Garage Rock Wizards The Woggles Release New Single "Top Shelf" Featuring Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids
"The band's singer, Professor Mighty Manfred, possesses the power and tunefulness of one of those obscure garage-band vocalists who, not sure they were ever getting another chance to record, poured their guts out on the first take. Meanwhile, the band gallops behind him with rousing backup vocals, sizzling Farfisa and buzzing guitars."- NPR
"The Woggles are one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll bands."- Lincoln Journal Star
"Cult heroes whose hot-rodded blend of garage rock, surf music, rockabilly, and vintage R&B connects solidly both live and in the studio."- All Music
Cult garage rock icons The Woggles have just unveiled a new single, "Top Shelf," following the release of their 12-track album 'Time Has Come' earlier this summer. The LP marked their first full-length studio effort since 2017's 'Tally Ho!' "Top Shelf" features Rick Miller from Southern Culture On The Skids and its release coincides with the Woggles supporting SCOTS on their September tour. See dates below.
After the passing of the band's guitarist "Flesh Hammer," aka Jeff Walls, in 2019, The Woggles envisioned a special album featuring a variety of their guitarist friends as a tribute. "Unfortunately, the pandemic disrupted our plans," explains frontman “The Professor” Mighty Manfred (who also moonlights as a DJ, Monday-Friday on Little Steven's Underground Garage/SiriusXm Channel 21). "Although we recorded with several guitarists during that time, the post-pandemic period saw us solidify our current lineup. Consequently, our current album 'Time Has Come' includes contributions from these guest guitarists alongside our current members."
He adds, "However, one song we weren't able to include on the album is "Top Shelf", which showcases Rick Miller of Southern Culture on the Skids on lead and guitar fills. Our longstanding relationship with SCOTS, including touring together since the 90s, and Rick's role in engineering two of our albums, including our debut for Wicked Cool Records, 'Rock & Roll Backlash', makes this track particularly special."
Stream "Top Shelf" here: https://orcd.co/topshelfwoggles
In addition to their upcoming fall tour dates, The Woggles are one of several acts taking part in the inaugural Underground Garage Cruise, "The Coolest Cruise in the World" which sets sail May 9 - May 13th, 2025. The cruise, which also features performances by Social Distortion, X, Rocket From The Crypt, Reverand Horton Heat, Old 97's, Low Cut Connie, The Dollyrots and many more, embarks in Miami with an excursion stop in Nassau. More info at www.undergroundgaragecruise.com.
About The Woggles:
For a band to not only last beyond 30 years together but keep scaling more imposing heights, it’s going to need a sense of purpose. In the case of The Woggles, the seasoned garage rockers passed that milestone with a renewed rallying cry to move ever forward! The Woggles now feature a two-guitar attack with Graham Day (The Prisoners, Solar Flares, Thee Mighty Caesars) and Shane Pringle (Tiger! Tiger!, Bad Spell) on the 6 strings with Shane occasionally doubling up on saxophone!
“The band is not as much an institution as a way of life,” says frontman “The Professor” Mighty Manfred. “The main thing is to keep swimming, cause the shark has got to keep moving.”
The Woggles continue to feature the sock-it-to-them rhythm section of bassist Buzz Hagstrom and drummer Dan Eletxro, both also sometime members of savage English rockers Graham Day & The Gaolers.
“Alan Freed once said that ‘Rock and roll is a river of music that has absorbed many streams,’” quotes Manfred. “The Woggles drink from its many tributaries, from early rock and roll and R&B to ’60s garage rock, British Invasion, ’60s soul and forward.”
Fusing pure rock and soul from vintage sources into their own singular sound, The Woggles lay it down hard and loud but with more majesty than recklessness. Their beats and riffs are as strident as Manfred’s swagger and strut onstage.
Having played in the past with Johnny Cash, Link Wray, The Zombies and nearly every garage rock group worth its salt, as Meredith Ochs wisely advised on NPR All Songs Considered: “Go see a Woggles show. It will change your life.”
Upcoming shows (supporting Southern Culture on the Skids 9/19-9/28)
Thu. 09/19: The Southern, Charlottesville, VA
Fri. 09/20: Annapolis, MD, Ram's Head On Stage
Sat. 09/21: Ardmore, PA, Ardmore Music Hall
Sun. 09/22: Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Bowl
Tue. 09/24: Boston, MA, City Winery
Wed. 09/25: Portsmouth, NH, 3S Artspace
Thu. 09/26: Amherst, MA, The Drake
Fri. 09/27: Sellersville, PA, Sellersville Theater 1894
Sat. 09/28: Richmond, VA, The Broadberry
Tue. 12/10 - The Stork Club, Oakland CA
Wed. 12/11 - Torch Club, Sacramento CA
Thu. 12/12 - Permanent Records Roadhouse, LA, CA
Fri. 12/13 - Alex's Bar, Long Beach CA
Sat. 12/14 - The Casbah, San Diego CA
Sat. 12/28 - 930 Club, Washington DC w/ Pietasters
