By Kyle Spriggle
Staff Writer, Shinbone - shinbone.net
When your editor tells you he wants you to cover a group called "Witches in Bikinis," a great deal of things flutter through your mind. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect when there's that kind of gimmick and hook involved.
Gullifty's Underground in Camp Hill was the host venue. My last visit here I had experienced heavy screaming metal; this time it was a far calmer scene.
Actually, it had the mood of a dinner theater complete with mood lighting. The dim light and almost theatrical atmosphere in the venue that night lent itself well to the group.
Upon introducing myself, one of the waitresses, a beautiful young lady named Joann, led me to a large table right up front where another fan and his friends were sitting. I grabbed a seat by Rick Stevens and his fiancé Tamara from Lemoyne. The two were huge Witches fans and even have personally befriended the band. I took a few minutes to get the lowdown on what to expect before I actually talked to the group themselves.
When asked how to describe "Witches in Bikinis" (known as WIB for the rest of the article), Stevens explained his favorite band was kind of like the B52's meet the "Rocky Horror Picture Show." As the night wore on I would say he was right on in his description.
I used the opportunity of the downtime before the show to talk with Bill Rozar who's the genesis of the concept and music for the group. I hesitate to call them a band as the band itself is more a prop. The ladies are nothing short of amazing. Well polished, very believable and theatrical. Not at all what I expected. But more about this later.
The processes that eventually led to the creation of WIB actually started more than 20 years ago with songs that Rozar had penned. At first they were for Halloween or family get-togethers but as the popularity began to build he thought more seriously about maybe taking it somewhere else. He then met up with the "first witch," Janelle. They began performing the songs and things just snowballed from there. Rozar had so much material they actually began recording the songs in his home studio before performing at their first major show on Halloween 2005.
It's amazing to think Bill was planting the seeds for this two decades ago — writing the songs, using his expansive musical talent and history to build the experience that is WIB.
Rozar's the first person to point out that the band is not the focus; rather the theatrics of the show itself is what it's all about. Sometimes when you talk to someone you can see the dedication and vision come through in their mannerisms. With Rozar, he was excited and somehow seemingly very laid back about the whole thing. The guy who had laid building blocks so long ago and had pulled together such amazing talent now had all the acumen of Hannibal from the A-team (if you get the reference, you get my point).
As Rozar excused himself to finish preparation I looked around the crowd. There were all walks of life here. From business dress to jeans and T-shirts. There were people here who surely must have been carded twice to get in the door to retirees who certainly needed no identification.
One thing I noticed — the most startling — there were witches in the crowd. Of course, being a curious and nosey type, I had to investigate. I had the pleasure of speaking with some WIB fans whom had actually never seen them perform. Instead they were turned onto them via MySpace. These girls, or "witches auxiliary" as I called them, were Kori Miller, Robin Snyder, Trudi Kelley, Sara Young and Tracy Keister, who drove as far as two hours away just to come see the show based solely on MySpace communications and hearing the songs. I also spoke to some other fans who had seen the group perform in New York and made the trip to Camp Hill all the way from New Jersey.
I'll be candid at this point, I was excited and not sure what to expect. If they have this kind of draw, there has to be a reason. It was at this point I realized the Gullifty's staff had read my previous articles. When I ordered my rum and Coke, Joann, that amazing waitress, explained it was happy hour and delivered to me a pitcher of rum and Coke with a straw. I would marry that girl.
I set down my pen and paper and prepped my camera. Now, I thought I was ready but I couldn't be prepared for what happened. I was actually asked by the Witches to be a monkey. Of course I said yes (more on this later). I also donned a tiara handed out by Bill's wife Julie, the WIB manager, a very sweet lady who you can tell goes out of her way to arrange things.
After attaining my volunteer monkey status and preparing the camera and tiara —all helped by a pitcher of captain and Coke — I was ready for the show.
What I experienced I just wasn't ready for and was very, very pleased. Like going to see the Rocky Horror Picture Show live there was audience participation. There was theatrics, all with that Horror/Sci-fi/Surf theme.
The performers themselves, witches clad in neon bathing suits with matching hair, were polished and just amazing with their vocal work. Very quickly the band faded away half the time unnoticed while the ladies danced in well-choreographed numbers and crooned in a 1960s style. I felt like they had just stepped out of a John Waters movie.
The songs themselves were catchy and campy, perfect for a show with titles like "Witches in Bikinis", "Zombies on the March" and "Horror Flick Chick." — all of which were executed flawlessly and with great stage presence. Granted, the fact that you have some amazingly attractive women in neon bikinis doesn't hurt.
But the key is, with this group, that their "camp" and the "gimmick" is smoke and mirrors for a truly amazing show. I'd go so far as to say a theatrical experience more so than seeing a band play. And the enthusiasm they draw from the crowd is intoxicating. Between sets they had a contest with the audience for the "wickedest witch in a bikini contest." Tamara, Rick's fiancé, was so enthused that when no one volunteered, she raced home, donned a bikini and wig (I never did ask why she had those at the ready) and came back to collect her $50 prize and strut her witchery stuff. The ladies themselves were great sports, teaching her some choreography during the break and encouraging her.
The second set was again very smooth, very well done...and then I found out what I had been volunteered for. Let's just say I was the best damn monkey there and they knew it! I recommend when you go see these guys make sure you pre-designate your chimpanzee. They'll thank you for it later.
With well over 20 songs in the night and groups of people laughing and at the same time singing along, the influence of the performers was obvious. No one was disappointed at show's end except that it had to end (I hadn't killed off my pitcher of captain and Coke). I had one of the most fun experiences going to a show I'd had in some time. So much so, in fact, I began calling my friends trying to round folks up for their next show.
I'll say this and mean it — if you want a fun, silly, yet very classy experience with camp and cheesiness being worshipped and not depredated, this is where you and your friends should go. This should be experienced with a group. Hell, dress up as witches or warlocks. Be a part of it; you will not regret it.
Witches dates and shows can be found at www.witchesinbikinis.com.