New Music – From Psychobilly to Pop Punk

Social Distortion

Not sure what’s in the water these days but there is a lot of new music on the horizon. I mean Social Distortion has a new CD out in a matter of days and that happens less often than a presidential election (The last Social D. full release was in 2004).

But a healthy music scene isn’t just judged by the legends touring and putting out new music, but new bands bursting onto the scene.

For me 2010 was a great year of discovering new music from many, many diverse places. Off the top of my head my new music discoveries that are still sticking with me include the “Cobra Skulls” which I saw the Knitting Factory in NYC and wrote about HERE.

Other cool punk bands I discovered in 2010 were from Chicago (I gotta get there soon) called “Juicehead” which I heard on Sirius radio and another one called “Pegboy” which a friend recommended.

On the international front, new music I discovered in 2010 included my boys “Rudos Wild” a punkabilly band from Uruguay and “Los Suziox” a talented punk band from Colombia after visits there for the documentary Punktology.

2011 is off to a quick start as a couple of new bands have hit me up recently telling me about their new releases and while I normally only write or share about bands I’ve actually seen, I thought I’d share the info with you guys, because why should I keep all the goodies to myself.

Tucson's "Moovalya"

The first is an indie pop punk band called Moovalya from Tucson, Arizona. Their sound is very radio friendly and you could definitely imagine them on the Warped Tour some day.And while my taste run a little more narrow and a lot more hard core, there is no arguing the guys are good musicians. You can check out their video below and judge for yourself.

On the complete other end of the spectrum and next up on my radar is a new LA psychobilly band called “Cold Blue Rebels” who have a debut CD coming out as well.  Now eventually, when I’m finished with my South American tour of duty sometime in 2011, we’ll be heading to Los Angeles to live, work and generally soak up the punk, psychobilly and rockabilly scenes. Cold Blue Rebels give me a chance to get a nice head start.

Below is a little Q&A I had with CBR, followed by their music video from their forthcoming CD! Check em out and let me know what you think.

Here is hoping 2011 brings just as much good new punk music as 2010! We’re off to a good start.

Cold Blue Rebels

1) HOW LONG HAS COLD BLUE REBELS BEEN AROUND?

CBR has been around just over a year now. Things have happened incredibly fast for us. The timing for this band has been perfect. We’ve gone from formation, rehearsals, gigs to record deal and release in one year. Dreams really DO come true!

2) HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC?

Rockin’ Horror Psychobilly, heavy on the ‘billy! A cross between the Stray Cats and Alice Cooper, with tongue firmly planted in The Munstermobile.

3) WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

Ramones, Gene Vincent, Elvis, Nekromantix, The Clash, Stray Cats, Herman Munster, Johnny Cash, KISS.
4) TELL ME ABOUT THE NEW CD? IS THIS YOUR FIRST? WHERE CAN PEOPLE BUY IT?

Yeah, this is our debut CD and it’s called “Blood, Guts n’ Rock & Roll” It is distributed worldwide by Horror High Records and is also available online at AMAZON & iTUNES:

Our CD has 12 tracks on it including a psycho cover of Wanda Jackson’s “Riot In Cell Block #9” , and every song on it is definitely going to stick in your zombie fucking heads! There is some neo-rockabilly, some punk, and even some doo wop on there! We wanted to make an album that stands out from the rest of the psychobilly bands out there, and I think we’ve done it!!  It was important to us to not just be another “punk band with an upright bassplayer”… We’ve got some chops in this band, and when you got it baby, flaunt it!

5) WHATS GOING ON WITH THE PSYCHOBILLY SCENE IN LA RIGHT NOW? IS IT GATHERING STEAM?

It depends who you ask really. I’ve been to gigs that are just slammin’, many events by Black Cat Entertainment and Tiger Mask and other promoters around town. Some of the bands are legendary! Guana Bats, The Polecats, Mad Sin… But what I love are the crowds… when it’s an all ages event, they are just tops!

6) ANY PLANS TO TOUR? WHERE?

Yes, definitely A LOT of touring in 2011!  We’re doing a Northwest run with The Rocketz during March, and expect to hit the mid-west and Great Lakes shortly after that. Meanwhile we are constantly touring the Southwest all year long because we are conveniently based in Los Angeles.

7) WHY DO YOU THINK PSYCHOBILLY IS SO POPULAR ON THE WEST COAST?

I think it’s partly because there are many great bands from here, or at least based here. Bands like Tiger Army, Nekromantix, The Rocketz, The Chop Tops. We’ve also got great festivals here that support the genre like Viva Las Vegas, Ink & Iron, and a long list of Car Shows and car clubs.

California is the perfect place to live if you are into rat-rods and old cars, too, which many psychos and ‘billys are into… (I oughta know, I drive a ’56 Ford that I call “Ratty!”) Cool cars and rock n roll music have always gone together. Mix in a little old time California surf music and culture and some classic Hollywood horror film imagery… it’s really the perfect place for all these ingredients to come together.

8) ANY PARTING THOUGHTS?
Yes, thanks for helping us get the word out there. People, buy our CD and come out to see us when we are playing in your area. We love to hang out with and meet our fans. Don’t be shy. We’re hoping to be around for many more years to come, so come on out and cultivate a relationship with us! Cheers!