, a monthly vinyl series at Cafe Nine led by musician, DJ, and filmmaker Brendan Toller. To get the full taste of Shake N’ Vibrate, New Haveners still have to go to the events themselves. But here, readers can get a glimpse—or a listen—into some of what they’re in for. The next Shake N' Vibrate is scheduled for Friday Nov. 23 at 8 p.m. For more information on the event, click here.

By Thanksgiving, I've done enough heel-dragging from the sizzling excitement of summer to fully embrace whatever is left of fall, and get ready for the short thrill of chills and bundling up. In this monstrous capital-focused society, Thanksgiving for me is a holiday about celebrating what you do have: friends, family, food, and the things that really matter. And all of these, I think, are augmented by good music.

So what could be better than throwing yet another holiday edition all-vinyl dance party, cheering our moves, losing our inhibitions and celebrating what our mamas gave us? This Shake 'N' Vibrate falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Let's shake a tailfeather and raise a giant middle finger to the notion that we don't have enough. Everything we need is usually right in front of us.

This month I've picked another seemingly novel hit "The Turkey Trot" by Little Eva. No, this ain't an ode to the guilt-ridden joggers, rightfully, its a song about a dance move and eating turkey.

Judging by this 1965 Shindig clip, it looks like the "Turkey Trot" is a mix between the chicken dance and the mashed potato. Duh? Thanksgiving! Turkey! Who would have guessed?!

But if you're wondering why this is such a bonafide earwig, well, oddly enough it's a famed Carole King and Gerry Goffin composition.

Yes—Carole King of Tapestry fame was an incredible Brill Building songwriter, crafting hits like "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow," (done by everyone) "Chains" (done by the Cookies and the Beatles), "Don't Bring Me Down" (the Animals).

And Little Eva is no slouch either, having sung the King/Goffin dance floor unifier "The Locomotion," and an incredible take on "Stand By Me" which is an incredibly expensive 45 (while we're talking about capitalism, someone buy it for me?)

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A cool New Haven connection —the above is a pic of Carole King, Little Eva and 16 Magazine's Editor-In-Chief extraordinaire Gloria Stavers. A portion of G-L-O-R-I-A's papers reside at Yale's Beinecke Library. Check 'em out.

Speaking of gratitude, Shake 'N' Vibrate would like to welcome a new collaborator- TINY ANSWER, otherwise known as Elisa. In the whirlwind of Halloween madness, Elisa emerged as the official Shake 'N' Vibrate onstage dancer, riler, conspirator and inspirator. We will be debuting some wild, sexy, psychedelic performances and visuals that are sure to stun, befuddle and instigate.

Gobble Gobble Diddley, Y'all.