Last week’s review was a little twisted; all apologies. Since then, things seem to have tapered down to normality, but nonetheless Radio Rubber Room gave us another fine Wednesday night last week with Psychobilly Cadillac and The Dirty Picture Show.
Psychobilly Cadillac was fierce – and when I say that, my eyebrows rise and my eyes widen. They’re a hyper-technical, old-fashioned funky rock and roll powerhouse trio. Well -rehearsed, synchronized guitar/bass riffs, exaggerated build-ups and breakdowns; all part and parcel of Psychobilly Cadillac.
Frontman Scott Harris uses his booming Chris Cornell-esque voice to great effect; vocal accuracy is something my ears mechanically focus on, and Scott has his chops honed well. They attempted some harmonies that didn’t quite make the cut, but Scott’s amazing beard and mane quickly remedied that. Seriously, this guy’s beard is top-notch.
Lastly, no matter what kind of band is playing, or what kind of crowd is out there, staying funny and comfortable on stage will always be the dealbreaker. Psychobilly Cadillac was honest, sharp, and hilarious between songs, which completely disarmed any dead-air from a relatively thin crowd. Memorable quote: “This song’s about surfing, or the end of the world.” Check out Psychobilly Cadillac, get your face-melt on.
Later in the evening, our friends The Dirty Picture Show took the stage. Like many of the newer bands in the city, their set is taking form, molding itself with every show. I’ve been hearing some of these songs since Luke Wilson’s fledgling project, Luke and the Junk. Now, Luke is coming into his voice and collectively, the band is able to lend a touch of dynamic motion to his songs.
Of course, this is aided largely by the handful of fine musicians he has playing with him. Danny Crawford is a mechanically superior drummer; he plays with tremendous focus and care. I might neg him a bit, and suggest that maybe he could come out of the pocket from time to time. Danny’s also my neighbor, and he always says he’s going to come drink some beers at my place after the show, but doesn’t make it over. Next time, Danny!
Taylor Laub, DPS's guitarist as well as bass player of The Northerners, is definitely emerging as one of the city’s shining talents. He provides not only the flair that The Dirty Picture Show require in order to stay interesting, but he well understands what direction in which to take the songs. I’m assuming that the next time DPS plays, they’ll have grown even more into the band they will become.
This Wednesday at The Republic, Radio Rubber Room presents The Big Payback along with The Kindling Kind – an interesting pairing, I’d say. The Big Payback is just too fun to go wrong. I think the human body must be partially made up of cells from James Brown songs, because they hit you like a drug, and you almost have no choice but to get funky. Last time I saw The Big Payback I discovered that I can still do the splits, which thankfully did not rip my groin apart, as the floor was wet and my legs completely shot out beneath me.
The soothing voice of Miriam Martin seems a fitting way to begin the holiday season, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen The Kindling Kind, so I’m looking forward to hearing some of their new material. [Plus, it's RVA Mag's Christmas Party--you know, if you haven'talreadyheard.-ed] Get primed for The Republic--Wednesday at 10pm.
Words by Dan Mulrooney
Images by Tyler M. Conta