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Tiger Army
By Richard Davis

And now let me tell you the story of Psychobilly. According to some it was conceived in the fertile England, clubs of the early 1980s (remember them? The early 1980s, not the fertile England clubs). The genre then made its way to the U.S. thanks to a band named Tiger Army and their self-titled album released just before the century's turn.

It's been a wild ride for the band. The years since their first CD was released has brought gun shot wounds, international notoriety, and elbow rubbing with many of the present-day kings of rockabilly.

The first thing I get from their CD Music from Regions Beyond is how polished it is. Relatively speaking, these guys are mellow. And the music: Sweet, poignant and, at times, warm. Their speedier numbers are played so masterfully that the aural blur is gone, giving you a chance to admire the complex assemblies.

These are 11 great songs. A bouquet of 80s euro-angst meets punk meets country complete with synthesizer, fast-paced guitar riffs, at times a hint of the tangy twang of country and something really rare - the new and refreshing.

Signal Return is a high-reverb spanking-fast instrumental that sets the Rockabilly/punk table. Afterworld is another great flash-bang of a song that never pushes so far that you lose the lyrics' lucidity. Listen to Forever Fades Away and you might, like me replay the sonorous memories of those songs from the 80s and 90s.

The most country of the songs: Where the Moss grows, it's slower than the rest as the singer laments over love and loss. But even this song manages to grab familiar elements and create something new and special. For example, the distinctive steel guitar sound beckons Talking Heads more than it does traditional country tunes.

And that's the magic of Tiger Army - the ability to shape earlier, disparate genres into something unique and welcomed.

Music from Regions Beyond
Hellcat Records
Tigerarmy.com

Guitarist Extraordinaire, Kevin Eubanks, Commands the Room at The Baked Potato in Studio City
By Debra Graff

Outstanding Guitarist/Band-leader/Composer, Kevin Eubanks (Leno's Tonight Show" Prime Time Band") and his quartet - Marvin "Smitty" Smith, world renowned drummer; Gerry Etkins, exceptional keyboardist; Rene Camacho, brilliant bassist; and Bill Pierce, superb soprano/tenor saxophonist, exceeded my wildest imagination at The Baked Potato in Studio City.

Eubanks, a musical genius, is master of his instrument, as his fingers move with astonishing speed and dexterity, whether playing jazz standards or Mahavishnu-esque extended fusion numbers. The Potato is a perfect venue for quiet playing because the audience is there to listen and not talk. Eubanks had the crowd mesmerized with his thrilling songs, which are untitled, except for "Spider Monkies," named for the smallest mammals on the planet.

At first it seems like the band is improvising, yet each member feels the song and knows exactly what they're playing harmonically. Whether touchingly soft or powerfully loud, everyone was attentive from beginning to end. The band was having such a great time; they were smiling throughout the performance, which transferred to the captive listeners.

Eubanks, (McCoy Tyner, Dave Holland, Art Blakey) told me, "Everything just happens naturally and for a reason. We're all here for a common purpose." He's grateful The Potato lets them play what they want. Eubanks is self-taught and says he goes on practicing binges and then takes breaks.

The band is recording their first album this month in LA. Smitty (Sonny Rollins, John Scofield, Sting) has been called the "John Coltrane of the drums." He loves the great vibe and relaxed atmosphere of The Potato. Etkins (David Sanborn, Marcus Miller), says the Potato is his "favorite place to play in the world. Kevin writes great music and is unique. It's always an exercise in listening and creativity. A combination of structure and improvisation, you never know where the song is going to go." Camacho (Sergio Mendes, Ry Cooder, 5th Dimension) plays the delicately designed electric Azola bass or "stick bass," because it's easier to travel with than the acoustic. He appreciates the musicality of the band. "Everyone is a virtuoso of their own instrument. It's amazing what we end up playing. The songs are never the same." Pierce, (Stevie Wonder, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis), heads the woodwind department at the celebrated Berklee School of Music in Boston where Eubanks, Etkins, and Smitty shared an apartment while attending the prestigious music school. Pierce says the Potato reminds him of East Coast clubs, "a listening room with a little grit and a little funk." He loves playing with Eubanks because he "lets the music go where it goes."

"Nobody's Martin sounds like that," said legendary guitarist,

Frank "Poncho" Sampedro, (Neil Young/Crazy Horse) "Kevin is one of the top five guitar players in the world. These musicians all make each other better. The parts equal more together than separately. Their musical intelligence is beyond anything I understand."

Former Tonight Show Band bassist, Derrick Nurdock, traveled with the band on the road, and calls them "inspiring and so versed in all musical styles they can go from r & b to jazz to rock to Latin. It's cool to do that and have fun at the same time."

Dave Morel, head of promotion, Savoy Label Group, had never been to the Baked Potato. It was exactly what he was looking for, "great sound with no one in my way." Sheila Volpe, Savoy's VP marketing, called Eubanks, "a monster musician." and The Potato, "an intimate place for great jazz minus the LA bull----." Michael Yeaman, Savoy's head of finance, said The Potato is "like being in your living room, you're three inches away from the band."

Owner, Justin Randi, loves running The Potato because "I have the honor of being surrounded by the very best musicians in the world everyday. and 40 years later, we're still able to bring musical culture to this city. We have and always will give musicians a place to express themselves truly without rules, and a pure sounding room made to play in."

THE BAKED POTATO
"FEATURES THE BEST IN LIVE MUSIC AND JAZZ EVERY NIGHT"
3787 Cahuenga Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 980-1615

HorrorPops and Doghouse Lords
By Richard Davis

I was just wondering what the psychobilly scene was like in Denmark when I came across Kiss Kiss Kill Kill, the third CD from the now Los Angeles-based Denmark-born band and psychobilly- sensation HorrorPops. The theme for all but one the songs on this CD is film, film, film. Even the CD itself has been printed with the image of a movie reel. So what is HorrorPops and how did they get here?

Well it all started in the last century. The year was 1996. That's when Patricia Day and her indie-punk band Peanut Pump Gun opened for Nekromantix at Pomkom in Cologne, Germany. From that faithful, yet modest start, Danish psychobilly would never be the same.

Fast forward to 2009 and to me putting the band's CD Kiss Kiss Kill Kill into my CD player. The first track is Thelma and Louise, which refers to the 1991 Ridley Scott film featuring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. It's a kick-ass introduction to 12 tracks of fun.

Misfit is another standout. A bouncy melodious number that manages to keep one's attention with some well-played riffs and a tip of the hat to the band Madness' Our House.

Boot2boot turns push to shove as it shifts up, speeds up, and speaks the lingua punk. There are words of violence. And lead singer Patricia Day's talented singing voice stretches, on occasion, to a beautiful yell just as full and rich as her unstrained "indoor" voice. Remarkable.

Heading for the Disco is heavy on the reverb and tells the story of an 80s metal whore. Creative, playful and original.

I could go on but really, all these songs are first rate. Listeners will also enjoy the fact that HorrorPops has managed to recreate its awesome, high-energy live performances on the CD with remarkable verve. The only thing missing: those two cute dancers in the frilly skirts.

HorrorPops
Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
Hellcat Records
Myspace.com/thehorrorpops

And now for something completely different…Doghouse Lords is an L.A. based band that plays a mixture of blues, rock and roll, country, and rockabilly. Band members have played with such shining stars as Johnny Cash, Bo Diddley, Carl Perkins, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Willie Dixon. But you all know that name droppin' will get you only so far (not far at all if you're dropping my name). You still have to play some good music. And Doghouse Lords does just that. Javier Matos (Blue Shadows), Chopper Franklin (The Cramps), Bill Bateman, John Bazz with Gene Taylor (Blasters) play some good music.

Voodoo Lucy is the first track and really sets the mood of the entire CD. It's a heavily bluesy number that plods along with attitude and class. Walk across Your Floor has the darkness of a Johnny Cash tune - well played, poignant and disturbing.

Each of the 12 songs on the CD represents the group's ability to practice the fine art of blues in an honest and forthright manner. The music doesn't simply pay homage to the genres represented on the CD, it adds to it.

For a band with such a strong and impressive pedigree, it would be easy for them to phone in their work without taking chances or reaching for the more. But it's clear that they're doing some heavy lifting on this CD, and they're still not afraid to get their hands dirty. And the blood, sweat, and tears have paid off. Great music that's well worth a listen.

Doghouse Lords
Diggin' at the Doghouse
Ratchet Blade Records
Myspace.com/doghouselords

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