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Scum Boys

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Scum Boys – Vamp Attack

Rumble Records – RUMBCD008 [1991]
Coming Home – Natives Of Europe – Torro – Mystery Train – Scum Boys – Rock’N’Roll Vagabonds – Tattoo – Get A Sense – Vamp Attack – Menhir’s Rock – Josephina – Hoppela

scum Boys

The Scum Boys were a Franco-German group formed in the second half of the 1980s. The original lineup consisted of Markus Sansa on guitar and vocals, Marc Dirringer on double bass, and Peter Ziegenhorm on drums. They released their first 45 rpm record in 1988. The lineup changed with Damien Heitz becoming the new drummer and Frank Ziegenhorm joining on rhythm guitar. This quartet recorded “Vamp Attack” for Rumble Records in February and March 1991.
Even though “Vamp Attack” is an enjoyable album with some great moments, it sometimes struggles to impress thoroughly. The band delivers a solid dose of classic Psychobilly, from the relatively mellow “Tattoo” to the wild “Vamp Attack.” What stands out is the band’s inclination to push boundaries by incorporating songs with changing rhythms and a developed melodic aspect. The band’s best work emerges when they break free from traditional constraints. An example of this is “Mystery Train,” an original composition by the band (and not the Elvis-popularized Junior Parker cover) with a syncopated rhythm that flirts with New Wave. Additionally, The Scum Boys offer excellent instrumentals that complement the collection, such as the Spanish-tinged “Torro.”
Unfortunately, despite these qualities, the result is only partially satisfactory. The group lacks a producer, and the overall sound is somewhat weak and not always well-balanced. Furthermore, an outside perspective could have guided them, particularly in advising them to shorten certain songs that drag on, lessening their impact.

The Radioactive Kid

Catfish Trio (the)

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catfish trio

The Catfish Trio – Money Makes the World Go Round

Cat Noise 76.13079 [1986]
Money Makes the World Go Round / Nervous Boy

The Catfish Trio - Money Makes the World Go Round

The Catfish Trio formed around 1984 in Augsburg, Germany. Igor Velican (guitar and vocal) teamed with Geza Varga (double bass) and drummer Klaus Miehlich to form a Rockabilly band. Igor Velican previously played in the Rockin’ Rebels and X-Raycats

In March 1985, Miehlich left the band to be replaced by Franz Rieth (drums). The following year, the trio released its debut single. On the A-side, there’s a perfect Neo-rockabilly tune, highly melodic, in the style of Restless, with powerful slap bass and excellent guitar work, but the B-side is even better. Nervous Boy has a jazzy flair (the melody reminds me of Sweet Georgia Brown) that the band has the good idea to mix with a slight hillbilly touch. Excellent!

Fred ”Virgil” Turgis

Catfish trio

The Magnetics

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Magnetics

The Magnetics – The Magnetics

Self-released [1989]
Lost A Lot Of Love – Prisoner – Love Position Number 9 – Hard Boys Life – Long Blond Hair -Neglected Woman -Now It Is The Time – Go – Never Seen…

the Magnetics

In December 1989, the Magnetics, now a trio (Frank Isfort on drums, Acki Sölter on guitar and Claudius Wolke on double bass and vocals), returned to the studio and recorded this excellent nine-song album.
On long distance, the combo has more room to express their talent and originality.
There’s plenty of first-rate Neo-rockabilly, like Prisoner, that plays in the same league as Restless (one will note the excellent vocals arrangement), but also a fine ballad, with saxophone (Neglected Woman) in the same style as the Speedos. The album benefits from a superb production, with a huge double bass sound. All three musicians are excellent, but Acki’s guitar really makes the difference. He plays clean and fast and sometimes brings a touch of Jazz for a result akin to the Nitros (Lost A Lot Of Love) or the Ringlets Trio (Hard Boys Life).Even the multi-covered Long Blonde Hair sounds original when the Magnetics play it!
Claudius later formed the Red Velvet trio and the Tin Cans.

The Magnetics – Police On My Back

Self-released [1988]
Police on My Back – Fear of a Girl – Everybody – Milk & Alcohol

Magnetics
The Magnetics – Police On My Back

The debut EP of the Magnetics, a German combo, can be placed somewhere between fast neo-rockabilly and psychobilly, close to the “Fight Back” era of the Blue Cats. The songs are terrific (Milk and Alcohol let some new wave influences slip into the mix), and they benefit from a perfect production with a huge double bass sound.

The Dry Tortugas

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The Dry Tortugas

Up & down – Unbothered – Slidin’

The Dry Tortugas

The Dry Tortugas are a relatively young band formed during the pandemic. But if the band is young, the musicians are seasoned veterans. Tom the singer used to sing in the Roughnecks, and Felix (drums) and Marc (guitar) were in Lota Red. The younger element is Robin, Tom’s son, on bass.
The band plays Neo-rockabilly with heavy inspiration from the 80s and the early 90s though more modern ingredients crept in here and there.
Up and Down is an up-tempo number, very danceable. Unbothered is quite melodic and has a slight western feel to it. Sliding is heavier and leans toward Psychobilly (and by Psychobilly, I mean that distorted and mean offspring of Rockabilly, not the heavy-metal-influenced stuff). As you can see, these guys cover a wide range of genres. Tom’s voice is perfect and brings a touch of softness even on the wildest stuff, while the rest of the band does a solid job backing him. I hope to hear them on long-distance soon.

The Dry Tortugas on facebook.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

Mental Shakedown

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mental shakedown

Mental Shakedown – Inside Out

Bob’n’Destroy Records [2021]
Inside Out – Put The Blame On Me – Too Hot For Jesus – Last Man On Earth – Scorched Earth Policy – I Hate The Night – The One – Little Red Riding Hood – Primeval – Somewhere Bound – Box Of Memories – Time Will tell – Outa There – Crime Against Humanity

Inside Out is the second output from this German trio. It’s not easy to say if Mental Shakedown is a Neo-Rockabilly that sometimes goes wild or if they are a Psychobilly band with a soft edge. I don’t care: they play great music. I suppose that if you like the Sharks, the Rattlers, Dave Phillips and the Ricochets and so on, you’ll — like me — enjoy this album from start to finish.
Twelve songs out of fourteen are originals penned by Axel Gieseking, their singer and guitar player. The other two are Sam The Sham’s Lil Red Riding Hood (also covered by the Meteors and the Rattlers) and the King’s Put the Blame On Me.
Also, the band benefits from a solid and mighty powerful rhythm section, a clean guitar and a very melodic singer (often helped by backing vocals.) But, I’d say that their strength lies in the fact that they don’t restrain to the Rockabilly idiom, albeit played in a wild manner. They are clever enough to add garage elements. It’s evident with I Hate The Night, a straight Garage song, but one can also hear a tribal beat at the beginning of Scorched Earth Policy, some fuzz on Outta There, and a tad of Cramps influences on Last Man On Earth. On the other side of the musical spectrum, there’s a bit of country music in Box Of Memories.
All in all, it’s a very powerful and enjoyable album.

Mental Shakedown on bandcamp.

Fred “Virgil” Turgis

X-Ray Guns

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X-Ray Guns – Dr X

X-Ray Guns – Germany

Rumble Records GANG010 [1991]
Dr X / Boyfriend – Treat It!

x-ray guns

X-Ray Guns was a German quintet from the early 90s. The Psychobilly label would be restrictive to define the group because we also hear Garage, Trash and Punk influences. The group had the particularity of having a female singer (as well as an electric bass), which was not so common.
The title track of this single, which came in red vinyl, is a wild Psychobilly-garage with Petra’s scratchy voice very prominent. The second title is more melodic and quite catchy. The vocals are softer, but the sound could be better mixed. The last tune is an instrumental.
The group also released an album on Rumble Records.

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