Shockabilly "Lucifer Sam" 1984 US
- 9 years ago
Shockabilly "Vietnam" recorded 1984 re mastered 2008
Shockabilly was a band which couldn’t be “genre-fied” and which included guitarist/vocalist Eugene Chadbourne, and Shimmy Disc founder Mark Kramer(known more commonly as simply Kramer) on vocals and bass, “cheap organ” and other instruments. Shimmy alum David Licht handled percussions. Licht played on many Shimmy projects during the 80’s and early 90s when the label folded due to the breakup of Kramer’s band Bongwater and the subsequent lawsuit over royalty disputes with former partner Ann Magnuson. Kramer and Chadbourne also split for for royalty dispute and creative differences. Kramer once called Chadbourne “the second best guitar player in rock history behind Jimi Hendrix…”
Lucifer Sam
This begins with a call from an aphasiac fan (?) who has trouble describing Shockabilly’s songs. The instantly recognizable, vintage Syd Barrett’s guitar riff intro leads to sliding signifiers, light years away from the original. The trace of Swinging London recurs only in a verse-ending whistle. David Licht’s drumming sounds wonderfully ramshackle. Shockabilly is here more of a futuristic jug band that a young Barrett could have ever imagined. It gets perilously close to the edge of chaos.
Shockabilly was a band which couldn’t be “genre-fied” and which included guitarist/vocalist Eugene Chadbourne, and Shimmy Disc founder Mark Kramer(known more commonly as simply Kramer) on vocals and bass, “cheap organ” and other instruments. Shimmy alum David Licht handled percussions. Licht played on many Shimmy projects during the 80’s and early 90s when the label folded due to the breakup of Kramer’s band Bongwater and the subsequent lawsuit over royalty disputes with former partner Ann Magnuson. Kramer and Chadbourne also split for for royalty dispute and creative differences. Kramer once called Chadbourne “the second best guitar player in rock history behind Jimi Hendrix…”
Lucifer Sam
This begins with a call from an aphasiac fan (?) who has trouble describing Shockabilly’s songs. The instantly recognizable, vintage Syd Barrett’s guitar riff intro leads to sliding signifiers, light years away from the original. The trace of Swinging London recurs only in a verse-ending whistle. David Licht’s drumming sounds wonderfully ramshackle. Shockabilly is here more of a futuristic jug band that a young Barrett could have ever imagined. It gets perilously close to the edge of chaos.