It’s a Thursday night and Seattle’s Studio Seven is sparsely populated for the Chop Tops show. Those who didn’t come missed some great bands. The Chop Tops, hailing from Santa Cruz, are a psycho/rockabilly trio who pack a powerful punch stronger than bands twice as big.
Led by stand up drummer, Sinner, and rounded out with guitarist Shelby and baby-faced Josh on stand up bass, The Chop Tops played a variety of musical genres that included covers of AC/DC, The Specials, and the legendary Johnny Cash.
This is a band with a great sense of humor as well. Sinner held up a Lucky 13 shirt to toss out to some lucky winner, but first wiped the sweat from his face and arms before tossing it into the thinly dispersed crowd.
This is my third time seeing the Chop Tops and I’ll see them again and again. They are a band that has fun playing no matter how many they’re playing for and judging from my observations, those in attendance had just as much fun watching them.
Preceding the Chop Tops was a band from NYC that almost stole the entire night. This four-piece played straight up screamin’ rockabilly and held nothing back. Porcelain-skinned Laura Rebel Angel led this band in vocals complete with screaming rebel yells. She also played a mean guitar. She rarely stayed in one place for long and whipped her long crimson hair about while she pranced about the stage and even stood on the drum riser before jumping off to perform more rebel yells. The rest of the band is comprised of Brian Hack on lead guitar, Sean O’Connell on drums and Daniel Pena on upright bass. Screamin’ Rebel Angels were nothing short of amazing and I hope they come around again very soon. I highly recommend checking them out.
The band prior to the Rebels was Seattle’s own Hard Money Saints. Tantalizing those in attendance with their straight up rockabilly sound, the Saints were in fine form and fine humor. The tender, crooning vocals and twangy guitar sounds by Jack Rainwater are accentuated by Nich Scott slamming the skins and Armondo Nienhuser on slap bass. They never disappoint.
Starting the whole evening off was Raw Dogs. This band was the perfect introduction to this punk-o-billy show two weeks before Halloween. Drummer and vocalist Ian (Bam) Stroker in particular was dressed for the occasion with his white tank top and hair smeared with (fake, I presume)blood. Cobwebs were strewn everywhere and the dry ice added that extra macabre aura. Stand up bass player Sqwerll (of Angie & the CarWrecks fame) wore a bleached paintbrush mohawk that must have stood two feet high at least. Surprisingly he played the entire set with his shirt on, but still played barefoot. I am forever fascinated with his unique style. Guitarist Joey ones was the most “normal” looking of the trio, but his playing made his guitar sound as if it were being tortured and screaming in pain. I will definitely keep tabs on when and where Raw Dogs play again. They were total fun.
