Billy and the Sideburnzz – Big Rat Rocket
Rockin’ Rooster Records [2025]
Electric Lover – Moonshine – Big Rat Rocket – Racin’ Kate – Close To You – Zombie Woman – Monster Walk
Billy & the SideBurnzz’s first EP made a strong impression on me, and I was eagerly awaiting for more studio tracks (they released a live EP last year). My wish has been fulfilled with Big Rat Rocket, a seven-track mini album available on all streaming platforms. Big Rat Rocket features two double bassists (Andreas Müller and Slapcat) depending on the songs, alongside Kevin Laske (guitar and vocals) and Franky Schoen (drums).
The album opens with Electric Lover, a Rockabilly track with hillbilly overtones, just like Moonshine, which deals with a subject that seems close to the band’s heart. The title track follows, a fantastic neo-rockabilly track bursting with energy. Speaking of energy, it’s hard to resist Zombie Woman, which borrows its riff from Brand New Cadillac. It’s not far from psychobilly. And the step is happily taken with Rackin’ Kate and its nervous double bass, heady riff, and menacing atmosphere. It’s something the trio excels at. We find these almost oppressive atmospheres on Close To You or Monster Walk, the instrumental that closes the album, evoking Alley Cat King from The Frantic Flintstones, but much spookier.
The vinyl version (which I don’t have) includes an additional track, Big Train, with harmonica, which seems to be a cover of the song by Go Cat Go!
Billy and the Sideburnzz – Rockabilly Man
Keil Records [2022]
Rockabilly Man – Big Blue Eyes / Give Me A Call – Tease Me (A LIttle) – Bonus track (cd only): Rock Me Mama
Here’s another excellent release from Keil records. Billy & the Sideburnzz are a Rockabilly band from North Germany. This is their debut output, and it comes in a super fine and limited package, including a 4 -track vinyl EP and a mini-cd with a bonus song.
The set opens with Rockabilly Man, a mighty fine piece of hard-hitting modern Rockabilly that echoes the Polecats’ Rockabilly Guy. It’s the kind of stuff that makes you stomp the ground while firmly holding your beer. The second song, Big Blue Eyes, leans more on the traditional side of the Rockabilly idiom with a slight country flair. It features a light brushed snare and nice picking too. But for me, the best track of the selection is Tease Me. It’s a slow number that takes time to build tension that perfectly suits the song’s theme. It’s always on the edge, with two superb and exploding guitar solos. Give Me A Call is a mid-paced tune with a powerful (and I mean POWERFUL) slap bass. The song also features one hot Burlisonian guitar part but with a modern approach.
The fifth track, Rock Me Mama, is only available on the cd. It’s an excellent Mystery Train/My Baby Left Me type of tune.
Great job, guys. I hope to hear more from Billy and the Sideburnzz in the future.
Available here.
Check the band’s website.
Fred “Virgil” Turgis
