The Reverend Horton Heat “The Full Custom Gospel Sounds of The Reverend Horton Heat” 1993. Sub Pop Records. Signed by the Rev (Jim Heath) and Jimbo Wallace; “Coke bottle clear” reissue, 2022. We picked up the Reverend’s second LP — and Joe got it signed — this past weekend at the Rave when they played with the Toadies.

Joe and the Rev

Reverend Horton Heat at the Rave

We saw Reverend Horton Heat back in ’93 in Madison at Club de Wash when they toured for this LP. I don’t remember that much about the show, but I do remember Jimbo hanging out at the bar by us either before or after the show — I think he was being very funny and very crass. We’ve seen the Rev several times since, including in ’96 when they also played with the Toadies; both bands opened for Butthole Surfers. (Gibby Haynes of the Buttholes produced Full Custom Gospel Sounds.)

They played a great set at the Rave: while the main focus of their show was their performance of the entirety of Liquor in the Front (1994), they did play songs from some of their other albums, including Full Custom Gospel Sounds.

Full Custom is, of course, rockabilly and psychobilly. The sort-of more mellow, rockabilly-leaning songs like “Beer:30” and “Bails of Cocaine” are great, witty and irreverent. But the wilder psychobilly songs are the best: “Big Little Baby” is a rollicking great time; that track was first released in ’88 as a 7″ on Four Dots Records (pre-Jimbo: “Swingin'” Jack Barton is on upright bass and Bobby Baranowski is on drums). The album opener “Wiggle Stick” is hilarious and, fittingly, was showcased on Beavis and Butthead (season 4 episode 3 “Trouble Urinating”). But my favorite is “400 Bucks” which I was able to catch on video Saturday night: