The Rev Heats it up at Hootenanny 2006
Hot Rods, Hot Licks & Hot Bodies: Welcome to Heat-My-Fanny, - er, Hootenanny 2006!
Despite the merciless sun beating down upon their heavily-tattooed bodies, some 10 thousand fans of car-culture and guitar-driven mayhem descended on Oak Canyon Ranch for another rousing Hootenanny festival. As usual, the line-up never failed to please, and included some dependable favorites, and some unexpected pleasant surprises along the way. Following are just a few highlights of a terrific day out in the hills.
Early in the day, Manic Hispanic brought their set featuring a Latino-tinged tongue-in-cheek take on classic punk anthems to the stage, and brought smiles to the faces of all those in attendance. Among the more talkative acts of the day, all-star Manic Hispanic's front man Gabby and his fellow vatos had the crowd rolling with their cholo-themed stand-up routine between each hilariously modified cover tune.
After the laughs subsided, The Living End kicked off their 2006 North American tour, blistering the stage with a white-hot rocket-launch first number, and never looked back. Front man Chris Cheney didn't even speak to the crowd until after the third number, so intense was his focus on the work at hand, that of kicking the audience's collective ass. With their set of new tunes and crowd favorites this band proved themselves to be a precision-crafted, power-punching, punkabilly prizefighter, their contagious power igniting a mini-mosh pit in front of the stage - the only such occurence of the day.
One audience member wondered aloud why such a notable band was placed so early in the day, and my only guess is that they wanted to be fresh for their show at Plush in Tuscon the following night. One of many hightlights of their set was when Cheney announced out-loud his intentions to show the crowd his rockabilly soul, and launched into a lightning-fast series of bluegrass riffs, then featuring each of the other two members in solo bursts of hillbilly licks. At the end of the "demonstration" he declared it the "Australian version of it, anyway" Hmmm....Oz-abilly?
Later, the ever-entertaining HorrorPops leapt onto the stage. With a strident "Hell Yeah!" lead singer and stand-up bassist Patricia took the crowd on a high-energy psychobilly exploration of hot-rods, horror movies, and harlots, as demonic pin-up queens Kamilla and Naomi flanked the stage and performed their own form of sinister sign-language for the "hillbilly impaired." Lead guitarist, and Necromantix alum, Nekroman delivered some extra-crunchy style guitar licks, with rhythm guitarist Geoff and drummer Neidermeier laying down a powerful rhythm blast. Once again, the 'Pops showed why they are such a perfect fit for this particular festival.
After oogling the classic American metal on display, and a quick Philly cheesesteak, it was time to catch double-bass king Lee Rocker as he brought his set to the masses. Rocker's sets always come off a bit smoother than other rockabilly acts, and his band managed to deliver their flaming-hot tunes with a touch of lounge cool, despite the wilting heat. Lee played a few numbers from his new album, most notable of which was "Running From the Hounds," and a few old faves, including a refreshing minor-key twist on one of his old Stray Cats hits "Rock This Town" that really set the crowd ablaze.
After all the coolness, it was time for some foolishness, and the SuperSuckers were more than happy to provide. As usual, Southern-fried metal rock was the special of the day, served in hillbilly sauce, with a helping of brash bravado and frantic fun on the side. This self-proclaimed "Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band in the World" gave the hungry crowd all the hard-boiled licks they could handle, and chased it with some down-home flavor that truly satisfied. Lead singer Eddie Spaghetti's hilarious pleas to the crowd to visit their meager merch booth were a humorous punctuation to some mighty fine guitar work, and I'm sure their excellent set helped sell the crowd on more than just their t-shirts
Irish folk-punkers Flogging Molly, hit the stage next to a crowd that was more than ready to receive. After noting that this was "no f**king weather for an Irish band," lead singer Dave King exclaimed "We're Flogging Molly and this is what we do!" And do it they did, with a 45-minute high-energy set that had the audience jumping, jigging and just generally flinging themselves all over the highlands. Dedicating songs to the likes of Joe Strummer, Johnny Cash and even "George F**king Bush!" King's commentary on the festival attendees, the English, and the music scene made for some uproarious moments between tunes, perhaps the most enjoyable of which was their anthem "Selfish Man."
Tiger Army ambushed the crowd next with a double-barrel dose of punk-edged psychobilly rock that was a nice palette cleanser. Returning to the Hootenanny stage after a years-long haitus, their set bristled with the signature crisp guitar work and plaintive vocals that set this band apart from others of the genre. Despite their undeniably fierce frontal attack, there is something slightly haunted, and haunting, about many of their tunes that hints at a soul that is slightly deeper than might be expected. After their solid set, it was time for Hizzoner, the Reverend Horton Heat to take the stage.
What can one say about the Rev that hasn't been stolen from some other reviewer somewhere? The man is a classic, a pro, a prince among boppers. He plays with the ease of a legendary gunfighter and sings with the well-oiled voice of a Sun-era showman. His brand of rockabilly is somehow both traditional and fresh. He blends the best elements of the greats like Cash, Vincent, and Williams and gives them an updated sheen, all delivered with the ice-cold hand of a deadly Vegas blackjack dealer. Hit me!
The Rev's Hootenanny set this year was a showcase that plumbed the depths of his seemingly fathomless talent, and brought the festival to a rousing close. His disciples stayed faithful to the end, chanting his name, singing his words and roaring like a big-block Chevy between each tune. His genteel demeanor and professional calm pervaded; even during some of his higher energy tunes, he hardly seemed to break a sweat. It's all in a day's work for the Rev!
Flogging
Molly
HorrorPops
Tiger Army
The Reverend
Horton Heat
Lee Rocker
Supersuckers
The Living End