Over the course of 15 years, the Reverend Horton Heat has explored every possible variation on rockabilly punk. This means that, like the Ramones, when you buy one of his records you pretty much know what you're going to get - a dozen or so loud songs about cars, drinking, women, and kicking ass. When you do one thing for so long, the only way to remain vital is to begin digging deeper. For The Reverend Horton Heat, this means drawing on his new found maturity: in the last few years, he has lost his mother, lost a friend to heroin, and had a new baby. For the first time his life experiences inform his music.
Although his new album Revival, (2004, Yep Roc Records) kicks off with the now-obligatory fast guitar instrumental that starts most of his records (this one called "The Happy Camper"), the very next song is a bewildered and heartsick lament that he's still alive but not happier (“I've done my share of stupid things, I regret to say / And whatever I may do now, time may not repay / I'm just looking for revival, today may be the day”). Unlike in the past, where his "tragedy" songs were done with tongue firmly in cheek, now James Heath is delivering the goods for real. It is a matter of degree, but for the first time a Reverend Horton Heat song hits close to home. However, lest you think the good Reverend has gone all emo on us, he follows right up with "Calling In Twisted," a little ditty about using “the fake cough" when calling off work.
For those among you who have not been initiated into the secrets of the Heat, The Reverend Horton Heat is James Heath of Texas, the tattoed guitar slinger at the vanguard of the punkabilly movement since 1991. Author of classic songs like "I Like Steak," "Bales of Cocaine," "Livin' on the Edge (of Houston)," "Nurture My Pig," "It's Martini Time" and "Big Sky," Heath has been touring constantly for years, bringing his mix of hepped up rockabilly, punk, and sleazy greaser attitude to audiences around the world.
Article comments
1 - mrbenning
I was always curious who would win in a Brian Setzer vs. The Reverend guitar off. I'm a little biased, but I'd say The Reverend.
2 - Johno
My money is on Brian Setzer, who has the fastest hands on a Gretsch I've ever heard... the Rev has his rockabilly, but sometimes Setzer channels Django Reinhardt. Of course, this is all moot as soon as the Reverend hits ol' puffy Setzer over the head with a bottle. Or they get drunk together. One of which would happen, no doubt.
3 - Temple Stark
And oin this one I'd already done all the work on it before I realized it was an old release. Still, I noted that there and published anyway.
I moved this up and over to Advance.net, which includes these places.
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Thank you for the post. - Temple Stark