RIP, George Frayne aka Commander Cody

Posted on 10/01/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged Commander Cody, country, George Frayne, psychedelic, rockabilly.

Commander Cody (Photo courtesy the artist)

George Frayne, who performed under the moniker “Commander Cody,” passed away Monday, according to his wife, Sue Casanaova. Frayne’s passing follows several years of treatment for cancer.

Live Review: Jimbo Mathus and The Dial Back Sound @ The Hamilton Live — 7/22/21

Posted on 07/26/2021 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged honky tonk, Jimbo Mathus, Mississippi, Rashad Polk, rockabilly, The Hamilton, The Hamilton Live.

Jimbo Mathus and The Dial Back Sound perform at The Hamilton Live on July 22, 2021. (Photo by Rashad Polk)

Jimbo Mathus is best known as the guitarist, singer, and bandleader for the swing revival group Squirrel Nut Zippers. But Jimbo’s career is much broader than that, and when he performed with his band, The Dial Back Sound, at The Hamilton on Thursday, he promised to get to “all types of music,” starting with “a little bit of honky tonk, and bringing up some deep soul from the deep South.”

Live Review: Sam C. Jones and The Sinners @ Jammin’ Java — 5/23/21

Posted on 05/27/2021 by Mark Caicedo in Live Review and tagged Americana, blues, Jammin' Java, rockabilly, Sam C. Jones, Sam C. Jones and The Sinners, Virginia.

Sam C. Jones performs at Jammin’ Java on May 23, 2021. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Sam C. Jones is a threat. Or better said, a triple threat. After experiencing his two-set performance at Jammin’ Java this past Sunday evening, I was blown away by his singing and guitar chops, his dance moves, and the ease with which he commands a stage.

Song of the Day: “On the Way Downtown” by Dave Alvin

Posted on 03/04/2021 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged alt-country, Americana, California, Dave Alvin, rockabilly, Song of the Day.

Dave Alvin (Photo by Chip Duden)

Legendary troubadour Dave Alvin shares the Victor Krummenacher-directed video for “On the Way Downtown,” in memory of Gene Taylor, Chris Gaffney and Amy Farris.

The track appears on Dave’s The highly praised album, From An Old Guitar: Rare and Unreleased Recordings.

Preview: Jumpin’ Jupiter @ The Birchmere, 7/18/20

Posted on 07/14/2020 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Jumpin' Jupiter, rockabilly, The Birchmere, Virginia.

Jumpin’ Jupiter (Photo courtesy the band)

Virginia rockabilly band Jumpin’ Jupiter has been entertaining the DC region for decades! They are always a welcome sight — and sound! — and never more so as area clubs begin to carefully welcome the return of bands to their stages.

Jumpin’ Jupiter next rocks down The Birchmere on Saturday, July 18.

Live Review: KOLARS @ 9:30 Club — 2/11/20

Posted on 02/18/2020 by Casey Vock in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, California, glam, KOLARS, Los Angeles, rockabilly.

Lauren Brown drums for KOLARS at 9:30 Club on Feb. 11, 2020. (Photo by Casey Vock)

KOLARS — an unforgettable and invigorating two-piece cosmic glam rock act from Los Angeles — served up a bonus to fans in attendance at Saint Motel’s recent show at the 9:30 Club.

Live Review: Reverend Horton Heat @ Black Cat — 12/15/19

Posted on 12/19/2019 by mdxpc in Live Review and tagged Black Cat, Dallas, holiday party, psychobilly, Reverend Horton Heat, rockabilly, Texas.

The Reverend Horton Heat performs at Black Cat on Dec. 15, 2019. (Photo by Rashad Polk)

As the year winds down, we enter a period of mandatory social gatherings. There’s the ugly sweater parties, the holiday party at the office, Chanukah with the in-laws, Christmas dinner at a tableful of third and fourth cousins… but the one holiday event that should truly be mandatory went down recently at the Black Cat. The Reverend Horton Heat came through town for the 2019 edition of Horton’s Holiday Hayride.

Preview: Reverend Horton Heat @ Black Cat, 12/15/19

Posted on 12/11/2019 by Parklifer in Preview and tagged Black Cat, Dallas, holiday party, psychobilly, Reverend Horton Heat, rockabilly, Texas.

Reverend Horton Heat (Photo by Thom Jackson)

The Reverend Horton Heat brings the party to Black Cat on Sunday, Dec. 15, for Horton’s Holiday Hayride with holiday hijinks and some special guests!

Live Review: Thelma and the Sleaze @ 9:30 Club — 8/23/19

Posted on 08/29/2019 by Mark Engleson in Live Review and tagged 9:30 Club, David LaMason, Nashville, rockabilly, southern rock, Tennessee, Thelma and the Sleaze.

Thelma and the Sleaze performs at 9:30 Club on Aug. 23, 2019. (Photo by David LaMason)

Nashville all-female rock band Thelma and the Sleaze got some well-deserved exposure recently, opening for Brittany Howard at the 9:30 Club for two nights. By turns, they were hilarious, crude, and brash. Led by their charismatic frontwoman LG, the band also includes Whiskers (guitar), Queenie (bass), Cootchie (keys), and Snowflake (drums). Together, they entertained the sold-out house and laid down some heavy jams.
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Live Review: Stray Cats @ Wolf Trap — 8/13/19

Posted on 08/16/2019 by Neal Keller in Live Review and tagged Brian Setzer, New York City, rockabilly, stray cats, Wolf Trap.

Stray Cats, from left to right: Lee Rocker, Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom (Photo by Russ Harrington)

From the balcony, in a rickety old theatre in Rochester, New York. That’s where I first saw the Stray Cats perform, back in 1984. And when they started rocking, that balcony pitched up and down in a way that probably should have concerned us a bit more. But it was college, we were cool, and the band left us little choice — you couldn’t have sat still for this one. I walked into that show all those years ago a casual attendee, and left a dedicated fan.