Heavy Hitters in the Hot, Hot Heat!

Hootenanny 2009
reviewed by Terry James

Images by Caren Spitler

Beneath a blazing sun in a bright blue sky, a bunch of ‘billies blew the doors off the barn in another blast of a bash: Hootenanny 2009 ! For fifteen years now, this monster mash-up of hot rods, hillbillies, and hardcore tunes has marked the definitive kick-off of summer. Once again, the show drew an eclectic mix of vatos and hepcats, pin-ups and punks, and there was enough tattoo ink in sight to fill the swimming pool at Graceland !

Speaking of Graceland, this show was a true classic. While there were some strong sets served up by the likes of the Nekromantix and the HorrorPops, it was the retro sound that ruled the roost. Lee Rocker brought it in the form of a medley of classic ‘billy rockers by Buddy Holly and the crowd lapped it up like mother's milk. “Blue Moon of Kentucky won't ya keep on shinin'

Next, the Supersuckers announced they were here to “officially start the show” and they never lie. Their trailer-trash symphony of swagger and sleaze is totally built to please. In a bright pink shirt and sportin' a ‘stache that would make a .70s pornstar green with envy, lead singer Eddie Spaghetti ably helmed the kick-ass quartet, bewitching the overheated crowd with the Evil Powers of Rock and Roll. I like this band more every time I see them, and I wasn't alone. One of the stand-out tunes for me, and the crowd as well, described perfectly a number of concert goers present. “ She used to be pretty. Now she's just pretty f**ked up.”

After a solid set by crowd faves the Nekromantix, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy returned to the Hootenanny stage after a 12-year absence, and made us all realize what we had been missing. Trading in their de rigueur pinstripes and fedoras for bowling shirts and porkpies, Scotty and the boys left none of their swingin; style behind. With ice-cool vocals, jumpin' rhythms, and a horn section so sharp it could have cut diamonds, the Big Bad gave us 30 minutes of unadulterated loungetastic swang . “Hidee-hidee-hidee-ho!

The HorrorPops followed with a non-stop audio assault of Hell-Yeah! Danish psychobilly madness, minus go-go pin-ups NoNo and Kamilla- sigh . Then headliner, hollow body hero, and all-around helluva great guy the Reverend Horton Heat (aka Jim Heath) stepped up to once again blister the floorboards with his precision blend of country-fried psychobilly pepper sauce. This cat always keeps it cool, even when his licks are white hot. “Well, we're off, we're off, we're off! It's a psychobilly freakout!”

Finishing off the day were local Latino legends Los Lobos. Perhaps feeling they needed to match the tattooed tone of the day, they chose to start their set with a string of tight, but unremarkable, rockabilly tunes. Thankfully, they returned to their ritmo roots with “Cumbia Raza” and never looked back. Their sultry salsa flavor was the perfect capper on one scorchingly sweet summer day. Baila baila mi carino, Come dance to the silver moon, Come dance this night together, 'Cause the morning comes too soon.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
HorrorPops
Lee Rocker
Los Lobos
Nekromantix
The Reverend Horton Heat
Supersuckers