BIG WILLIE’S BURLESQUE
The Fuji Rock vet still going strong!
Longtime Fuji Rock performer, Big Willie must have the record for most performances at Fuji Rock over the years. During this mid-afternoon set at the Cafe de Paris, Willie claimed it was his 50th set playing at Fuji Rock. While that may sound wild for a festival that is only 20 years old, the man clearly works hard and has demand, this year alone he was playing 3 sets at the fest.
If you are a long time Fuji Rocker I’m sure you’ve encountered Willie and his burlesque show at some point throughout the years. For the uninitiated, Willie McNeil acts as drummer and band leader for his group that includes keys, a tenor sax, a standing bass and a guitar. The band wouldn’t be complete without dancers to make the burlesque complete.
While I’ve seen his act with many more ladies, today there were 3 scantily clad, highly skilled dancers showing off their moves and shedding articles of clothing in the process. Through the dance performance, Willie and company play very polished and fitting burlesque tunes. These range from Cuban music, to lounge, jazz, funk, reggae and more.
Willie sings and interacts with the ladies in a shocked and aroused manner that he has down to an art. The performance harks back to classic Americana entertainment, so it’s not a surprise Willie has a long time residency in L.A. There’s a fun, erotic, curious, almost forbidden allure to watching a big Willie set whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth. While his routine is familiar to me at this point, like watching a classic film or play, it doesn’t get old.
