It's been an amazing weekend for shows. I saw The Avengers twice, once at CBGB's where there was also a really great George Tabb Benefit featuring many killer NYC punk bands, and a second time at Trash Bar with another great band, The Four Slicks.

1. The Avengers have been around forever. Opening up for the Sex Pistols at their last show ever in San Francisco, the Bay Area band play, well, West Coast '70s punk. What more can I say? Classic American punk.

Lead singer, Penelope Houston, is definitely one of the "pioneering women of American punk" (Mark Deming, All Music Guide). She has a similar voice to X's Exene Cervenka, but uses it in a much less melodic and more virulent manner. Houston is really in your face with her voice and her lyrics (one of their best tracks is titled "White Nigger") and nothing really demonstrates the power and energy of The Avengers like their live performance. Although the band formally disbanded in 1978, they have reunited in different forms many times since then to tour. Unfortunately, their latest US tour has come to an end, but check out the superb compilation of demos and live songs, "Died For Your Sins". That'll tide you over, although really it pales in comparison to the live Avengers experience.

Hey, why were the women in West Coast punk tougher than the ones over in the East Coast? Riddle me that.

From Died For Your Sins (Lookout!, 1999): Teenage Rebel White Nigger We Are the One Available from Penelope Houston's website

The Avengers/Penelope Houston Official Website
The Avengers/Penelope Houston on Myspace

2. Rock-a-billy/Garage band, The Four Slicks, came all the way from Paris, France to ride across the US in a beat up red station wagon and play shows. Unfortunately they just finished up their tour in NYC and are headed back to France, but their CD compilation of their 7" singles, "Rhythm & Booze" is a must for any garage fan.

I guess The Four Slicks are comparable to the Memphis Morticians (see my last post), but lean slightly more towards '50s rock 'n' roll than garage (although there really is no doubting that they are a garage band through and through) and less into B-movies and more into hot-rods.

Did I mention that Jon Von from The Rip Offs is in The Four Slicks? Now you really have to buy that shit, eh?

From the B-side to their 56 Jewel 7" (Rapid Pulse, 2006): Rock & Cruise Loose Lucy Available from Underground Medicine

3. What the hell is the deal with George Tabb, you ask? Get all the info here: http://myspace.com/helpgeorgetabb

The Cramps are rolling into town and playing a show at the Avalon September 3rd, hence the reason for the psychobilly theme of this rather short post.

1. One of my favorite psychobilly bands is the Memphis Morticians from right here in NYC. They're not exactly 100% psychobilly as they've got more of a rockabilly mixed with garage sound. I first saw them open for The Vibrators (weird bill) at Don Hill's last year, and let me tell you, they put on a helluva live show. I think it's safe to say that very few bands really rock out on the theremin and the Memphis Morticians are one of them (and they do it all decked out in Southern suits, complete with the "Colonel Sanders" collar too!). Noteable are bassist Von Erickson's (new) buzzard bass and vocalist/thereminist (?) "Trash Only"'s constant PBR chugging, can chucking and gradual drunkeness.

Their 14 song debut album "Play Primitive Trashman And 13 Other Love Songs" is fan-fucking-tastic but if you want something more lo-fi, check out their 7", "Greetings from the Memphis Mortuary". I dig the sound of the vocals a lot more on the 7" too.

From Play Primitive Trashman And 13 Other Love Songs 7" (Kaiser Records, 2006): Primitive Trashman Electric Chair Pompadour Swamp Available from Kaiser Records.

Official Memphis Morticians website
Memphis Morticians on Myspace

And here's that buzzard bass I was talking about:



2. I am a sucker for great live acts and Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billys are by far one of the best I've ever seen. Both times I've seen them, guitarist/singer Dave "Sasquatch" has been drunk as fuck, gobbing on everything and everyone, pausing the set to puke onstage (I'm not quite sure if this is induced or spontaneous and on a side note, I also read that once he set his pubes on fire!), yet managing to carry on perfectly, with incredible rock 'n' roll guitar and astounding vocals that morph from country crooner to growling maniac in an instant. Drummer Pete is a fiend pounding away on the drums and upright bassit Johnny Custom rides his bass like a fuckin' bronco. Don't believe me? Check out this pic:


[Image from the Sickabilly website]

These guys are so sickkkk that they can't get booked in Boston but even if you're turned off by outrageous stage antics, you can't deny that the musical ability of this band is pretty phenomenal! Listen to these couple of tracks from their album, Burning Miles of Sin and see if you can argue with me on that one. They'll blow you away even more as soon as you see their skill live.

From Burning Miles of Sin (self-released, 2005): Beyond the Sun Apocalyptic Lipped The Road is Calling Available from Sasquatch & The Sickabillys

Official Sickabilly website
Sasquatch & the Sick-a-Billys on Myspace