Los Angeles' Hot-Rod-Punk & Psycho-Hellbillys

Friday, July 09, 2004 - Most may not know simply because every city has it's own music scene, especially rock/punk scenes, but there is a major hot-rod punk & psycho-hellbilly scene going down here in Los Angeles.

Bands like Blazing Haley and their album Mas Chingon are a prime example of the hot-rod-rock-and-fucking-roll fury being laid down here. And I have had the priviledge of seeing these bands grace many different stages here in Hollywood, and the Valley. One of my most recent shows was being able to catch Black Monday awhile back. A very talented group of young guys who know not only how to throw down on stage, but are very good musicians, and know how to play the part. Even though they are playing in small dives and are nowhere near as known as they should be.

Without even going to far into this, I feel I need to mention Hellbound Hayride, and their album Live Who Shot a Hole in My Sombrero which me and a friend were lucky enough to attend some of the shows these songs are compiled from. Was some very wild times, but the music is fucking great. The singer is an absolute psycho-fucking-hellbilly. He wears Dickies and cowboy boots with a wife beater and full tatted up sleeves all the way to the neck, and loves to get down and dirty, fucked up and rowdy. One of the best acts I have caught without knowing who they were.

If you are interested in other Hellbound Hayride albums, check out: Stampede and you might want to check out the Hellbillys' Blood Trilogy 2 This CD represents the new harder Psychobilly sound. Harder Faster Louder. Purists will love it. All this from the most influential Psychobilly band on the West Coast.

Hellbound Hayride have a style of Psychobilly music which can only be captured by an American band, and 'Who Shot A Hole In My Sombrero?' is a pulsating live Hellbound Hayride set. Their 'Voodoobilly Cowpunk' style takes the darkness of Psychobilly, the rhythm of Rockabilly, and a Roots Rock twang and is delivered with a Punk Rock attack.

Have you heard of The Saddle Tramps? If not these guys are good too! Check out one of their LIVE albums to hear what they sound like Live. Get Nashville Swinger by The Saddle Tramps and tell me they don't rock. The Saddle Tramps have been playing to sold out shows in the casinos of Reno Nevada and throughout California. Their brand of hardcore country music together with thier biting nasty comedy have earned them a reputation. They have a crossover appeal that encompasses Punk, Country, and Western Americana.

I don't think there is a better sound emerging today than the psycho-billy hot-rod-punk sound. For a good palette of flavors you may want to check out the compilation Attack of the Hotrod Zombies Black Monday has also released a split with Louisiana boys Speedbuggy! It's called Six Shooter and is a must have! Even though Speedbuggy are not from Los Angeles, they still play small dive bars right up the road from me and are on the same label as the other bands here, and are very much a part of the L.A. cowboy-punk scene.

Speedbuggy has a few albums that are a must-get for any real collector, start with Hardcore Honkey Tonk and drift into some Red Eyed & Rowdy and of course, Round Up. Black Monday is a punk rock n' roll band from Los Angeles. Their sound combines gritty street punk with the lust and attitude of the Los Angeles hot rod scene. Too rock n roll to be punk, and too punk to be rockabilly, Black Monday's signature sound is a throwback to the days when rock was dangerous because it was significant.

And what would a write up on Los Angeles punk-rock be without a mention of Los Creepers their album Punk Rock Since 96 may not be so much for the cowboy at heart, but these guys represent Los Angeles punk rock and deserve a mention. An excellent band to see live. A friend gave me Punk Rock Since 9 if you like, you should also check out L.A. County Line 1 Also, if you have not heard Los Villains, check out Punk Rock Pow Wow

<< Home