Kustom
New Albums Out Today
Pat Roberts & The Heymakers – “Lonesome & Blue” (Electric Lotus)
Tom Russell – “Mesabi” (Shout! Factory)
Hank 3 – “Ghost to a Ghost”/”Guttertown” double-LP (Hank3 Records)
Hank3 as Attention Deficient Domination – “Attention Deficient Domination” (Hank 3 Records)
Hank3 as 3 Bar Ranch – “Cattle Callin’” (Hank 3 Records)
VA – “Listen to Me: Buddy Holly” (Verve Forecast)
Rust ‘n’ Dust Festival Short Docu
#psychobilly by Kustom See how the Germans get down with their rat rods in this film clip documenting 2011′s Rust’n'Dust festival in Teterow, Germany.
(ht autoblog)
The Ravonettes, Eric Pigors, Richard Cheese, Nick Cave Tribute
#psychobilly by Kustom
THE RAVONETTES posted on Tumblr that they are starting on their new album. I can dig it.
The new app, MonsterPieces, lets players piece together custom monsters, from monstrous body parts drawn by “world-famous monster artist Eric Pigors”, who handled the PSYCHO CHARGER CD covers.
tripleJ, the Australian radio/TV/print/on-line music providing juggernaut is “touring a series of tribute concerts to Nick Cave”. Nick Cave, who earns his place in the RKH world (as if he cared) by providing songs for and dueting with Johnny Cash, is one of Australia’s best musical exports. Some of Australia’s best will tour the country performing Cave’s catalog. TripleJ salutes in past years produced CDs and DVDs, so this one should, too.
If you were around in the 90’s, you probably remember that swing and lounge was a big deal to the hipster youth of the time – the same way beards and twee indie rock are, now. Grunge was cool, too, but they were usually separate scenes. One brave individual bridged the two world, those of lounge and grunge… Mr. Richard Cheese! His Lounge Against the Machine was an era-defining document, allowing hip cats, hardcore punks and post-punk grunge fiends to all share a knowing laugh.
His latest album, Richard Cheese: A Lounge Supreme, is available as a CD at www.loungemart.com, and as a download at www.vibedeck.com/richardcheese.
Beast Wishes and Cheap Deals
#psychobilly by Kustom
I’d posted about the Kickstarter campaign to produce the documentary BEAST WISHES -THE BOB AND KATHY BURNS MOVIE. Thought everyone would like to know they made their goal and are gonna make the movie! (ht: MONSTERPALOOZA)
CHEAP DEAL ALERT! $4 for great CDs by acts like MAD SIN, @ Thorp Records and @ Sailor’s Grave Records through MONDAY ONLY.
MPFree – Nick 13 – Carry My Body Down
#psychobilly by Kustom
If you haven’t bought Nick13′s self-titled country-tinged solo record yet, download one track from the album, Carry My Body Down, for FREE at Amazon.com.
Nick13 is the frontman of psychobilly uber-stars TIGER ARMY, but this well-reviewed release is his long-in-coming solo debut, designed to shine a brighter light on the traditional country music spirit that lies beneath the delicious psycho noise of TIGER ARMY. I can even trick Honkytonk into listening to it, sometimes!
And, by-the-by, since Amazon skunked all of their California associates, I don’t even get anything for pointing this out… just doing it out of the goodness of my heart (stop laughing).
Review: Hickoids – Kicking It with the Twits
#psychobilly by Kustom
Ever wish British Invasion music was a little less… 60′s sounding? Do you like the early, Carl Perkins, Buck Owens, Little Richard-inspired Beatles better than the psychedelic incoherence about Mr. Kite and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds on Sgt. Pepper?
If so, I think you might find THE HICKOIDS latest CD, Kicking It With the Twits, worth a spin. The album came out March 15, 2011, through Saustex Media.
The Texas cowpunkers use this album as an opportunity to transform themselves into a cover band on a mission to takes 60′s “gold” by THE WHO and THE ROLLING STONES and the like, and turns them into “nuggets”. The sound nails that “psych-punk” sound featured on those famous NUGGETS collections of random singles by regional garage bands… the kind of 45s THE CRAMPS loved so much. The guitars hum and buzz, the vocals sound cavernous and the drums thump dryly. The “pop” aspect of these songs do still “pop”, but now they also swing and twang at the same time.
As the CD progresses, it moves forward in time, taking a crack at “Americanizing” British artists like Elton John, MOTT THE HOOPLE and THE DAMNED. THE HICKOIDS prove that Brits can write damn catchy songs, but they often sound better when in the hands of loud, crude American barbarians.
Rocker Covers Album Cover
#psychobilly by Kustom
THE ROCKER COVERS, a UK-based musical project focusing on covering non-rockabilly tunes with lots of rockabilly style, have released the cover art for their upcoming album. To find out more about THE ROCKER COVERS, check out my previous post.
RKH Review: Glambilly – White BBQ Sauce
#psychobilly by Kustom
A band calling itself “GLAMBILLY” seemed pretty genius. The music, however, isn’t “The Cramps Play the Sunset Strip”. There’s no “rockabilly” or “psychobilly” sound on the disc at all, and even the “glam” – either of the “Bowie/T. Rex” variety or the “glam metal” of the 80′s.
What I found GLAMBILLY to do, and do well, on White BBQ Sauce (Saustex), is give 70′s era “Southern Rock” a sonic overhaul. Call it “Southern Rock 2.0″. LYNYRD SKYNYRD’s original lineup had a very short run before tragedy struck. They succeeded in creating a genre of blues-rock that was more honkytonk-infused than their British counterparts, but, sadly, few could do it as well as they could, and they weren’t able to do it very long. I’ve found the “resurrected” LYNYRD SKYNYRD to be inert and lost in their own confused, jingoistic cliches (both lyrically and on the fretboard).
GLAMBILLY answers the question, “What should Southern Rock sound like today?” It has the over-driven guitars, the boogie-woogie basslines and the flashy blues-inspired rock lead playing that makes people wanna let their hair down and party, listening to songs that play up the wild, the crazy, the funny and the profane.
The band centers on multi-instrumentalist and sole songwriter, Hans Frank, a veteran of many different bands, now seeming to be taking control of his own creative destiny. He’s aided by “Dangerous” Danny Aaron, formerly of THE DANGEROUS TOYS, on guitar and Tony Gloria on drums.
In the disk, both musically and lyrically, Hans seems to be both embracing and running from his Texas stomping-ground. He seems disdainful of LA, complaining about all the blonde prettyboy hunks (although, when I look around, I see a lot of painfully thin dudes with male-pattern baldness), but also seems to stretch beyond the ZZ TOP version of Texas to something darker, sexier, and, well, more “Hollywood”. It might not be easy being a rocker from Texas, but without that potent mix of influences, Hans may not be such a unique songwriter. This tension makes for an interesting, revved up cover of “Stay All Night”, the Bob Wills standard that most know from Willie Nelson’s allegiance to it.
Lyrically, Hans seems to be writing from his own neighborhood. Some songs address the end of relationships, others focus on lost souls – usually female – who’s fast, complicated lives have come to abrupt ends. The themes give the songs some bite, menace and authenticity, much the same way the gritty, first GUNS ‘N’ ROSES album changed the tenor of Sunset Blvd.
Hans seems unwilling to stick with the groove he lays down at the opening of the album and revisits through its track list, dipping his toes into synth-pop, spoken word, more straight-up country rock and a goth-tinged mid-tempo album closer. While Hans may have found such sonic detours gratifying to his artistic development, they interrupted the rockin’, strutting roadhouse boogie found on the album’s strongest tracks.
If you’re looking for someone who has the swagger and the talent to pull Southern Rock out of the moldy oldie doldrums, give GLAMBILLY a spin.
Psycho Stuff
#psychobilly by Kustom
FRANTIC FLINTSTONES are O.G. psychobillies, from 1986. Lead singer and sole original member, Gavin “Chuck” Harvey, is ensuring that this fan-favorite psychobilly band remains alive and well… promising a new album, Freaked Out & Psyched Out, and a new website:
WE HAVE A NEW OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE SOON, NEWS, PICTURES, VIDEOS OF THE NEW LINEUP, ALBUM. AND SOME INSIDE MUH ABOUT THE PREPRODUCTION FOR THE “FREAKED OUT & PSYCHED OUT” ALBUM.
VOODOO ZOMBIE has named their new lead singer… Alessa Hell, details are promised to follow.
If you listen to “Motherf*ckers Be Trippin’” while picking your kids up from school, you may be interested to know that Jessika Daly, wife of Eddie Spaghetti (lead singer of THE SUPERSUCKERS and a solo artist ~ and she’s the “cover model” for all of his solo albums), has a mommy blog! Not Your Average Blog, Blog details life for a rock ‘n’ roll mom of two on the road.
THE QUINTESSENTIALS are a horror punk band that come recommended by THE TWANGSHIFTERS. Who am I to argue?
Non-music monster news: Bob & Kathy Burns are legends in the “monster movie” world. Get to know them better by checking out this Kickstarter page, set up to fund a documentary about these amazing people. They have appeared in movies and TV and they also have one of the world’s greatest monster movie memorabilia collection! Help them reach their funding goal!
Speak of the Devil Wrays
#psychobilly ~ THE DEVIL WRAYS have a new release on the way – Hard Times. It can be pre-ordered NOW at Western Star Recording Company. It is slated to be released in “early September, 2011″.
Imagine THE SUPERSUCKERS with a pronounced doghouse bass sound, rather than an electric bass, and you’ll have an idea of their particular approach to psychobilly. You can also listen to three sample tracks on their Facebook page.
The Twangshifters
#psychobilly by Kustom ~ I don’t know how I missed this, but back on May 27th, 2011, Portland, Oregon’s own THE TWANGSHIFTERS released a great, self-titled debut album! Good thing they spread the word on their Facebook page.
Lead singer Sara Barry belts out the vocals with sass and power, while the band keeps the music jumping, with tasteful playing that supports a driving swing beat. This is rockabilly with lots of attitude, but not with the completely overdriven psycho sound. It makes for a great middle-ground between “modern” and “traditional” rockabilly. Don’t believe me? Listen to the generous sampling of their album, below, then order it directly from THE TWANGSHIFTERS “merch” page.
MPFree The Funerals
The garage rock band The Funerals are ready to bash your brain with a free single. Go to thefunerals.bandcamp.com and click on “Free Download” (the grey-colored text half the way down the page). Then, on the page that opens, click “Download War [Single]“. And then, it’s yours – for free! And, if you’re gonna grab their single, be [...]
More Social Distortion on the Way?
Mike Ness and company may be following up this year’s long-awaited and much celebrated Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes with three potential new albums! The SOCIAL DISTORTION paper of record, The Calgary Herald (who knew?) spoke to Mike Ness, who explained that, immediately after wrapping up the new album, he kept right on writing, so [...]
MPFree – Get Zombified!
SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS (often shortened to “SCOTS” by fans) is a “keystone” band for me. THE STRAY CATS resurrected rockabilly and THE CRAMPS created psychobilly, a genre bands like THE METEORS, DEMENTED ARE GO and BATMOBILE fleshed out. FLAT DUO JETS injected a spooky, shambling majesty and REVEREND HORTON HEAT brought the speed [...]
Rocker Covers Are Ready to FIGHT
..for their right to PARTY, that is! The above band is called THE ROCKER COVERS, a UK-based musical project focusing on covering non-rockabilly tunes with lots of rockabilly style. That’s right, unlike other rockabilly acts that lean heavily on covers, there’s no 20 Flight Rock or Race with the Devil in sight. They cover GREEN [...]
Misfits – Jerry Only Doesn’t “Rain” in His Mouth
Making up for their silly gaffe, in which Glenn Danzig was pictured in a tease about the Jerry-Only-led MISFITS release, The Devil’s Rain (October 4th, 2011), Rolling Stone interviewed Jerry Only, getting the details right this time. Rather sadly, Jerry Only doesn’t limit his comment to his own incarnation of THE MISFITS, but continues in the vein [...]
MPFree – Stomping Rats
Like thumpin’ rockabilly and psychobilly from Mexico as much as me? Don’t really know? Here’s your chance to find out for free! STOMPING RATS are trading a self-produced EP for “likes” on their Facebook page. Pretty painless way to get some great music, free! Go to the STOMPING RATS Facebook wall and scroll down until [...]
Misfits-related Update
Earlier this week, I alerted you to the “tease” THE MISFITS posted about the upcoming album, The Devil’s Rain. Other sites, including PunkNews.com have confirmed a few more details, including: The Devil’s Rain will be released on October 4th, 2011 It was produced by RAMONES and REVEREND HORTON HEAT producer Ed Stasium They will be touring extensively [...]
Misfits Make It “Rain”
Always prone to mystery, the modern-day MISFITS promise a new album, The Devil’s Rain “in stores and online, October, 2011,” with more details promised later this week. Of course, THE MISFITS have been many things and have included many people since the “classic” line-up fronted by Glen Danzig split in the 80′s. Currently, the band [...]
MPFree! Romeo & the Frankensteins
What is Frankenbilly?” That’s the genre Mexican Psychos ROMEO & THE FRANKENSTEINS created to describe their monsterously raw mix of horror punk and psychobilly. Despite hailing from Queretaro, Qro, Mexico, Romeo von Frankenstein sings (bellows?) about all manner of supernatural depravity in English, but retains the hard edge I love from bands in the Mexican scene. Unconvinced? [...]
Happy Birthday Lux Drummerette (Nekromantix)
Lux Drummerette filled the NEKROMANTIX drum stool left empty by the tragic loss of Andy DeMize in 2009. When he died in a car accident, Kim Nekroman tapped this ferocious female drummer, who emerged from the Orange County speed/thrash/death/doom metal community, to keep the psycho beat. After touring with the Nekromantix for a few years, [...]
New Los Gatos Locos Album for “Sociopaths”
LOS GATOS LOCOS [myspace|facebook] are releasing an album… but unlike the Brains (see yesterday), they gave us all a title – the very psycho-sounding “Even Sociopaths Get the Blues” - and a release date… kind of. I’ll let the band explain: Okay, so here’s the skinny. Orders can be made direct from ZKR (Zodiac Killer Records) for [...]
RKH Reads by Kustom
Montreal’s THE BRAINS teased that they’re about to drop a new album on their Facebook page, but with no details, yet. PsychoRadio on Facebook has a fun list of do’s and don’ts for helping your local psychobilly scene. The videos featured on the page is a great way to get up to speed on the [...]
Nick 13′s Solo Album – Amazon Deal of the Day – $3.99!
If you haven’t bought Nick13‘s self-titled country-tinged solo record yet, you can buy it for less than a sandwich. For the next 24 hrs. (as of this writing, on Tuesday, August 9, 2011), the songs are available as DRM-free MP3 downloads/free Amazon cloud thingie for $3.99 at Amazon.com. Nick13 is the frontman of psychobilly uber-stars [...]
RKH Reads by Kustom
The Houston Press did a rundown of THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT’s non-album tracks (some of which were also included on albums. A mention of a Sinatra cover was news to me… and I got the Ace Ventura II soundtrack to get a stray RHH track! I like the cut of The Houston Press’ jib. Here’s [...]
