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Scene | Tritone

What's the deal? On most nights, Tritone is dedicated to punk rock, avant-garde jazz, and DJ grooves. That level of noise is perfect for the lone bar across the street from the rowdier-still Bob & Barbara's.

Bluesman Shakey Lymon's nights at Tritone are a kind of continuing memorial to a co-owner, who was, a friend says, "blues through and through."
Bluesman Shakey Lymon's nights at Tritone are a kind of continuing memorial to a co-owner, who was, a friend says, "blues through and through."Read morePETER TOBIA / Inquirer Staff Photographer
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    Published 

Monday-night blues with Shakey Lymon


Mondays from 8 to 10 p.m.


1508 South St. 215-545-0475. www.tritonebar.com

What's the deal? On most nights, Tritone is dedicated to punk rock, avant-garde jazz, and DJ grooves. That level of noise is perfect for the lone bar across the street from the rowdier-still Bob & Barbara's.

But on Mondays, Tritone is strangely quiet. Even the streets seem somnolent. There's still a crowd at Tritone - guys sipping shots of Jack, women with their chins in their hands. They're waiting for Shakey Lymon, blues man extraordinaire.

"Shakey's not the most punctual guy," says Tritone bartender Rick Almeida. "But he's never missed a gig yet." (Although he misses the next week due to car trouble.)

Mondays were, according to Tritone habitues, a favorite of Rick Dobrowolski - the venue's co-owner who passed away at age 40 in April. "Punk rock, yeah yeah, Rick was about that," says Tim Picunis, a friend of Dobrowolski's as well as a guitarist with Hired Guns. "But Rick was blues through and through. I used to stop in here every Monday after work, shoot the breeze with Rick, then go home. It was great."

At 8:15, Lymon, a bull of a man with wavy grayish hair, strolls in. He slaps hands with a few patrons and then, underneath the stage's red lights and after adjusting his harmonica's strap, commences to play his acoustic guitar and bray softly at the moon in his gruff voice. What could be more punk rock?

Who's there? Big bald metal maniacs, with large handlebar mustaches, tapping on their laptops. DJs eating dessert. Drag queens on their night off. Tattooed girls and the boys who love them. Design students from Moore College of Art and Design.

Playlist Shakey Lymon plays the very rarest and sweetest of Jimmy Reed, Albert King and Muddy Waters songs.

What's the look? While Lymon enthusiasts wear everything from Izods to stovepipe pants to Dead Boy T-shirts, what truly catches your eye is what Rick D left behind. Look behind the bar to see pictures of Rick D posing with band pals, illustrations of his infamous black leather vest and his collection of red devil ephemera - bobble-heads, coasters, stickers.

Overheard "Every Monday I'd report to Rick dutifully so to receive his heaping abuse," says Keith Peirce, while playing with his loosely knotted skinny tie. "I miss him. So I'll never stop coming on Mondays."

What to do Look for yourself on the back-bar wall of photos. Eat a deep-fried Snickers bar with whipped cream. Submit Rick D photos and memorabilia to http://sgtspoon.blogs.com/photos/rick.

What not to do Stand in the way of smokers on the handicapped ramp.

Why go? Not just to remember Rick D, who was integral to Philly's music scene for his dedication to all thing punk. Go because the remaining owner, Dave Rogers, and his booking-by-committee crew have continued to host music by the likes of Shakey Lymon.

- A.D. Amorosi

    Inquirer