The Psychobilly Primer, Part II

(This is the second part of an essay about psychobilly by Hilary Crowe. Please see Part I, to begin.)

The genre, however, has not produced many popular artists, as psychobilly garners more of a cult following, as bands pride themselves on exaggerated stage performances rather than flawless record production, as my friend and I so haplessly stumbled upon. The thrill of psychobilly lies in such shows, with the genre’s telltale haphazardly played, artfully abused upright bass. While it may seem that the vocalist, channeling Elvis on speed, holds the reins, the performance quite literally hinges on the bass. Manic bassists twirl, flip, and, balancing ever so gracefully, hop on and off the instrument all while pounding away at the strings in time with the rollicking drums and guitar. These sets, as suggested by the genre’s subject matter, encourage an uninhibited ethos and foster a Dionysian refuge for fans, even those underage.

At shows, psychobilly’s roots are instantly revealed by bands’ sartorial statements, which command attention and respect in their own right. The predominantly male musicians wear tight, black leather or cigarette pants, and white tees with cuffed sleeves or bold button downs (anything from stars and bars to Betty Page prints). Jet-black Mohawk-meets-Pompadours are the cherry on top, begging the question “What is your day job?” or, more pertinently, states “I only venture out at night.” Women of the psychobilly persuasion are equally enthralled with presentation, and can be found tottering around the stage’s perimeter in towering stilettos, cigarette in hand or pursed between heavily crimsoned lips. Betty Page- and Marilyn Monroe-inspired haircuts, dark rimmed eyes, and boldly colored polka dot or animal printed pencil skirts and corsets are the norm (I’m convinced that psychobilly women are the enduring avant-garde fashionistas of any age), as are the pinup- and Vegas-themed tattoos on both genders. All of this creates a costume/Halloween party ambiance that allows concert-goers to completely drop out of reality and tune into the fantastic for the night. (Ever seen Pulp Fiction? The part where John Travolta and Uma Thurman go for a burger and are served by a waiter impersonating Buddy Holly (as played by Steve Buscemi)? It’s akin to that, only in a bar. Quentin Tarantino can thank psychobilly for keeping that scene relevant and painfully cool.

The best place to take in such a spectacle would be any seedy bar in any metropolitan area, especially Los Angeles, the genre’s unofficial capital. Though touring infrequently, the Nekromantix, Tiger Army, Koffin Kats, and The Young Werewolves are mainstays on the current psychobilly circuit, but one’s best bet in joining this crowd is to do a little digging and find a local psychobilly show. With such an aggressive audio assault and immaculate image, the genre tends to intimidate newcomers, but psychobilly more than any other genre is about life, liberty, and the guiltless pursuit of happiness, and as such is sure to make any sometime or fulltime hedonist feel right at home.

(To read this entry from the beginning, please see Part I.)

(Photo of psychobilly enthusiasts from Fancy Speed Queen of Cincinnati, OH, via Flickr, using a Creative Commons license. To see The Cramps and their video for "The Ultra Twist," please check below.)



music
psychobilly
rock music
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