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Scannerz (the)

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scannerz
The Scannerz
The Scannerz

The Scannerz

Germany – Neo-rockabilly/psychobilly

The Scannerz started in late 1985/ early 1986. Sebastian Glenz aka Semmel (guitar) met Uwe Klein through his older brother. Uwe had started to play doublebass and was looking for a guitar player to form a neo-rockabilly / psychobilly band. They were very young (Glenz was 16!) and that was the first band for both of them. Klein and Glenz were soon joined by Murphy (singer/second guitar) and Pennmütz on drums (both from Bonn). Semmel quotes Restless, The Sharks as well as Gene Vincent and Johnny Burnette as influences while the others were more into the 80’s Psycho scene and a bit of Punk too.
Murphy stayed with the band for less than a year then left leading Semmel to take over the vocals duties and the band carried on as a trio. Then Pennmütz left and Gonzo took the drums. Finally Klaudia Menzel joined the band sharing the vocals with Semmel.
They eventually got a contract with the newly created Maybe Crazy records (later home of Mad Sin, Scallywags) but Gonzo left before the recording because he had to go to the army.The Lp was recorded with Johannes Bokskopf who Semmel knew from another musical project.The album is quite good and has aged rather well. It features 10 originals and one cover. It’s solid neo-rockabilly with a touch of psychobilly featuring an excellent lead guitar and a powerful slap bass with a sound very close to Restless (Vanish Without A trace/Girl Invisible era). The songs are well done, with a will to make melodic and original tunes. Klaudia’s voice is a real plus. She sings b-vox on a couple of tracks and lead on two, including the cover of The Ricochets’ Night Ship and the ska/new wave/psychobilly Change Myself. Sadly this is the sole release of the band (with the exception of one demo).

The band kept on with another drummer (Johannes Bokskopf wasn’t able to join the band full time, which maybe explains why you can’t see the face of the drummer on the cover of the album) called Gammel but the musical direction changed and Semmel left the band. The Scannerz continued a bit with a new guitar player (Michael) and Gonzo back on drums, playing more in a 60’s beat style but it didn’t last and by the end of the decade the band was no longer in activity.

Since then Sebastian has played with the Hot-Riffs, The Paralysers and today his “Mark Harman meets Cliff Gallup” guitar style can be heard in The Tin Cans.

scannerz
scannerz
Discography

1987 -S/T – Maybe Crazy LP 001 (black vinyl and 433 copies in clear vinyl)
Later reissued on cd in 2003 by Crazy Love Records – CLCD 64200

A big “Thank You!” to Semmel for the infos.

Built for Speed

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built for speedBuilt for Speed – Even Roadies Get their Share

Flipside Records

the Duke – I’ll Get You – Where Are The Groupies – Hot Rod Hell – Eat You Alive – I’m Glad, Glad – Too Many Guitars – Just A Rumour – Old Car Blues – I Thought I Was Over You – Rock ANd Roll – Why Do You Treat Me This Way – I Wanna Be A Millionaire

Built For Speed come from Norway and play an excellent brand of modern rockabilly with, its’s no surprise with such a name, influences from the Stray Cats.
You can hear that a lot of work has been made in the studio to get a good sounding album (not just a bunch of friend who record a rehearsal) which is very important with this style (I think).

The first track of the album sets the pace: Gretsch guitar led instrumental, with slap bass and double bass drum pedal with a slightly western feel, as good as any Reverend Horton Heat tune of that kind (think “Big Sky”). “I’ll Get You” adds a touch of melodic Punk (kinda reminded me of The Queers) to their rockabilly. “Where are the groupies” is not only well played (with a nod to the Stray Cat’s Give It To me in the solo) but also features some darn clever lyrics too (I picked up the guitar cos I figured joining a band might be my only chance / now, the ugliest athletes you can imagine get supermodels in bed / so if I’d known then what I know now, I would’ve played football instead).
Psychobilly-blues is the word I’d use for “Hot Rod Hell’. More in a traditionnal blues vein “Eat You Alive” wouldn’t be out of place in The Paladins setlist (yes it’s THAT good) and features a brilliant solo from Anders. Their cover of Lloyd Price’s I’m Glad is no less excellent, still with a blistering guitar part. Totally their own and totally respectful to the original in the same time. The country beat of “Too Many Guitars” is perfect to take your breath. Featuring a piano, “Just A Rumour”, is a Dave Edmunds type of rocker and you’ll find a Mystery Train / Setzer feel on “Old Car Blues”. “I Thought I Was Over You” has a structure of a good old Honky Tonk song with a neo-rockabilly sound, and man I love that. A piano and and a sax are used to transform Led Zeppelin’s Rock’n’roll into a rockin’/rhythm’n’blues number featuring once again blistering guitar solo and screamin’ sax. “I Wanna Be A Millionaire” has a bit of Setzer in it but also reminds me of a great combo of the late 80’s, the Nervous Fellas, mixing rocking blues with hard hitting rockabilly. Also featured as a bonus track an amazing, ears blowing, balls shakin’ version of Motorhead’s The Ace Of Spades.
Excellent!

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

The Rockabilly express #1

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The Rockabilly express is a brand new column to keep you posted about the latest news in the Rockabilly world, the latest releases and the latest things you’ll find on this website. 

On August 4, we were very sad to hear the passing of the Lawrencine May Collins best known by the Rockabilly fans as Lorrie Collins. She formed with her brother Larry one of the most exciting acts of the Fifties, the Collins Kids. They performed again together in the 90’s and proved to the younger generation that they were still kids in their mind.
The Collins Kids stuff is available on Bear Family.

We took a much deserved break to rest but now we’re back. We recently added some new stuff to the website and will do more in the near future.
Here are the latest reviews:
– Memphis Rockabilly Band – Betty Jean
– Restless – Live In Tokyo
– The Wild Ones – Feelin’ Good (single)
– Kim Lenz – Percolate (single)
– The Sure Shots – Four to the Bar
– Mouse Zinn – The Embassy recordings
– The Ridgetop Westernaires – single

We still have many albums to review, so if you sent us stuff and it doesn’t appear here, it’s just a question of time.

Rhythm Bomb/Rockstar records have plenty of new releases scheduled for the forthcoming months. Look at that!
August 15th (CDs only)
CT Ian Cal Ford  Wood & Wire
CT Tom Cat & The Zodiacs Train Of Life
 
September, 15th (CDs only)
5891 Rob Ryan Roadshow Comin Home
5892 The Hoodoo Tones Here To Stay
5893 Shaun Young & The Three Ringers Movin
5894 Hymn For Her Pop-N-Downers
5895 Ruzz Guitar’s Blues Revue The Heister
KM-CD-12 VA Holy Smoke
KM-CD-13 VA Voodoo Lou
KM-CD-14 VA Wild Life
 
November, 15th (vinyl only)
5939 Slapback Johnny Hit Me Up 12inch
5940 Cat Lee King and his Cocks Cock Tales 12inch
KM-LP-101 VA Too Much Booze 12inch
KM-LP-102 VA Bad Hangover 12inch
KM-EP-101 Gene & Eunice 7inch
KM-EP-102 Johnny Guitar Watson 7inch
KM-EP-103 Larry Williams 7inch
KM-EP-104 Joe Tex 7inch
KM-EP-105 Andre Williams 7inch
 
work in progress, but probably not released before January 2019
5938 Vince and The Sunboppers By Request 10inch
5941 Lily Moe & The Rock-A-Tones 12inch
5942 Billie and The Kids Soulful Woman 12inch
5943 Hymn For Her Pop-N-Downers LP 12inch
KM-LP-103 VA Walkin’ Girl 12inch
KM-LP-104 VA Guitar 2 12inch
5898 Bonita & The Blues Shacks new release CD
5899 Nico Duportal new release CD



Midniters (the)

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Midniters - Easy MoneyThe Midniters – Easy Money

 

Razor [1988] – Planet X [2018]
Easy Money – Little Devil – Dead Man`s Curve – Sin City – Better Of You – When The Walls Come Tumbling Down – Another Nail In My Heart – Swords Of A Thousand Men
Easy Money (Demo) – Nightshift (Demo) – Walls Come Tumbling Down (Demo) – Gun Law (Demo) – Dead Man’s Curve (Live) – Little Devil (Live) – Walls Come Tumbling Down (Live) – Swords of 1000 Men (Live) – Easy Money (Live)

The Midniters formed in the mid 80’s. After appearing on Fury’s compilation album they released their debut album in 1988 for Razor with Steve Jeffery on vocals and guitar, Nick Wade on drums and Mark Beard on double bass. This album is now reissued on cd with extra bonus tracks.
Being friends and labelmates with the Long Tall Texans, it would be all too easy to compare both bands. And though they sure share some similiraties in term of sound, the Midniters have enough personnality in their songwriting or vocally speaking to avoid this comparison.
With only 8 songs, Easy Money (the original album) is a relatively short affair which is always a good thing for a debut album. Not only you won’t find any filler but it allowed the band to spend more time on each song. And with the help of producer Roger Tebutt (Long Tall Texans, Happy Drivers, but he also worked with the Meteors on Sewertime Blues) they tried different things in term of sound and texture and used the studio as a creative tool. This is not your usual “Live-in-the-studio-with-a-pack-of-beer”
As I said the songwriting is pretty solid, oscillating between neo-Rockabilly and Psychobilly. Fans of heavy double-bass will also appreciate this album too and since it’s been remixed I believe it helps too (since I only owned the original on cassette I can’t remember if that fat bass sound was already in the original mix.)
Six of the songs are originals and the covers are Jan and Dean’s Dead Man Curve and Tenpole Tudor’s swords of 1000 Men.
Tracks 9 to 12 are demos including two songs that didn’t make it to the album but they possibly are from another era of the band since a sax can be heard on Nightshift.
Five excellent live tracks rounds up the package.
All in all a very good and well deserved reissue.

Midniters Terror IncognitoThe Midniters – Terror Incognito

Planet X [2017]
Got Too Hurry – Personal Jesus – Dead Man’s Hand – Pistolero – In the Shadows – Motorbike Mike – House of Stone – Terror Incognito – Drive By – Face in the Dark – All Out Attack – Butchers Basement

Here’s a new Midniters album, nearly 30 years after Easy Money. But if you expect a trip down memory ane, let me tell you you’re plain wrong. ”Terror Incognito” is here to tell you that we’re in 2018, not 1988 !
The Neo-rockabilly bordering to Psychobilly of their first effort evolved into a modern form of Rockabilly with a harder and a fuller sound. In the same time they added elements of New-wave. This mix of influences, some songs could be defined as Adam Ant meets the Stray Cats makes them sound at place like the recent Quakes album. Some songs are much harder and more psychobilly that are not that far from the early Nekromantix.
All songs but two are originals written by Steve Jeffery, the cover being Depeche Mode’s Personnal Jesus in a very personnal rendition and a Spaghetti western influenced instrumental composed by Steve Stevens (guitar player for Billy Idol.)
It’s good to see a band that dosn’t try to run after its youth and return to create and propose something new.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Soul of Liberty

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Soul of Liberty - Lover SOL
Soul of Liberty – Lover SOL

Soul of Liberty
Lover S.O.L

CYBER LABEL JAPAN / 666C-034 [2005]
Yesterdays – Endless Dream – Song Bat – Drive A Go Go – My Life – Into A Memor – (japanese song)- Lonesome Night – Go Ahead ~Theme Of Little Fighter – Fly Away – Just Tonight – Let’s Get Together
This is the first full length album, after a 6 track mini lp, from this Japanese (Nagoya) trio formed in 1998. They play a very good and refreshing neo-rockabilly with a lot of Stray Cats/Setzer influences mixed with some Psychobilly here and there. On the harder edge of their repertoire “My Life” and the instrumental “Go Ahead – Theme Of Little Fighter” are more into the style of the Reverend Horton Heat. They also quote The Ramones, Joan Jett as well as Dwight Yoakam and The Derailers as influences. Two songs show their country music side : “Drive A GoGo” and “Into A Memory” (the latter featuring a steel guitar). You could be surprised at first to hear that Okinaga mixes Japanese and English when he sings, but it brings a fine touch of exotism that gives this band a part of its originality. For all those who like their rockabilly with a modern twist..
Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Honky Tonk Pounders

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Honky Tonk Pounders - Devil Bop

Honky Tonk Pounders - Devil Bop
Honky Tonk Pounders – Devil Bop

Honky Tonk Pounders – Devil Bop

Part Records PART-CD 641 002 [2010]
Devil Bop – Sea Of Tears – Bad Hair Boogie – Lovesick Fool – Freight Train Running – Hot Rod – I Know That You Love me – Boom Boom – let’s Get Rockin’ – You’re The One – Righttime To Rock – Rockabilly Pearl – Bad Luck – 6th Street Rumble – Sweet Innocent.

The Honky Tonk Pounders are a German rockabilly trio featuring Gunnar Fick of the Ringlets Trio. They formed in 1996 but this is only their second release, so you can see this guys take their time when it comes to go into the studio. Actually only five songs are totally new. Ten of the fifteen songs here have already appeared on a 10” mini album but it’s good to have them on cd format. The result is a solid set of 15 originals with varied styles. The backbone of this collection is made of wild and mean rockabilly (Devil Bop, Rockabilly Pearl), with some country ballads (Sea Of Tears and You’re The One with a steel), Gene Vincent styled rockabilly (Hot Rod), neo Rockabilly that takes you back to the Ringlets Trio days (Boom Boom), boogie (Bad Hair Boogie that features a piano), blues (6th Street Rumble).
The Honky Tonk Pounders influences comes from the classic rockabilly masters (Burnette, Perkins) as well as today’s bands : Freight train Running shares a similar riff to Deke Dickerson’s Wear Out The Sole Of My Shoes, I Know That You Love Me strongly made me think of Big Sandy’s Thru Dreamin’ and you can hear a Derailers influence in Bad Luck.
Fick whose prowess on the slap bass with the Ringlets Trio never ceased to amaze, proves he’s also a very good guitar player and the other two members provide a strong rhythm.
All of these contribute to make a highly enjoyable album.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

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