It's Psychobilly Week!

Guybrush · 03-01-2011, 01:38 PM

Yup, it's psychobilly week! According to Wikipedia :

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Psychobilly is a fusion genre of rock music that mixes elements of punk rock, rockabilly, and other genres. It is one of several subgenres of rockabilly which also include thrashabilly, trashabilly, punkabilly, surfabilly and gothabilly. Psychobilly is often characterized by lyrical references to science fiction, horror and exploitation films, violence, lurid sexuality, and other topics generally considered taboo, though often presented in a comedic or tongue-in-cheek fashion. It is often played with an upright double bass instead of the electric bass more common in modern rock music. Psychobilly gained underground popularity in Europe beginning in the early 1980s, but remained largely unknown in the United States until the late 1990s. Since then the advent of several notable psychobilly bands has led to its mainstream popularity and attracted international attention to the genre.

So .. Let's celebrate psychobilly!

Here's some Demented Are Go!

duga · 03-01-2011, 02:36 PM

I actually just recently explored Psychobilly. Most of the time it's just annoying, but occasionally I find a really damn good band.

Here are my top 2 as of now:

These guys just released a new album, but this one (Horse of the Dog) will remain their undisputed classic in my book.

The experimental Psychobilly-ists. These guys put out some great stuff.

dankrsta · 03-01-2011, 02:44 PM

Psychobilly is always fun!

Here's a classic band: The Cramps

'Garbageman' from Songs the Lord Taught Us (1980)

I love this song 'Cramp Stomp' from Big Beat From Badsville

I'll post some more later....

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 03-01-2011, 03:31 PM

I have a very thin knowledge of psychobillly but:

don't know if this counts, but it's definitely a favorite of mine from a psychobilly band:

and ofcourse I know of this:

Sneer · 03-01-2011, 03:34 PM

Batmobile - Transylvanian Express

The Meteors - Little Red Riding Hood

Nekromantix - Hellbound

Probably my three favourite psychobilly bands, not counting the Cramps or Eighties Matchbox, who only have elements of the genre in their sound. I got much love for the double bass and gravity-defying quiffs.

dankrsta · 03-01-2011, 04:28 PM

^Ha...I just meant to post The Meteors. But never mind, here's another song:

'Attack Of The Zorch Men' from In Heaven

The Sharks - 'Short Shark Shock' (Phantom Rockers)

Frenzy - 'Frustration' (Hall of Mirrors)

These last two bands are more on the rockabilly side but they share similar themes and campiness with psychobilly.

Blarobbarg · 03-01-2011, 09:44 PM

I find it kind of interesting that almost all psychbilly songs have to do with monster, aliens, and the like. Sorta an odd lyrical subject for a genre to focus on.

Neapolitan · 03-01-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

I find it kind of interesting that almost all psychbilly songs have to do with monster, aliens, and the like. Sorta an odd lyrical subject for a genre to focus on.

That's something that even goes back to the early day of Rockabilly, I guess there was this tie between lyrics and B-Movies. Billy Lee Riley wrote Flying Saucer Rock n Roll, which was released in '57- it was covered in the 70's by Robert Gordon with Link Wray on guitar - you gotta know who Link Wray is:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

Frederick Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was an American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter and occasional singer.

Wray was noted for pioneering a new sound for electric guitars, as exemplified in his hit 1958 instrumental "Rumble", by Link Wray and his Ray Men, which pioneered an overdriven, distorted electric guitar sound, and also for having "invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarist," "and in doing so fathering," or making possible, "punk and heavy rock". Rolling Stone included Link at number 67 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

Well it's not exactly Physcho-billy - I'm posting it for the benefit of Blarobbarg

**Janszoon** · 03-02-2011, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blarobbarg

I find it kind of interesting that almost all psychbilly songs have to do with monster, aliens, and the like. Sorta an odd lyrical subject for a genre to focus on.

Like Neapolitan hinted at, it makes sense in the context of the whole 1950s kitsch aesthetic. Since, musically, psychobilly is a kitschy take on 50s rock, 50s teen movie subject matter is an easy fit.

Blarobbarg · 03-05-2011, 06:43 PM

That's true.

Although really, I would expect a far greater amount of ironic, crude love songs that you see. Or am I just blind, and missing them all?

03-01-2011, 02:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
duga MB quadrant's JM Vincent Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 3,762	I actually just recently explored Psychobilly. Most of the time it's just annoying, but occasionally I find a really damn good band. Here are my top 2 as of now: These guys just released a new album, but this one (Horse of the Dog) will remain their undisputed classic in my book. The experimental Psychobilly-ists. These guys put out some great stuff. __________________ Confusion will be my epitaph...

03-01-2011, 02:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
dankrsta ... Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,776	Psychobilly is always fun! Here's a classic band: The Cramps 'Garbageman' from Songs the Lord Taught Us (1980) I love this song 'Cramp Stomp' from Big Beat From Badsville I'll post some more later.... __________________ Last.fm

03-01-2011, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sneer Let it drip Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 5,430	Batmobile - Transylvanian Express The Meteors - Little Red Riding Hood Nekromantix - Hellbound Probably my three favourite psychobilly bands, not counting the Cramps or Eighties Matchbox, who only have elements of the genre in their sound. I got much love for the double bass and gravity-defying quiffs. __________________ LastFM Sneer's Emporium of Sound Fright Team radio show

03-01-2011, 04:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
dankrsta ... Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,776	^Ha...I just meant to post The Meteors. But never mind, here's another song: 'Attack Of The Zorch Men' from In Heaven The Sharks - 'Short Shark Shock' (Phantom Rockers) Frenzy - 'Frustration' (Hall of Mirrors) These last two bands are more on the rockabilly side but they share similar themes and campiness with psychobilly. __________________ Last.fm

03-01-2011, 09:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	I find it kind of interesting that almost all psychbilly songs have to do with monster, aliens, and the like. Sorta an odd lyrical subject for a genre to focus on.

03-05-2011, 06:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	That's true. Although really, I would expect a far greater amount of ironic, crude love songs that you see. Or am I just blind, and missing them all?