Bodeco, according to last.fm, only recorded two albums, this one and another in 1995 (“Callin’ All Dogs”). We bought this album based on its cover and the sticker that the guys at New Frontier Record Exchange in Appleton, WI had attached to it, describing it as “creepy swamp music.” And that it is. Dark, rich and muddy. Southern-fried with a kinda Hasil Adkins howl but with more whiskey and gravel. The band obviously has gotten back together to perform as I found this video of them playing “Suicide Ride” from 2012. They’ve aged 20 years (as have we all, I suppose) so the clip does not in any way convey the weird intensity of that first show we saw back in the early 90’s.

The post Bodeco “Bone, Hair and Hide” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.

We’ve seen the Reverend spread his psychobilly gospel several times over the years, the first for me was in the spring of ’93 at Club de Wash in Madison, WI (yet another concert venue that burned to the ground, this one in 1996). Honestly I do not remember much about that show, other than Jimbo, the upright bassist, hanging out near us at the bar and being generally hilarious and completely obnoxious.

“Smoke ’em if You Got ’em” was the band’s first full-length release, and in my opinion their most straight-forward, hard-hitting and rocking. The Reverend’s clever and dirty lyrics are a perfect complement to the vintage guitar sound, drums rivaling a speed metal band and the brutal slap of the upright bass. Songs like “Psychobilly Freakout” and “Bad Reputation” helped define the energy, look and sound of post-punk/grunge-era rockabilly and many bands have imitated them since.

The post The Reverend Horton Heat “Smoke ‘em if You Got ’em” appeared first on Vinyl From The Vault.