Rock This Cat

December 18, 2011 2:00 PM

Recommend me some edgy Rockabilly bands!

I love:

The Cramps (psychobilly)
Rocket From the Crypt

As well as some other bands that have occassional Rockabilly influence in their songs:

Morphine
Morrissey
The Clash

However, I've always had a hard time finding other rockabilly-inspired bands that do much for me. I want music with at least a bit of genuine bad-ass snarl to it. Even if it's your cousin Pat's band that no one's heard of.

posted by oceanview to Media & Arts (30 answers total)

Mrs. Moo says old school psychobilly - The Polecats, The Deltas, The Nitros, a safe bet being any of the Rockabilly samplers from Hepcat records. The Long Tall Texens are also an option. For more melodic - Carlos and the Banditos out of the UK.
posted by Disco Moo at 2:13 PM on December 18, 2011

Hillbilly Casino
posted by dawkins_7 at 2:26 PM on December 18, 2011

The Raunch Hands
Thee Headcoats or any of Billy Childish's projects
The Red Devils
posted by spicynuts at 2:27 PM on December 18, 2011

Flat Duo Jets
Dexter Romweber Trio
The Quadrajets
Immortal Lee County Killers
Southern Culture on the Skids
Bughouse Five
Unknown Hinson
Duquette Johnson & the Rebel Kings
posted by BitterOldPunk at 2:30 PM on December 18, 2011

The Arkhams, for all your Lovecraftian psychobilly needs.
posted by Dr Dracator at 2:44 PM on December 18, 2011

Imelda May is pretty fun.
posted by cazoo at 3:07 PM on December 18, 2011

My friend Fred Stucky is in Gas Money, a rockabilly band from Philadelphia. Here he is giving a Rockabilly lesson on a 1959 Gretsch, and here is a video from one of their CDs. There are a few other videos of him on Youtube playing some of his vintage guitars. I've known Fred since the early 80s, he's the real deal when it comes to rockabilly.
posted by ralan at 3:35 PM on December 18, 2011

The Living End (look at their early stuff first)
The Amazing Royal Crowns (or The Amazing Crowns)
for super edgy: Sasquatch & The Sickabillies (I saw him barf on stage once)
posted by pazazygeek at 3:45 PM on December 18, 2011

Oops -- that should Duquette Johnston. Sorry.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 3:48 PM on December 18, 2011

The Chop Tops (pals of mine, fucking awesome)
The Rev Tones
Nekromantix
Reverend Horton Heat (older stuff is better)
posted by mollymayhem at 4:03 PM on December 18, 2011

Elvis Hitler
posted by AJaffe at 4:24 PM on December 18, 2011

The Stray Cats have some lesser-known songs that are on the edgier side of rockabilly, especially "Something's Wrong With My Radio" and "How Long Do You Want To Live, Anyway."
posted by 4ster at 4:25 PM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Sorry. I was being lazy before.


One

Two
posted by 4ster at 4:31 PM on December 18, 2011

Detroit Cobras! Start out with I Wanna Holler (but the town's too small)
posted by freya_lamb at 4:50 PM on December 18, 2011

nthing Detroit Cobras and Reverend Horton Heat. Also, the Villebillies, Tiger Army, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the Sadies.
posted by iamkimiam at 5:11 PM on December 18, 2011

Murder By Death
posted by tumid dahlia at 5:18 PM on December 18, 2011

Seconding The Reverend Horton Heat.
Here's a sample: Big Sky/Baddest of the Bad
Here's another: Big Little Baby

They also have many other good songs that don't start with the letter B.
posted by EKStickland at 5:20 PM on December 18, 2011

Nthing Unknown Hinson. I've seen him live twice. I mean, he has a zombie chauffeur named Gustav!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 6:06 PM on December 18, 2011

Allmusic has big lists of the top (whatever that means) "Rockabilly Revival" artists, albums, songs. See also Psychobilly, Hot Rod Revival, Surf Revival, Cowpunk, etc.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:23 PM on December 18, 2011

Good lord, no one has mentioned Hasil Adkins yet?

Hasil Adkins!

If you really want to fall down the rabbit hole for this stuff, check out the many compilations on Norton Records.
posted by neroli at 6:29 PM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

Demented are Go! - I particularly like Who Put Grandma Under the Stairs, but there are several albums worth of tunes that fit the bill.

Also, The Meteors, perhaps most famous for this, but again have quite a discography.
posted by dirm at 8:01 PM on December 18, 2011 [1 favorite]

The Mummies!

Japan/Korea have great rockabilly scenes. From Korea I can suggest Rock Tigers and The Moonshiners.

Rock Tigers also host a montly "Kimchibilly" show where they fly in other Asian rockabilly acts, keep an eye on their website for band listings.
posted by GilloD at 8:38 PM on December 18, 2011

From Boston, Tex Railer's Doomtown (YouTube)
posted by dorkydancer at 9:54 PM on December 18, 2011

Three Blue Teardrops

Sloe Gin Joes. - out of San Fran in the mid-90's. Awesome band. Sorry, can't find much mention of them online other than dodgy looking MP3 links, and eBay stuff. Well worth seeking out regardless.
posted by timsteil at 10:53 PM on December 18, 2011

The Beauty Shop.

A lot of their work is now off the market etc, but if one were to... say... MeMail me...
posted by Jorus at 11:18 PM on December 18, 2011

The Legendary Shack Shakers.
posted by LarryC at 12:17 AM on December 19, 2011

The ReChords
posted by mosessis at 4:45 AM on December 19, 2011

They seem to be on-again-off-again, but Memphis Morticians.

And seconding Gun Club and Demented are Go.
posted by JoanArkham at 5:39 AM on December 19, 2011

Off the wall maybe, but Volbeat does Metal with a pretty decent Rockabilly take. try 16 Dollars or a fun take on I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
posted by pupdog at 4:20 PM on December 19, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks, guys! Can't wait to have some downtime to listen to all these awesome-sounding bands.
posted by oceanview at 10:18 PM on December 20, 2011