Not all concerts are memorable. That’s just the hard truth. Now, that may vary depending on how many concerts you attend. If it’s one or two a year, they might all create moments of fondness. The more you go to, the more you see the good and bad of live music, but even then there’s always something good. I remember seeing my first Psychobilly band live. It was Tiger Army, opening for Social Distortion back in 2004. Six months prior, I graduated from high school and my friend, his older brother and his brother’s girlfriend all took the one-hour trip north to see Social D.
I had no idea what Psychobilly music was until watching Tiger Army. The bassist stood on his enormous, green and black tiger-striped, upright bass. Lead singer Nick 13, the only consistent member of the band I’d learn, sang melodically and strummed away. For Social Distortion, Matt Freeman filled in at bass. Yes, the Operation Ivy/Rancid Matt Freeman. A living legend, even 20 years ago. My friend lost his shoe in the pit, and we never got it back.
Why does any of this matter? Friday night I saw my second Psychobilly show and it was just as memorable.
The Koffin Kats have been on the road since forming in 2003. On a snowy, frigid, night in Columbus, a four-band lineup headlined by the Midwesterners brought needed solace from the literal storm, and someone even lost a shoe.
Up first were Rabbit Dog, a local band that sounds best played on a long road trip or really anytime you go on the highway. While I didn’t poll the crowd, there were signs that most people in Ace of Cups were there to see them. The gaggle of friends and family migrated from their merch table to the stage when the five-piece band started playing.
Each song of Rabbit Dog’s set was full of driving drums, quick basslines and some of the most aggressive banjoing you’ve ever seen. The headbanging of the mustachioed banjo singer made even more majestic with his long hair fitting of his Motörhead shirt. Rabbit Dog sounds like a freight train coming down the track and during the show the lead singers (on electric and acoustic guitars) were more than thankful to the promotor for adding them to the set, thanking him multiple times.
Rabbit dog also included a track about leaving the state of Ohio, which I’m sure folks related to as the road outside of Ace of Cups got covered.
They closed their set with “Where Eagles Dare” by the Misfits, and while they weren’t a punk band per se, their blend of rock and with a hint of The Tillers-esque bluegrass, it worked. As did their entire set.
Now it’s time for a mini soapbox. Thanks for stopping by. I’m approaching curmudgeon status in my life and I can find a complaint about anything, but I normally keep them to myself or share them with trusted friends, who are probably looking for better friends. I’m also all about people finding fun in their own ways, and I don’t care if people film an entire concert or don’t move a muscle while they take it all in, but when your fun impacts those around you, it needs to stop.
In other words – Stop talking during concerts. Please.
For the two bands between Rabbit Dog and Koffin Kats, folks felt like it was a good time to catch up with all of their friends. That’s why god created the time between sets.
Luckily, the two touring opening acts of the night were good enough to help me keep my inner “old man yells at cloud” at bay. Up first was Lightnin’ Luke, a folk/alt country act from Portland, Oregon who commanded the stage all by himself.
He did it through his commanding stage presence, hidden behind sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat and a beard and hair combination that has to add 10 pounds to his person. Now, Luke is the opening act but has experience playing to big crowds with the Bridge City Sinners, where he plays fiddle.
Lightin’ Luke wasn’t jumping around the stage like he is at Bridge City Sinners show, who I saw expertly open for Frank Turner at the Newport a couple months ago. Instead, Luke sat on a stool but he brought the same sort of intensity in his songs. Luke belted out lines and almost slapped at the guitar to emphasize his lyrics. In-between, and during, those songs Luke was bringing the crowd into the conversation.
At first, it was pointing out his band-less stage and urging the crowd to sing “loud and proud” if they knew the songs. If they didn’t, sing them “wrong and strong.” Luke taught the crowd to yodel, with frequent mentions of jazz hands, and made the most of his time on stage.
Time that was cut off by the promoter. With what felt like a strict 11:30 time limit on the night, and filling the card with four bands in less than four hours, the promoter tried to stop Luke before his second to last song but Luke didn’t see the throat cut motions. Luke saw it after his “last” song and quickly got off the stage.
It was a crime against music not letting him finish, even though he assured me afterwards, when Jazz Against the Machine chimed through the speakers, that he only had one song left. Personally, I would’ve followed the jazz song’s “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” but its not my livelihood on the line.
For Bridge City Sinners fans in the crowd, he did include one song that he wrote for the band in “Departed.” Played alone, and not by lead singer Libby Lux, gave the track a more intimate feel.
In terms of genres of the night, each of the four bands brought something different to the show. After the steady rock of Rabbit Dog and Luke’s folk set, with an edge, the punk trio the Rumours took over.
Led by duo Carli Foxx on guitar and Ela Moore on bass, the two shoved their music down the face of the crowd in a way only a seasoned punk group can do. Complete with middle fingers and spit, the Rumours were fantastic.
Early into their set, Foxx threw off her boots, letting the crowd know that she forgot her stage boots and only had her loading boots that weren’t suited for the set. So, Foxx threw her socks into the crowd, (which I’m pretty sure people kept…) made a comment about not usually getting feet for free, and Ela urged people in the crowd to take their shoes off. The quickest one got a free hat from the merch table, which I confirmed the concertgoer got back before having to go outside in the snow.
Carli and Ela commanded the stage from bending backwards almost completely while playing to kicking over a microphone stand and playing with Carli standing over Ela. At one point, Ela held up her boot and Carli licked the bottom, which mortified my non-concert-going wife when I recalled the best parts of the show when I got home.
The Rumours sang about creepy guys and DUIs, having what looked like a ton of fun in the process. Foxx played her red Gibson Flying V behind her head while standing over Ela still sending a force of bass lines into the bodies of the crowd.
Everything about their set was perfect and what concerts are made for – having a good time and hearing great music.
None of the three opening bands were Psychobilly bands but it all fit, and felt appropriate. Each opening act gave something different, but all four bands had a complimentary edge. So, when the Koffin Kats got on stage at 10:30, and people in the crowd finally shut their mouths, the intensity kept going.
When I describe Psychobilly to unknowing friends, and co-workers who want me to stop talking, I say it’s a combination of its namesake Rockabilly music, married to punk and coming up from the grave.
After my initial introduction with Tiger Army, I moved to bands like genre classics Nekromantix and genre benders Mad Sin. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t really start listening to the Koffin Kats until the end of 2024, when the show was announced. I tend to veer from genre to genre over the years, so I’m never going to claim to be a Psychobilly fanatic.
However, everything about the Koffin Kats’ performance let me know what I’ve been missing and I have regrets.
The Koffin Kats played 22 songs, and an introduction, in an hour. The only time the band took a break was when the sound guy had to run onto the stage to replace a mic cord. Even then, there was tense background music to push the switch along.
Vic Victor, the founder of the band and longest tenured member, was the focal point through the set because of the bass that looked like it was a good eight inches taller than the lead singer. The over six-foot tall instrument, weighing likely between 25-30 pounds, flew through the air, spun and rested on lead guitarist Tommy Koffin’s head frequently through the hour.
Early in the set, Victor stood on the bass, a staple of any good Psychobilly show, but as he jumped off spun it twice before his feet hit the ground. Later in the set it was three times.
Every song during the bass-lined set flew by, playing no slower tracks from their 21-year discography of 10 full length LPs and multiple singles and EPs. The showmanship of the style of music is part of the allure and they hit all the marks and then some.
At one point, Vic and Tommy ran past each other and swapped instruments seamlessly, while drummer Eric “E-Ball” Walls kept the driving drums going for the entire 60 minutes. During the instrument swap, Victor walked up the side of the bass, with one foot near the top of the base of the instrument while Tommy kept the bass going. It ended with Victor using the guitar down the neck of the upright bass.
I couldn’t tell you what song it was during because the sheer speed of the set meant I couldn’t keep up and was honestly too into the music to try and pay attention to lyrics for a concert review. It was that enjoyable.
One thing I think most concertgoers could appreciate is the variety of albums represented by the Koffin Kats. The trio released their first LP in seven years last year with Higher Lows, but referenced the album once, when they played “Way out There” from it. Other than that, and the end when Vic thanked the bands (and forgetting the name of Rabbit Dog citing years of smoking and having the memory of a goldfish) they kept with the “talk is cheap” mantra and kept pushing songs out.
That’s not completely true, they did also segue into a song by embarrassing their merch guy on the first night of tour, having everyone turn around and say hi.
Other than that, it was all about the music. If any of these bands come to your town, city or municipality, get to the show. You won’t regret it.
