This is about Vaseline Alley, a band from Minneapolis who existed circa 2001 – 2003, before morphing into The Pantyhuffers, and the Dead Boys tribute band Mastor Bators.
Mostly though, this is a tribute to the man behind – or rather, in front of – these bands, as well as lending his inimitable presence to Trim Reaper, Goo Goo Mucks All-Stars, and Fret Rattles, to name a few others.
Of course, I’m talking about the one and only Rob Tossava, aka The Reverend Rob Peckerwood. A genuine punk rock fueled provocateur who could make G.G. Allin look like a poseur, and a charming gentleman you could take home to meet your mother. No matter what band I saw Rob performing with, at some point it was guaranteed he would make even the most hardcore punks blush more than once, but unlike so many who willfully pushed the envelope on stage, it was clearly all in the spirit of good-natured fun. Entertainment for entertainment’s sake, if you will, but Rob always gave it his all. I don’t know anyone else who could have pulled off performing with The Pantyhuffers at his own wedding reception with equal elegance and panache, but I can assure you Rob did just that.
Over the past several years, Rob dealt with various health issues, and members of the local rock and roll community were always ready and willing to show their support, including such luminaries as Cindy Lawson (Clams), Bill Batson (Mofos / Hypstrz), Bill Lindsey (Impaler), Fret Rattles, Virgin Whores, Dillinger Four, and more.
Sadly, after keeping the effects of Stage 4 Lung Cancer at bay for a number of years, the battle took its toll, and Rob left us on Sunday March 29, 2026. He was loved by many, and will certainly be missed.
What follows is a handful of live recordings which Rob has graciously allowed me to share on Live Music Archive with other past, present and future fans. Hopefully this will serve as a fitting celebration of a rare personality who was a friend and a brother to anyone who had the good fortune to get to know him during the time he shared with us. Make sure you turn it up!
[links to recordings provided in posts below]
Vaseline Alley • 2002-07-25
Mpls, MN • Urban Wildlife
Rev. Rob Peckerwood
Jeff Winter
??
??
Bill:
Vaseline Alley
Coffin Cheaters
Invasion Earth
This was a fun show, gathering a few of the more sordid heavy-hitters from the Twin Cities underground scene in a completely different environment. The Urban Wildlife Bar & Grill was a blip on the radar of the punk underground for a couple of years at least, located at 331 2nd Ave N, in the warehouse district. Whoever was doing the booking seemed to have their finger on the pulse of the TCPunk scene for a minute, which made for a fun atmosphere the few times I made it to the venue, although the acoustics of the room itself generally seemed a bit cavernous, and might have benefited from some dampening. I’m sure I must have a setlist around here somewhere, so if that turns up I can fill in all the unidentified titles in this set.
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives [sonicarchives.com]
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
Vaseline Alley • 2002-10-05
Mpls, MN • Urban Wildlife
Rev. Rob Peckerwood
Jeff Winter
??
??
Bill:
All The Pretty Horses
Vaseline Alley
Autonomy [unfortunately, not recorded]
Another fun night out at The Urban Wildlife Bar & Grill in the Mpls warehouse district, and a mixed bag of sorts at that. The sound seemed to be dialed in a bit better this time around, and this is from the cassette master, so no digital glitches in the BBW Medley. Rock so hard you can almost smell it… Crank this one up and enjoy!
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives [sonicarchives.com]
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
The Pantyhuffers • 2004-04-22
Mpls, MN • 7th St. Entry
Bill:
The Bloodshot
The Pantyhuffers
Virgin Whores
Jehovah’s Shitlist
Time and life had somehow prevented me from keeping up with various old friends in the music scene, and the last time I had connected with the Rev. Rob Peckerwood, he was still in Vaseline Alley. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the new outfit, but to suggest that the difference between the two groups was like night and day would be quite an understatement. Where Vaseline Alley had at least exercised some degree of restraint in their punk inspired button-pushing ethos, The Pantyhuffers clearly weren’t interested in taking any prisoners, reveling in a display of provocation that seemed mired in irreverent camaraderie, rather than contempt, for the audience.
This may have been a TCPunk show, but until I can turn up a 1st Ave calendar or a setlist from this night, that remains unconfirmed – along with the song titles, I reckon.
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives [sonicarchives.com]
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
The Master Bators • 2004-07-27
Mpls, MN • 7th St. Entry
Rev. Rob Peckerwood
Ollie Stench
??
??
Bill:
Plate-O-Shrimp
The Master Bators
Live sound:
Randy Hawkins
This was a Dead Boys tribute of sorts, featuring two of the grand old geezers of Twin Cities punk, although toward the end it veered into Pantyhuffers territory for a couple of tunes – the plug was pulled at the start of the last track, even though they continued to play for another minute or so. See, punk isn’t dead, it just needs to be turned up a bit!
Track 15 is the same track as in the Pantyhuffers set on 2004 04 22 in the Entry.
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives [sonicarchives.com]
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
The Pantyhuffers • 2005-10-22
Mpls, MN • Uptown Bar & Grill
Hurricane Katrina Benefit
Bill:
Spittin’ Cobras
Countach
Bullets
Red Desert
Pantyhuffers
Blackthorns
This was from a benefit show hosted by the Uptown Bar to raise funds for the people of New Orleans, whose lives had been upturned by Hurricane Katrina. It was reported that several thousand dollars had been raised and all proceeds were donated to the Red Cross. The bands all agreed to let me record them with a lo-fi set up for a DIY compilation CDR release that might hopefully help further the cause. To that end, I made a CDR for each band at the time so the bands could review their sets and select tracks for the Katrina CDR. Some of the bands selected tracks for the compilation, but I never heard back from a few of them.
Unfortunately, as I was dealing with my own upturned life around the same time, involving a breakup, losing my own home, and repeated surgeries related to an earlier auto collision, the CDR project never was completed. But my biggest regret is that I didn’t have my deck set up in time to record The Pantyhuffers soundcheck, a straight from the heart rendition of the Memphis Minnie classic, “When The Levee Breaks”. Believe me when I say they nailed it but good.
I believe I have the setlist, but at this time it has not been located, so for the time being, I don’t have most of the titles for this set. Even considering the lo-fi nature of the recording itself, that shouldn’t prevent anyone from appreciating the pure energy oozing from the stage that night.
Recorded / transferred / edited / tracked / tagged by: J.Free / Sonic Archives [sonicarchives.com]
Download or stream the show from Live Music Archive
Download or stream all sets by Vaseline Alley from Live Music Archive
Download or stream all sets by The Pantyhuffers from Live Music Archive
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