The Return of Holey Miss Moley: Dunedin Brewery 02.01.25

The Return of Holey Miss Moley: Dunedin Brewery 02.01.25

[Many thanks to official photographers Rosemarie Camp, Sam Goodall, and Matt Hillman]

Eons ago, although more likely 12 or 13 years ago, there was a band on the West Coast of Florida named Legacy and the Herd. They were a tight, entertaining band, quintet +/-. Eventually Legacy (Sean Maloney) explored further his excellent career as a looper, and The Herd eventually became Holey Miss Moley. It was at Orange Blossom Jamboree 2015 that Miss Robyn Alleman, now a vocalist with the band, also got the crew to dress sharply. 

Whether it was the sartorial adjustment or her firm hand on management, the group soared to the top of the jam community in the Tampa area and well beyond. They were in demand all over. The last two shows I recall were the night after Alleman and Chris Pack got married! And then a finale at Home Team New Year’s Party 2019.

And then Covid.

At that point, the band included Christian Ryan, saxes, flute; Robyn Pack, vocals; Loe Sanz, vocals; Jen Peacock Ryan, vocals, trumpet; Ellie McCaw, vocals; Danny Jo, vocals; Jamal ‘Music City’ Wright, drums; Tony Morales, percussion; Vernon Suber, percussion; Mikey Guzman, keyboards; and Jacob Cox, guitar. I’m sure I’m missing somebody!)

Those were the last Holey Miss Moley performances. UNTIL NOW!

Weeks ago, we heard the wonderful news that Holey Miss Moley reunion mini-tour shows were in the offing. The first was February 1 at Dunedin Brewery, the second February 7 at Terra Fermata Tiki Bar, and a private show the following night. And we hear this might happen again in the near future!

FEBRUARY 1 at Dunedin Brewery

The venue was packed, and the bandstand was full, although not “completely” full. For this night, neither Alleman, Guzman, Sanz, McCaw, nor Wright was able to attend. Nor was David Oliver Willis, who has recently joined the throng. (He, Danny Jo, Harvey, and Cox collaborated on those Bill Withers tribute shows last year.)

No matter. It was a spectacular night, despite the fact that they insisted they only had one rehearsal!

One minute before the scheduled start time, the mob launched into “Just Kissed My Baby,” and it was ON! Next up was a Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings tune, meaning a female vocalist was required. I would be lying if I didn’t agree with someone who said, “Jen Peacock Ryan was kicking ass and not bothering to take names.” She was spectacular! All night!

In quick succession, they played HMM favorites “Bermuda Triangle” and “Devil Funk” (Oh, YEAH!), with “I Get Lifted” stuck in between. For “Devil Funk,” Christian Ryan added to his arsenal the Roland Aerophone digital wind instrument. He pointed out later that the Aerophone could at least mimic some of the tones we would expect to hear from the keyboards.

Jen Ryan stepped up again with “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” followed by Danny Jo superb on the Bill Withers song “Same Love That Made Me Cry.” There was a powerhouse “Take Me to the River” and “California Dreamin’” as stylized by Bobby Womack. Jen Ryan was up again for “Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition was In),” then a chorus of voices on “Doodle-Oop,” another Meters classic. And then… it was hip hop time, with songs that were regular features in a HMM setlist: “ATLiens” and “I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You,” with a bit of “Ain’t Nothin’ But a G Thang” folded in. They closed set one with HMM classic “Shake It with Me” (and there was a LOT of shakin’). Jen Ryan and Danny Jo blew this up, and we were in Afrobeat heaven!

Kenny Harvey, Tony Morales, and Vernon Suber were magnificent all night. (Somebody did remark they were surprised to see Harvey with shoes!) Also, because of the setup, it was possible to stand behind Suber and gawk at his vast array of percussive toys!

Set two: more deliciousness. They offered up original song “Naugatuck” and then fine covers of music by Lettuce, Baby Huey, and Orgōne (Jen Ryan!). Then the aforementioned Legacy stepped on stage as he and the band romped through three of his compositions, including favorite “Shit Ain’t Right.”

There is an event that happens at most of the HMM shows I’ve attended (40?). The band begins The Meters’ most heart-rending song, “Ain’t No Use,” and they get to the guitar solo, and Jacob Cox makes me cry. EVERY TIME. Including this one. 

From that emotional peak, HMM roared into another song they love to play, “Standing On the Top,” with vocals first from Jen Ryan and then Danny Jo. And that melted into their Afrobeat anthem, “Afroshaft.” Everybody was LIT, especially Suber and Morales! They topped it off with their own “Big Bad Wolf” as it pushed just past 11:00 curfew.

One more? Sure! They ripped up Galactic’s “Heart of Steel.” Still not enough? Look, there’s Jon Ditty, one of the area’s most accomplished rappers. He stepped up, and with Danny Jo they blasted ODB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Oh, baby I like it RAW!)”

ONE rehearsal. YIKES! What a magnificent evening!

[HMM: 1: Just Kissed My Baby (The Meters), Be Easy (Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings), Bermuda Triangle (HMM), I Get Lifted (KC & the Sunshine Band) > Devil Funk (HMM), Boogie Oogie Oogie (A Taste of Honey), Same Love That Made Me Cry (Bill Withers), Take Me to the River (Al Green), California Dreamin’ (John Phillips, Bobby Womack style), Just Dropped In (to See What Condition My Condition was In) (The First Edition), (The World is a Bit Under the Weather) Doodle-Oop (The Meters), ATLiens (OutKast), I Wanna Do Something Freaky to You (Leon Haywood) [with Ain’t Nothin’ But a G Thang (Dr. Dre), Shake It with Me (HMM); 2: Naugatuck (HMM), Do It Like You Do (Lettuce), Hard Times (Baby Huey), Don’t Stop (Orgōne), Sun is Shining (Legacy), Shit Ain’t Right (Legacy), Afterthought (Legacy), Ain’t No Use (The Meters), Standing On the Top (Rick James & The Temptations), Afroshaft (HMM), Big Bad Wolf (HMM); E1: Heart of Steel (Galactic); E2: Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Ol’ Dirty Bastard)]