Psychobilly Freakout'
hits Southern California
By
Jon Lowell
Summer Forty-Niner
For
two nights Southern California recently
got a taste of some southern fried rockabilly
jams.
The
Reverend Horton Heat brought his Texas style
brand of rock 'n' roll to the House of Blues
in Anaheim on July 31 and Aug. 1.
The
band consists of Jim "Reverend Horton
Heat" Heath on guitar and lead vocals,
Jimbo Wallace on the upright bass and Scott
Churilla on drums. This power trio from
Dallas is a spectacle that should be experienced
live in concert. At the Aug. 1 show the
Reverend didn't disappoint the raucous sold
out crowd.
The
spectacle is watching Heath play guitar
rockabilly style with searing solos, while
Wallace pounds on his upright bass
double-fisted and Churilla twirls his drumsticks
in between each beat. One of the Reverend's
signature instrumentals aptly defines the
live show -- "Psychobilly Freakout."
Most
fans term the band's style rockabilly. But
in reality, they fuse bits of rock and country
with punk by using distorted guitars, fast
drum beats and lyrics that talk about sex,
drugs and rock 'n' roll -- Texas style.
At
one point during the show Wallace lowers
his upright bass to the ground and Heath
climbs on top of the widened lower portion.
Wallace continues to pound away and Heath
shreds a guitar solo all the while being
illuminated like the god of rockabilly to
the delight of his disciples below.
Right
before breaking into "Martini Time,"
Heath paid homage to their Disney hosts.
"I was walking around Downtown Disney
today," Heath said, "and I saw
people sitting in a bar having drinks. It
was at that moment I realized that this
truly is the happiest place on earth."
Talking
about fast cars is usually something that
accompanies every one of the band's albums
and live shows. Two such songs, "Galaxy
500" and "Like A Rocket,"
are from the bands latest release, "Lucky
7," on Artemis Records. Both songs
have become staples at the band's shows
and the latter was even made the theme song
for the Daytona 500.
The
Reverend's legions of fans are just as eccentric
as he is. Southern California surf punks
and 1950s greaser look-a-likes, both young
and old, can be seen in attendance. Trevor
Bossert of Bakersfield said, "Where
else can you see a couple swing dancing
in a mosh pit."
The
band, which plays around 150 shows each
year, has been extremely accessible to their
fans. "I saw the Rev seven times last
year and each show is better than the last,"
said Bryon Romero of Orange.
The
Reverend Horton Heat will bring its hyper
rockabilly experience back to Southern California
Sept. 6 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles,
and Sept. 7 at the San Diego Street Scene.
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