Concert Forcast: Southern Culture on the Skids, Willard Grant Conspiracy
Yes, I did just poach one of Rob’s topics. I hope he can find it in his heart to forgive me.
If you are in the Boston area, the next 2 weeks is a great time to hear some murder-ballad riddled rockabilly and country. This Tuesday (5/15) is Southern Culture on the Skids at the Middle East Downstairs, and next week the Willard Grant Conspiracy is coming back to their hometown for a show on Thursday (5/24) at the Lizard Lounge.
So, I just recently stumbled upon this band that has been around for quite a while (1985, apparently) – Southern Culture on the Skids. They don’t seem very well-known, and they certainly haven’t been blogged about very much. The first thing that hit me about this band is that they sounded so much like a bunch of bands that used to play in the Minneapolis Area about 10 years ago. The Vees (Bobby Vee’s sons), Accident Clearinghouse, Scotty and the Satanaires, the Vibrochamps… all of these bands had something in common: they were all unique rockabilly/psychobilly/country bands until the mid-90s swing phase hit; and then they were all popular for about 6 months. I’m assuming SCOTS had the same experience. Me, I’m more into the psychobilly thing, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a band firmly rooted in the rock ‘n roll sounds of the 50s.
I’m anticipating a lot of rockabilly-influenced surf numbers, a lot of analog vibrato, archtops with bigsbys, fender tube amps, and the overpowering aroma of bourbon. DAMN it’s good to be alive. Check out a few tracks:
Southern Culture on the Skids – Tombstone Shadow
Southern Culture on the Skids – Life’s A Gas
The Willard Grant Conspiracy was recommended to me by the automated musical geniuses of Last.fm, and I am unbelievably happy to know this band exists. Why? Because it’s like a little bit of everything I like – depressing country music backed up by solid vocals and lyrics, and the steady stream of talented musicians that contribute seem to give the band a more bluegrass/folk feel as well as providing a constant change of sound to the band. Fueled by an unsurmountable force of demons, whiskey and guilt, the Willard Grant Conspiracy will not rock your socks off – they will lull you with the sound of a thousand mill wheels turning in the water; the sound of dead men gnawing the greatest sinner of them all, in the abyss beneath the Carpathians…
Another reason to take note of the Willard Grant Conspiracy – they fall in the same vein of music as the aforementioned Goth Country bands. While some prefer “alt-country,” I don’t think this really describes their style and it groups them with more up-beat bands such as Roger Clyne and Wilco, where they probably have more in common with the Handsome Family and 16 Horsepower. With the ever-changing ensemble, there are some songs that tend to resemble all genres, which is definitely a good thing. If you like the Denver music scene (anything on Alternative Tentacles), you will most definitely like this.
Willard Grant Conspiracy – Mary Of The Angels
Willard Grant Conspiracy – Let It Roll
Willard Grant Conspiracy – The Ghost Of The Girl In The Well
Willard Grant Conspiracy – Fare Thee Well
Enjoy!
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