My first concert of 2014 and I’m at the Showbox Market to take in some psychobilly. The now legendary Reverend Horton Heat headlined with Nekromantix and Old Man Markley opening.
>Hailing from Dallas, TX, The Reverend (real name James Heath) played a mean Gretsch guitar while Jimbo Wallace slapped viciously away at his upright bass, smiling non stop. Drummer Scott Churilla, who looked a lot like Luke Skywalker, slammed away at the skins and barely broke a sweat (although he came close to doing so when he performed a raucous drum solo late in the show).
The Reverend himself came out, charming to a fault, and the trio opened with Psychobilly Freakout. Other classic Reverend Horton Heat songs followed like 400 Bucks, which is more reminiscent of a grunge song than the roots rock they usually perform. Combine some Johnny Cash, a bit of Nirvana, and a touch of the macabre, and you have the sound of this band.
Proving what a class act this band is, the Rev invited a member of their crew (I think he was sound technician) on stage to play guitar. Though this guy, named Hoss (his real name) played a mean guitar, he looked more like he belonged in ZZ Top.
The highlight for me was the encore when they came out and performed a resounding, powerful rendition of Johnny B. Goode followed by my favorite, Galaxy 500.
Prior to The Rev was So. Cal psychobilly trio, Nekromantix. Kim Nekroman, originally from Denmark, sings lead and plays a stand up bass shaped like a child’s coffin. The strings were attached by a silver skull. Francisco Mesa played a mean guitar while Lux, the only female in the band, slamsmed away on drums so ferociously that it belied her never a hair out of place appearance of sweetness and innocence.
Although Nekromantix put on a great show, it seemed Kim Nekroman wasn’t as lively with his bass this time. He didn’t perform as many acrobatic fetes with it as I’ve seen him do in the past. He held it above his head, held it like a guitar, but gone this time were his frequent bouts of climbing onto it and standing, riding it like a horse and spinning it around. Perhaps it’s because they were a supporting act this time and all previous times I’ve seen them as the headliner. I still enjoyed them, but didn’t find this show as great as previous ones. Overhearing some people next to me who’d never seen nor heard of the Nekromantix, I can say that they were overwhelmingly impressed.
Opening the whole night was Old Man Markley. If I could sum them up in one word it would be WOW! This seven piece punk-a- billy septet hails from LA and consists of John Carey (lead vocals, guitar), Annie DeTemple (Autoharp, Vocals), Jeff Fuller (Drums), Joey Garibaldi (Bass, Vocals), Ryan Markley (Washboard), John Rosen (Banjo, Vocals), and Katie Weed (Fiddle). Think of punk rock combined with hillbilly hoedown hootenanny music and you’ve got Old Man Markley. They exuded fun and charm and even played a Screeching Weasel song, The Science of Myth. Do check them out next time they pass through. They’re well worth it. And, judging by the enthusiastic and raucous cheers that followed their set, I can attest that most the audience, if not all, felt the same as I did about Old Man Markley.
All photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
Holly Homan has seen and photographed Nekromantix at least seven times in the last handful of years. To see Nekromantix through the years, go here.
