wordplay: Billy Schear
By Christ, the Danes have taken our beloved and wholesome rock & roll and perverted it into some kind of sex-crazed maniac!
Perhaps they are not the purveyors of the genre, but the HorrorPops do seem to embody everything that is distinctly psychobilly. There is no question as to whether or not the ‘Pops fit the image, the requisite stand-up bass, the miles of tattooed flesh and hair so big and ridiculous it can only be described as ungodly. Yes, it’s rockabilly, only crazier, apparently.
Sure it may be a little like Happy Days with strong drink and plenty of sailor talk, but the HorrorPops have a bit more to offer than the typical contemporary music act. For one, they have go-go dancers, I mean these are fun even without the music, but it’s not just a good idea on paper. The dancers actually do a fine job of revving the crowd up to such fervor that it’s depressing to imagine the band without their cheerleaders. Also there is a sincerity to their repertoire that is often lacking among their peers, they don’t merely act as though they live in a decade fifty years too late, instead they embrace their modern influences and pay tribute unto them with a diverse and playful sound.
On record, they are an amped up throw-back. Energetic and sincere, they echo the excitement of the fifties with none of its innocence. Live, the HorrorPops take on a persona that’s difficult not to love. Toes tap freely of their own accord, audience members sing-along to songs they’ve never heard before, and misfit fans of all sets feel giddy and at ease. Somewhere Brian Setzer is saying: “If only I would have thought of that.”
February 22nd @ The Bluebird
HorrorPops.com
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