I haven’t been to a weekender of this kind in a while, so I can’t wait to listen to some loud, fast rock n roll, garage, and punk, and party Vegas style!

Check their website for band listings, hotel discounts, booking info, and more! I hope to see some of you there!

More to come,

XOXO Alisha Amnesia

Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend #13
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010

So, readers, I’ve been telling you about the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend for many years now, so if you don’t know what it is, I’m assuming you’ve never read my columns, or you don’t follow what’s happening in the world of current Rockabilly music. This is understandable, as Rockabilly, even after the Stray Cats brought it into mainstream consciousness, is still an underground counter-culture overall.

The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly weekend happens every Easter in Las Vegas, and features approximately 50 bands, 15 DJs, a huge Classic Car show (with about 700 awesome pre-1963 classic cars), a Burlesque competition, Dance lessons and competition, a Tiki Pool party, hundreds of vendors selling Vintage clothing, hair grease, music, accessories, tattoos, and more. People come from all over the world to see the bands and experience the culture. I attended the first two VLV’s that ever happened, and have been to more than half of them over the last 13 years. During this time, I’ve watched this event grow by insane leaps and bounds.

I have to say, I’ve enjoyed myself every step of the way. When the event started 13 years ago, there were only about 1500 people, and it was held at the not-so-fancy Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, where the staff always treated everyone great and seemed to get a real kick out of us weirdoes. Seriously, the hotel staff and other unsuspecting guests had no idea who we all were, and what rock we crawled out from under.

The reactions we’ve been getting from people over the years have always been amusing. The Rockabilly lovers have serious style that sticks out, even in a crowded casino. There are always a million greaser guys who emulate types akin to Elvis and the Fonz, and the girls often dress to the nines like old Hollywood glamour queens. Looking around at the attendees is a bit like being inside the movie Grease, on acid, times 1,000.  (I’m not insinuating that anyone is on drugs; just that the amount of stylish eye candy is so visually stimulating, it is continuous visual over-stimulation.)

The event went from 1500 people in year one, to over 7000 people today. As the event has grown, it finally outgrew it’s original home at the Gold Coast, and it moved to it’s larger sister Hotel and Casino, The Orleans. I really like this hotel, and I especially love their huge pool and hot tub, which is the location for the huge Tiki Pool party on Sunday, with bands, dancing, and swimsuit competition. The staff at The Orleans also couldn’t be nicer. They always treat everyone so well.

The Car show has grown from being a small unofficial gathering of beautiful cars, to a huge event on it’s own, attracting 20,000 people to a parking lot, with bands, vendors, bars, and more. This year, Rock n Roll Hall of fame legend, Chuck Berry performed.

In the last two years, I’ve been the Publicist for the event, which has made a job out of a weekend party I’ve always loved. Although it brings work and responsibilities, it also affords me the luxury of having access behind the scenes that most attendees don’t have. Since being an event’s Publicist could be seen by some as a conflict of interest by also writing about it here, I’m really excited to announce that our CG Weekly site has a brand new contributor named Felicia from LA/ OC, who is going to review the event! She’ll be sharing her unique perspective as a first time attendee!

I do however; want to share with you some of the things I got to experience which were unique as a result of working the event. I got to watch Chuck Berry from inside the barricade right in front of the stage, about 10 feet from him! It was amazing, and felt like I was experiencing a moment in history. Although he’s pretty old now, which has clearly slowed him down a bit, he looks good; and I really enjoyed watching and listening to him. He still plays well, has his voice, and a great sense of humor.

I realized that I had the biggest smile on my face while he was on stage, all the way up until the end of the show. When he exited the stage, his guitar was still plugged in, and he was playing all the way into his waiting limo. At that point, I ran up and got a quick photo of him playing guitar in his limo! How many people get to say they saw Chuck Berry playing guitar in a limo from like 2 feet away? It was truly incredible. I also got a shot of how huge the crowd watching him was. It seemed to go on for miles.

Another great moment I experienced was seeing fellow Rock n Roll Hall of Famer, Wanda Jackson from backstage. Her voice sounded amazing and rich, and I was truly surprised that she covered Amy Winehouse’s “ I told you I was trouble…” and also Johnny Kidd’s, “Shakes all over” song, which has been covered by many artists over the years (including my favorite 77 UK Punk band, Generation X, which Billy Idol fronted).

During Wanda Jackson’s performance, the Ballroom was completely packed, so being able to go watch from backstage was—again—totally amazing.

As I’ve said before about the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, although I truly love the music, (especially the sound of a stand up bass or a talented rock n roll piano player), these weekend festivals are also very much about socializing. Since I’ve been going to Rockabilly events for over 14 years, I now know a lot of people. Besides that, I keep meeting new ones! I’m a very outgoing person, and love making new friends from all over the world. It’s never boring, and you never know who you’ll meet, what you’ll learn from them, or if you may be about to meet a friend for life.

If I ever get to be an old lady, I know I will always cherish the memories, photos, and people I’ve come across through this scene. I even have a few friends who have met someone from as far away as across the globe at one of these weekends, and ended up married in the end.

So, my personal opinion about VLV, is if you like Rockabilly music, eye candy, socializing, vintage shopping, classic cars, burlesque, tattoos, Las Vegas, or any of these things, you might really enjoy checking it out for yourself. (If you can’t handle crowds though, it’s not or you.) Next year’s Car show has Jerry Lee Lewis scheduled to play. (For people who are mostly just into cars, you can buy a 1 day ticket for the Car show on Saturday and see Jerry Lee Lewis, without committing to 4 nights of music, and you can even bring your kids.) For more info on Viva Las Vegas, go to http://www.vivalasvegas.net.

I’m really looking forward to seeing what our new Cool Girl, Felicia has to say about her very first VLV Weekend! I love hearing things from new perspectives. I do quickly want to mention a couple of bands that are standout favorites of mine who performed. Luis and the Wildfires, Big Sandy and his Fly Rite Boys, and the Chop Tops. www.myspace.com/thewildfires ~ www.myspace.com/bigsandyandhisflyriteboys ~ http://www.myspace.com/thechoptops All of these bands are top notch, so if you are not familiar, and have an interest in Rockabilly, check them out. Also, I really enjoyed the Wild Records Showcase, where many bands on this label performed, including a band called Don Juan y Los Blancos, who weren’t really rockabilly, but were high energy and I really loved. www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Juan-Y...Blancos/139686071426 ~ http://www.myspace.com/wildrecords

Right now, I am on a plane headed to New York City, where I am going to experience the city for a whole week. I’ve been a few times, but as an adult of legal drinking age, I haven’t been in 10 years, and that was only for 2 days. This will be a brand new experience for me, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you!

Also coming up, I’ll be attending the Ink N Iron Festival in Long Beach, CA on the historic Queen Mary ship in June. I look forward to sharing my thoughts on that with you as well.

Until Next time,
XOXO Alisha Amnesia

Never Forget Bruce Roehrs
April 9 Memorial @ The Columbarium 

The San Francisco Punk Scene recently lost one of it’s most devoted fans, and a friend to many, Mr. Bruce Roehers. This was a guy who was a familiar face in the local punk and rock n roll scenes since the 80s, a Rumblers Car Club member, and an extremely devoted supporter of bands, which was marked by both by his presence and enthusiasm at shows, and his writing about bands in Maximum Rock N Roll for over 15 years. I didn’t know him well, only to chat at shows, but he was a really nice guy, and will be very missed by many. I attended his memorial service at a very beautiful historic building called the Columbarium. (Harvey Milk’s ashes rest there.)  

His memorial was the best I’ve ever attended. They kept it light, as he would have wanted. His friends and family had so many nice things to say about his character, and hilarious stories about his antics, things he said and did, and his general lust for life, that I left there wishing I’d gotten to know him better.  It also left me feeling I want to be a better person, so that I might be able to touch people’s lives as he had.  It was a wonderful tribute to a man who was so clearly loved and enjoyed by those who attended. There was a lot of laughter, beer drinking, and a few tears, a great Barbeque afterward at Thee Parkside, and a show in his honor where Hammerlock, the Harrington Saints and Young Offenders performed.

Bruce really loved The Columbarium building, and was said to have taken many out-of-town guests there to show it off. His friends and fans are asked to make donations to help him get his final resting place there, and I hear it’s very expensive. I hope that the benefit shows and generous support of those he touched will accrue a nice donation for us to help honor his memory and show his family our support. If you knew him or were a fan of his writing, here is a link to donate, maximumrocknroll.com/2010/donate.  

The Columbarium is a beautiful old building with a stained-glass dome at the center, gorgeous stained-glass windows in every room, lovely detailed framed windows containing urns with historic painted and engraved family names, photos, and personal touches that tastefully honor those who have left this world. It’s a beautiful building to see, as well as a little reminder to make the most of our time here. 

Here are links to the Facebook group in his honor, his obituary in The SF Bay Guardian, and some lovely photos of The Columbarium if you are interested in a beautiful piece of San Francisco history. facebook.com/group/thecolumbarium ~ sfbg.com/2010/03/24/see-you-bar
Photos of the beautiful Columbariam:
tylerwinegarner.com/San-Francisco/San-Francisco-Columbarium 

Hey everybody! I haven’t written in a while, because I haven’t really seen any bands lately that were exciting to me. That finally changed recently when I saw one of my new favorite bands—London’s Ebony Bones! This band is so unique! They have such an innovative sound- part goth, part pop/dance, with eclectic drumbeats and bass lines, and an occasional 60s-style garage rock organ thrown in. It’s a mix of multiple styles, like no one else I’ve heard. Finally, a band that can get me excited again! myspace.com/ebonybones

Their singer, Miss Bones, is a hot black chick with an awesome giant afro, killer body, and theatrical makeup, who dances animatedly with 2 go-go girl backup singers who wear African-inspired frocks. They put on a really fun, high-energy show. The guitarist, Geki (also hot) invited me to come see them after I had met him last March in Austin at South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW, sxsw.com). I didn’t get to see them in Austin, but since we stayed in touch, I got to see them here in San Francisco. I am so glad I did!

They performed at a popular weekly club called Popscene at 330 Ritch, (facebook.com/San-Francisco-CA/POPSCENE) which was fun—good music with fun, fashionable people. Ebony Bones put on a great show, and I absolutely LOVE their sound. I’m kind of obsessed with them now! I heard remnants of very old gothy Cure, with some Banarama and Bow Wow Wow thrown in, among other things. They also have a hot drummer! It all adds up to awesome. Seriously! They have a really fun video with people dancing to their song, The Muzik, which clearly illustrates how fun and infectious this band is. Check them out! youtube.com/watch?v=Uy5fiIbbnPU

Watch their video:

I downloaded their album, ‘Bone of my Bones,’ and I can’t stop listening to it or playing it for friends. If they come through your town, I highly recommend you check them out! To see video of their performance at SXSW: youtube.com/watch?v=MPTnGmDPUP8

I realized that if I hadn’t gone to SXSW and met Geki on the street, I never would have known this band existed. I’m really glad I went to SXSW the last two years because I was able to discover bands that I wouldn’t have otherwise, but unfortunately, I had a rough time last year at the event. Because it takes over the city, all the hotels are booked up and taxis are nearly impossible to get. It’s great for Austin’s local economy, but makes it difficult to get around if you don’t have accommodations within walking distance.

I got stranded late at night by myself on the streets on two different nights for hours at a time, was exhausted and overwhelmed, without a way to get home. The biggest problem I had last year was that I was unable to gain entry into several important (to me) shows that I really wanted to see and write about. The event offers two different pass types- one is a wristband, which I had, and the other is the more expensive pass, a badge, that trumps wristbands, so if you didn’t have a badge, you were unable to get into certain crowded shows. After I was turned away from several shows, I decided I really need to get a badge from now on if I want to be able to really experience the event to it’s fullest. I recommend that to everyone who ever goes to SXSW. It’s an incredible event for music lovers, but if you are as serious about seeing bands as I am, you should get a badge for the best possible experience at the event.

I bring all this up because seeing Ebony Bones, which I first heard about at SXSW, made me realize now that I would really like to go again this year, which I hadn’t been planning to do. I’m going to try to work it out to go, and I hope I will have lots to share! Fingers crossed!

Besides seeing Ebony Bones at Popscene, I also want to share something else that was fun with you. On Valentines Day, I went to see The Damned at Slims. This was my 4^th time seeing them in the last 10 years, and every show has been good. Their sound and energy level seemed good, and it was a great night with lots of fun people there. Afterward, a lot of people migrated to Sixxteen- a Rock n Roll nightclub at The Cat Club. That was fun because it seemed like everyone I’d ever met was there! It was packed with fashionable fun people and the night had a great energy and vibe overall. I’m not sure if they plan to have another installment of Sixxteen, but I think all of us hope that they do. facebook.com/group.php?gid=135126747186&ref=ts

Coming up soon, in addition to SXSW, I’ll be attending Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend on April 1-4, where 50 bands and 15 DJs perform, including Rock n Roll Hall of Famers Chuck Berry & Wanda Jackson, as well as current Rockabilly bands from around the globe. They also have a Burlesque Show competition, a huge car show- this year with 800 vintage pre 1963 cars, and my very favorite part of the weekend—the Tiki Pool party! vivalasvegas.com I can’t wait!

Until next time,

XXOO Alisha Amnesia

Alisha hits Vegas for the Rockabilly Rave USA
Saturday October 31st, 2009

Hello Readers! Lately I’ve been taking on more than I can handle, so I can’t include everything I’d like to mention. Sometimes I wish I had a clone! Before I get started, I want to mention to you that we are looking for new writers! If you or someone you know is a fun girl who is involved with the music & nightlife scene in any major city, or who may want to write CD or music-related movie or book Reviews, please check out our Contribute page to see how.

On the weekend of Oct 9-12, I attended the Rockabilly Rave USA in Las Vegas at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. The event is organized by Jerry Chattabox, who organizes the successful UK version of the event, along with Tom Ingram who is the man behind the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend for the last 13 years. I always enjoy going to a music weekender because it’s the music that brings us all there, but for many of us, the thing that keeps us coming back are the friendships and social connections we make as a result of our shared appreciation of the that music. http://www.rockabillyraveusa.com/, http://vivalasvegas.net/

I’ve found this to be particularly true of the Rockabilly Weekenders. Since the music is retro/ 50s-inspired, the genre is here to stay, and we fans can keep getting older along with it. Basically, it spans multiple generations. That idea of Rockabilly music spanning multiple generations was illustrated literally by both of this year’s main attractions, Rocky Burnette, and The Collins Kids.

Rocky Burnette performed the songs made famous in the 50s by his father and uncle, The Burnette Trio, along with his nephew. That’s 3 generations of Burnette musicians. Rocky Burnette was part of the 1980s Rockabilly revival, and had a top ten hit in the US and a #1 in Australia. The Burnette Trio was well known for many singles, including Rock Billy Boogie, Lonesome Train, Sweet Love On My Mind, & All By Myself. http://www.myspace.com/burnetterocky. Additional interesting info can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Burnette.

Another of this year’s big attractions was The Collins Kids, who are an original 1950s act made up of brother Larry and sister Lorrie Collins. They also performed with their nephew. They were very well known in the 50s and have a really interesting history if you check their wikipedia page. They were a lot of fun to watch and Larry is still an impressive guitarist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Collins_Kids, http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CollinsKids1.html)

I also really enjoyed Deke Dickerson and his band. He performed with Chris ‘Sugarballs’ Sprague (drums) and ‘Crazy Joe’ (bass). They are all amazing musicians, who play musical chairs with the instruments by all playing every instrument masterfully. This makes for a surprising and exciting show, because you don’t see it every day in bands, nor hear it with such skill. It’s a trip to see the guitarist play drums, the drummer play bass, etc. Add to that the fact that Deke’s songs vary from humorous to highly relatable, to good time tunes, and they would be a crowd pleaser to almost any audience. http://www.myspace.com/dekedickerson. (Chris Sprague and Crazy Joe both have their own bands, http://www.myspace.com/chrissugarballsspragueandhis18wheelers, http://www.myspace.com/madriveroutlaws.)

Back to the social aspect of these weekenders—some of the most fun I personally have is hanging by the pool & hot tub, or in the hallways in between bands and meeting people and hearing their stories from all over. I always meet a few new characters, hear a few new stories, share some, and make new memories. As always, this weekender was no exception. The next Rockabilly Weekend is Viva Las Vegas year #13, on Apr 1-4, 2010, and I’m really excited to report that CHUCK BERRY is performing! Some of the very best Rockabilly acts will be performing including Wanda Jackson, Big Sandy and his Fly Rite Boys, and tons more. Check the website for listings, info and booking: http://vivalasvegas.net/

On Friday Sept. 25, I was in (my former hometown) Dallas, and was lucky enough to see The Horrors there. I saw them in San Francisco the first time they toured the US, but my friends and I admittedly got too drunk to remember much about the show, other than it sounded good and we loved their look—tall, skinny boys in black with big hair, similar to Jesus and Mary Chain and reminiscent of The Cure. Luckily, I was front row center for the Dallas show supporting their second album, ‘Primary Colours,’ and it was GREAT! http://www.myspace.com/thehorrors

Their singer has a beautiful, deep ethereal voice, and I love their garage-meets-dark wave sound. I love watching him sing. He has one of those gawky Joey Ramone bodies that I find mesmerizing on stage. The lighting for the show was really cool too, and it was just my luck that I happened to catch them in Dallas, because their audience is smaller there than in my adopted hometown of San Francisco, so I was able to be in front and really feel like I was seeing them before they hit it big.

(Speaking of big, they no longer have the big hair, but were still fun to watch!) I like the songs from their second album more than their first because the sound is more sophisticated and devoid of the aggressive organ sound that sort of got on my nerves, and held me back from committing to being a fan before. I have fully committed now. They remind me a bit of Echo & The Bunneymen and Joy Division. I love the new album ‘Primary Colours,’ and this was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a while.

On Mon. Oct. 5, my friend ‘DJ Mysterious D’ surprised me with a last minute ticket to see Motorhead with Reverend Horton Heat! D and I both grew up in Dallas (where Reverend Horton Heat is from), so we have both been fans for many years. I’ve seen the Rev too many times to count over the last 17 years. It’s obvious that they are extremely talented. Front man Jim Heath has a unique, rich voice, humorous songwriting abilities, and amazing guitar skills. His trusty sidekick/bassist Jimbo Walsh obviously knows what he’s doing as well. The Rev brought “Psychobilly” to the masses, probably because their brand of Psychobilly is very different than most.

Reverend Horton Heat’s style is like country-meets-fast, dirty Rock n Roll, where as most Psychobilly bands sound more like Rockabilly-meets-Punk Rock. This may not make much sense to anyone who doesn’t follow Psychobilly Music, which is more of a niche genre for those of us Punk Rockers who also love Rockabilly. The fact that the Rev has more of that dirty Rock n Roll sound is why they make sense on a bill with Motorhead, when (in my opinion) no other Psychobilly band would.

As usual, they put on a great show, which I missed half of, but got there in time to hear “400 Bucks,” about Heath’s old girlfriend borrowing 400 bucks for a car, which I remember in Dallas in the early 90s being circulated as a true story in the music scene. www.reverendhortonheat.com www.myspace.com/reverendhortonheat

Motorhead were so much fun to see live. This was my second time seeing them, and I don’t own any Motorhead (except ‘Ace of Spades,’ which is a staple to many a music library). For those of you like myself who are familiar, but not true fans; I can tell you this… if you like ‘Ace of Spades,’ you will most likely enjoy a Motorhead show because the whole show pretty much sounded like that. (I apologize to hardcore Motorhead fans who may think this is a sweeping generalization, and acknowledge that it totally is!)

Motorhead puts on a tight, high-energy, dirty Rock n Roll show, and have earned their cred. www.imotorhead.com/

On Thurs. Oct. 22, I went to see Echo & The Bunneymen perform their 1984 album, ‘Ocean Rain’ with a full Symphony Orchestra at The Fox Theatre in Oakland. They sounded really great, and it was cool to hear them perform with an Orchestra. Their best-known track from that album is ‘Killing Moon,’ which is a great song. Singer Ian McCulloch has a very rich singing voice, but had such a thick accent (from Liverpool, UK) that the audience had a hard time understanding what he was saying in between songs! It was kind of amusing.

They (of course) played their most well known hit, ‘Lips Like Sugar,’ during their encore, and I enjoyed the encore performed without the full Orchestra, possibly even more than I did the full concert, because it captured more of their original raw energy. www.bunnymen.com ~ www.myspace.com/thebunnymen

Speaking of bands performing an album from 20 years ago, I also went to see The Cult perform their 1984 album, ‘Love,’ at The Warfield in San Francisco on Sunday August 23^rd. The Cult is one of my favorite bands of all time, and the Love album in particular is a favorite, since I love every song on it, including the timeless hit, ‘She Sells Sanctuary.’ I thought they sounded perfect, and I ended up crying pretty much the entire show. I’m not sure why I love them so much, but I do know that it’s been a steady 20 years that I’ve loved them, and their music helped me get through some very important parts of my life. Hearing the Love album live from beginning to end in order, was like a religious experience to me.

Singer Ian Astbury has this unique voice that varies from ethereal and otherworldly to balls out rock n roll god, and it really moves me. I’ve seen The Cult perform about 10 times since their Electric tour in 1987, and I enjoy them every time. Guitarist Billy Duffy is extremely talented, and looks to have taken incredible care of himself-- he looked as fit as ever. Ian on the other hand, has put on weight over the years, with eerie similarity to Jim Morrison of The Doors, who he toured with not so long ago, and likely self identifies with on some level. www.thecult.us/ www.myspace.com/cultmusic

I was so busy this summer, but wanted to go back and mention a few fun things I did that I was too busy to write about while our site was being re-designed.

Friday July 3, I went to see old school punk band, Anti Nowhere League with supporting band, Duane Peters Gunfight at Thee Parkside, one of my favorite clubs to see bands in San Francisco. I love Anti Nowhere League. Their  aggressive punk songs seem tongue in cheek, although I don’t know if they meant for that when they wrote them. Favorites include ‘I’m an Animal,’ ‘I Hate People,’ & ‘We are the League.’ Singer ‘Animal’ has held up well over the years, and I’ve enjoyed them every time them I’ve seen them. www.antinowhereleague.com/ www.myspace.com/animalanwl

Duane Peters (also of US Bombs, Die Hunns, and The Hunns) is always fun to see live. I love his raw energy, and always enjoy his shows. I haven’t heard a recording yet of his latest band, ‘Gunfight,’ but have seen them perform twice at Thee Parkside, and can’t help going back for more. www.myspace.com/duanepetersgunfight www.myspace.com/theeparkside www.theeparkside.com

A few uniquely San Francisco parties I attended this summer include The Regency Center’s ‘Centennial Gala’ on Thurs July 9, and Supperclub’s ‘Christmas in July,’ on July 21. The Regency is a 100-year old multi-leveled concert venue and party space that went all out for this celebration. It was a catered, open bar, impressively well decorated, huge event, with a Beatles cover band, Burlesque and Vaudeville style entertainment, and acrobats hanging from sheets from the ceilings, and just about anything you can think of. It’s a beautiful building on its own, but when you add in the over the top party planning involved for this event, it made for THE best party I’ve ever been to! http://regencycentersf.com/index.html

Supperclub’s ‘Christmas in July’ party was pretty fun. It included open bar cocktail hour, a 3-course meal, drag queens, vodka snow cones, and an eclectic mix of people eating in bed, while watching a fire dancer. www.supperclub.com

I also rediscovered a gay club I love, which always makes me feel like I have stepped back in time to the 1970s gay San Francisco scene, ‘Tubesteak Connection’ at Aunt Charlie’s Lounge. http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com/html/tubsteak.htm

A new bar popped up this year in the Nob Hill/ Tenderloin area of the city called Minx, which used to be The Red Room at the Hotel Commodore. I really like this bar because it feels like you are hanging out in a living room or a ski lodge. They have Bingo on certain Sundays and Rock n Roll Trivia on Monday nights. Their myspace page lists what is happening on any given night. Check it out. http://www.myspace.com/minxiedrinxie

That’s all for now! XOXO Alisha Amnesia

Coming Up Oct 9-11! Rockabilly Rave USA!

The Rockabilly Rave USA is a Music weekend festival held October 9-11 in Las Vegas at The Orleans Hotel and Casino. The Rockabilly Rave USA is devoted to authentic 1950s style Rockabilly music, catering to serious music fans. There are 20 bands and 10 DJs performing, from all over the globe. The original Rockabilly Rave (UK), organized by veteran Promoter Jerry Chatabox, began in 1997, where it is now Europe's largest Rockabilly festival; having grown three times it's size since it began. The annual Rockabilly Rave in England just took place, with a massive summer sell-out show over four days.

This year's Rockabilly Rave USA includes headliner, The Collins Kids, an original 1950s act recently described in the new documentary, ‘Havin a Ball,' as 'Rockabilly Royalty.' We are honored to have them perform, and they will be available for photos and signing autographs after their performance. (Many interesting facts about their history can be found here: wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Collins_Kids, rockabillyhall.com/CollinsKids)

The Rave will also include another exciting performer, Rocky Burnette, who was part of the 1980s Rockabilly revival and had a top ten hit in the US and a #1 in Australia. He is also son of Rockabilly Legend Johnny Burnette, of the Burnette Trio, who are known to be some of the true originators of Rockabilly Music. Their legendary 1956 Nashville recordings are easily recognized: Rock Billy Boogie, Lonesome Train, Sweet Love On My Mind, All By Myself, Honey Hush, Lonesome Tears In My Eyes, The Train Kept A-Rollin', Your Baby Blue Eyes... Rocky Burnette's voice will send shivers down your spine... it is so similar to his father's. wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Burnette, myspace.com/burnetterocky

Also performing, International acts: JACK BAYMOORE & THE BANDITS (Sweden), CHARLIE HIGHTONE AND THE ROCK-IT'S (Spain), THE RANCH GIRLS (Holland), as well as US' own WAYNE HANCOCK; a home grown all-American talent, who is constantly on the road and has a cult following, but never plays weekenders... we are thrilled to have him.

The Rockabilly Rave USA is being brought to the US by the team of veteran Rockabilly Promoters Jerry Chatabox and Tom Ingram, who have both built solid reputations in the UK and the US for putting together well-attended, organized, unique Rockabilly weekend Music Festivals. The two have organized many large shows in London for the last 30 years, as well as had regular clubs where they DJ'ed together. They also currently co-Promote Sin City London, to be held January 22-23rd, 2010.

The duo decided to bring the Rockabilly Rave to music fans in the US last year for the first time after recognizing the continued growth and success of Tom Ingram's annual Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend (now in it's 13^th year), and Jerry's Rockabilly Rave in London. They decided that Rockabilly fans in the US might want another event to attend that concentrates more on the authentic 50s Rockabilly music than the Rockabilly lifestyle as a whole. (Viva Las Vegas caters to a wider spectrum of all types of 50s music, not solely Rockabilly; as well as including Burlesque contests and performances, Dance contests, and a formally organized Car Show.)

In addition to music, the weekend event has many unique Vendors, which are open daily from 1pm - 10pm, offering anything related to the Rockabilly scene: Vintage and reproduction clothing, event merchandise, records, CD's, car accessories, bags, hair pomade, shoes, hats, posters, stickers, and much more.

Although the Rockabilly Rave is a music based festival, which does not include an organized car show, many fans like to bring their hot rods to show off, so an area in the Orleans parking lot will be sectioned off for hot rods, classics and customs to park together.

The Rockabilly Rave USA will be held October 9-11 at The Orleans Hotel & Casino, 4500 W Tropicana, Las Vegas NV 89103. 

XXXOOO Alisha Amnesia

SXSW in Austin, Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly 12; The Faint & Ladytron, & Mad Sin in SF!
Saturday July 11th, 2009

Hey readers! I was so lucky to have the opportunity to attend SXSW (South by Southwest, the Annual Music Festival) in Austin Texas, held March 18-22. I had a blast last year, but my experience this year was very different. Last year, I never looked at a schedule. I went with an Austin local, who also knew a record executive, so we heard about all kinds of shows and parties, as well as just happening upon some great shows.

This year, I poured over the schedule and tried to mark all the bands and shows of interest. (There were so many! If only I could be in 3 or 4 places at one time!!!) Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get into to 90% of the shows I desperately wanted to see. The best piece of advice I have for a fellow music lover who wants to attend SXSW is this: BUY A BADGE! I only had a wristband, and continually saw everyone with a badge having an easier time getting in everywhere, while we wristband-wearing losers were continually turned away. It was frustrating, but this is an awesome festival, which I recommend… if you buy a badge. (Otherwise, like I did for the first time in my adult life, you may feel like the nerd loser in a bad high school movie that everyone walks all over!)

I also got stranded on the streets 2 different nights while trying to get a cab, which was super frustrating, with hundreds of people fighting over cabs. (Second most important advice: get a hotel in walking distance of all the happenings and remember to book a year in advance! Or stay with someone who’s driving.)

I like Austin, have many friends there, and am the kind of gal who can make my own fun almost anywhere, but this year I felt frustrated and missed out on so many things I wanted to do. I spent much time waiting in lines and feeling distraught about missing what I perceived to be historic moments, so it was honestly really difficult for me to sit down and write about the experience. I really only want to share positive things with our readers! The following is my attempt.

I had a lot of fun hanging out at the Jackalope with old friends. That bar has an outdoor area that gets packed during SXSW, they also have 2 rooms inside, including a stage with music, and the place has a good down home punk rock vibe. They also serve food there, which is handy during the craziness. I always feel at home there. I also enjoyed hanging out at Emo’s (all three locations), and saw a few bands of interest there; but I didn’t discover any up-and-comers this year that I got excited about. I also enjoyed the Beauty Bar, Red Seven, and walking the streets.

This band has the ability to switch musical styles from one album to the next, and they are able to employ each style masterfully. I think their newer stuff is really good; I just got scared off by that one older album. I waited in a line for a while, but was eventually able to get in to see part of one of their completely packed shows, and they were really amazing. They are extremely unique and talented, and they won me over. I wish I could have stayed, but I ran out to see another act that was playing at the same time (mistake). I like their harder rock and blues-ier stuff. The crowd was really into them. I’d love to see them again sometime. I like their song “Can’t go back,” and their new album, ‘Beautiful Future’ is really good. www.myspace.com/primalscream

My next favorite, (which I already knew I would like), was Juliette Lewis and the New Romantiques. I had seen Juliette Lewis perform with her last band, The Licks, as well as with Camp Freddy (an L.A.- based revolving door of talent including Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Matt Sorum from Guns and Roses, Dave Navarro of Janes Addiction, and tons more). Juliette has a great voice, reminiscent of Joan Jett, with aspects of Sinead O’Connor thrown in, and she has a fun stage presence—she’s not afraid to rock out, but is also sweet and humble, truly appreciative of her audience. I caught an unscheduled afternoon show at The Beauty Bar Backyard, which was the best surprise of the weekend for me.

This was her first outing with the new band, and their record and tour was to follow shortly, so I highly recommend curious fans to go check them out. She did songs that had been recorded with the last band (a favorite of mine is ‘Got Love to Kill’), new songs, as well as a unique and surprising cover of the Village People’s ‘Y.M.C.A.!” She jumped into the crowd, and everyone was very excited about it. I’d say this band is a must-see for fans of the actress, Joan Jett, and rock n roll female-fronted bands in general. They are currently touring abroad, and I hope they will come through the states soon. www.myspace.com/juliettelewis

One band I saw that was a big surprise, and very entertaining, was Mexico’s Cosmopolitan. They call themselves the “next punk Mexican band!” I happened upon them because I was walking by and heard some spazzy music that sounded a bit like Le Tigre, whom I love. They’re a 3-piece, high energy, new wave, electronic dance band. Their sound, energy, and their look (all wore white jeans and T shirts, new wave sunglasses and matching plastic 80s style jackets) all made for a fun-to-watch performance. There was an impromptu dance party of girls in the parking lot, which was adorable. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever come across- a group of girls dancing with wild abandon in a parking lot! www.myspace.com/cosmopolitan

The Girls were fun to watch because the singer acted wacky, performing in his underwear, having no shame. They are an 80s-style New Wave band inspired by Devo and the Voidoids, which you can clearly hear. They have good energy, and I’ve enjoyed their music since I first saw them in 2000. They’ve only gotten better. www.myspace.com/thegirlsseattle

I wrote about the Cute Lepers in the past, having seen them my first time at SXSW last year, and again in San Francisco last year. Having been a huge fan of The Briefs, it’s impossible for me not to like them as well. With the singer and bassist of The Briefs, and 2 awesome, cute girls who sing and shimmy along. Their sound is spastic New Wave and early punk meets Motown Soul. www.myspace.com/thecutelepers

The Riverboat Gamblers are a hard rock, high energy, tight band. I’ve seen them many times over the years, and always think they put on a great show. Their singer isn’t averse to jumping into the crowd to get everyone going, and it’s impossible to not enjoy them if you like hard rock and roll. He’s a good front man, who moves around a lot. This band makes me proud to be from Texas! www.myspace.com/theriverboatgamblers

On a totally different tip, I made a point of seeing Kid Sister (Chicago, IL), who has a few songs I really like: ‘Beeper,’ ‘Switchboard,’ & ‘Damn Girl.’ She did all those, plus ‘Pro Nails.’ She is an adorable female rapper who reminds me a little of early Mony Love or Salt n Pepa, and maybe a little like Lil Mama. She didn’t miss a beat, and really had the crowd riled up and excited. (Her DJ was hot too!) She was really fun to watch, and I was glad I made a point to see her. I also met some really fun characters in the crowd at that show. www.myspace.com/kidsister

I accidentally discovered a band I should have known about previously! I went to see The Homosexuals, because I knew with a name like that, they would probably be a band I’d get a kick out of. I had NO idea they were an original 70s punk band from the UK… and they still sounded pretty good! I thought they were clever, but the singer looked to be the oldest singer I’ve ever seen front a band! He looked seriously old… but they were entertaining, and I liked the songs I heard. He even insulted George Bush and his politics between songs, which is funny, especially since they’re old English punks (foreigners) playing in Bush’s home state of Texas. (Oh wow, I found they actually formed in 1972!) I can’t believe I never heard of them, and then accidentally happened upon some Punk history! The link has a SXSW performance on it. www.myspace.com/thehomosexuals

I went to a couple of cool DJ sets- the best being Le Castle Vania (Atlanta, GA). This guy had a crowd of people watching him DJ like he was a band. The stuff he spins is really fun electronica/ indie rock to dance to. It was cool. (Check out his free downloads too). www.myspace.com/castlevaniadisco

While at SXSW, I enjoyed the weather and people watching. If I had a badge, I would be able to tell you about these shows I waited in line for: MSTRKRFT (twice), HR of Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, Echo and The Bunneymen, Yelle, DJ Steve Aoki, The Sonics, and Gravytrain!!! (I was so bummed to miss these shows!) I also went into a lot of random shows in the hopes of seeing something new and exciting, which ended up being unremarkable or just plain bad, so this is all I have to share from my SXSW 2009 experience. I enjoyed myself, but felt a bit let down, and I feel like I’m letting you readers down too since there were amazing things happening, and I wasn’t able to get in… Just so you understand, I was right outside some really exciting shows! (BOOOOOOO!) I hope to go back next year, and hope to have more exciting things to share! (Must get badge!)

This year’s Saturday Classic Car Show had about 650 pre 1963 cars, and somewhere between 15,000- 20,000 attendees! There was a line to get in about a mile long, but the good news is, for those attending the entire weekend who have a wristband, you don’t have to wait in the line. The line was for people who were not attending the music event, and only wanted to pay for entry into the car show. The cars were awesome, and the parking lot had vendors, food, and had a street fair sort of vibe.

The Burlesque competition on Saturday night was held in a nice sit-down theatre, and it felt like a good old Vegas style show. The competition was friendly, fierce, and highly entertaining. The ladies competing all had different styles and talents to offer the viewers, but my favorites included amazing (expensive) costumes with lots of sparkle! The previous years’ Burlesque competitions were held in main ballrooms where bands play, so viewers had to stand in huge crowds, and it was very difficult to see the show. This year’s theatre was a huge improvement, although attendees probably learned they need to plan ahead and get in line, because the theatre filled up quickly, and once capacity was reached, no one else could enter.

My favorite part of Viva Las Vegas (besides the music) is the Sunday Tiki Pool Party. I love hanging out poolside anyway, because in chilly San Francisco, I never have the opportunity. It’s even more fun when you are surrounded by 380 degrees of eye candy: vintage bathing beauties, (including a swimsuit contest), tattoos galore, tiki cocktails, and bands to entertain and provide a backing soundtrack. I wish this was what I did every Sunday! (Seriously!)

As far as the music, standouts for me this year were: Dean Z as Elvis, The Chop Tops, and Jack Rabbit Slim. (I also love Big Sandy as the event’s emcee.)

Dean Z is the best Elvis act that I could ever imagine seeing. I don’t make a habit of seeing impersonators or tribute acts, but I’d say Dean Z does a classy tribute to young Elvis. Not only does he look a lot like young Elvis, but his high energy, showmanship, & handsome swagger are a must-see for Elvis fans or Rockabilly fans who want to see something that seems normal, while also being slightly kitschy and bizarre (meaning you may wonder if this is what it’d be like to see Elvis…!) www.deanz.com/home.htm, www.myspace.com/dzrockabillycat

Lance Lipinsky plays piano for Dean Z, as well as having his own act (by his own name). He is very talented too, and told me he used to do a Jerry Lee Lewis tribute in Vegas. You have to have some damn good piano skills to pull that off, don’t you think? This guy definitely adds to Dean Z’s act, as well as holding his own. www.myspace.com/lancelipinsky

The Chop Tops are from the Bay Area, and I actually missed their set in front of a crowd, but watched their sound check, which was impressive because it was like they were playing a show to an empty room. It didn’t feel like a sound check! I missed their actual set because I had an amazing opportunity to eat a fabulous dinner at another casino, and I couldn’t be in two places at once. (Check out Cathouse at the Luxor. The restaurant has a Burlesque theme, is done classy, and the food and service were impeccable. Also, the waitresses are all beautiful, and they have a nightclub too, which I haven’t been to.)

Back to the music: people kept talking all weekend about how good the Chop Tops were, and I believe them from that high-energy show they put on to an empty room, calling it sound check! I’ll definitely make an effort to see them again soon. www.thechoptops.com/about.html, www.myspace.com/thechoptops

I wrote about Jack Rabbit Slim recently, so I’m not going to say more about them now, but check them out: www.myspace.com/jackrabbitslimuk

I had an action packed weekend at VLV this year, shopping, socializing with new and old friends, networking, and trying to experience as much as I could fit in. It was exhausting, busy, and I can’t wait to do it all again! Promoter, Tom Ingram, also organizes a newer (this will be the 2^nd annual) Rockabilly weekend event called the Rockabilly Rave, to be held October 9-11. I may be going to that again this year as well. www.rockabillyraveusa.com

On April 30, I went to see The Faint and Ladytron at the Fillmore. I originally went mainly to see Ladytron, because I’ve been a fan for many years. I had never seen The Faint. The Faint played first, and completely won me over. They put on a great show. They sounded amazing, and the energy was electric—I was actually genuinely excited to be there. It was a completely refreshing feeling, as I haven’t felt that while seeing a band in a long time, and I missed it. Of course I went home later and downloaded everything they ever recorded! Why did it take me so long to care? www.thefaint.com, www.myspace.com/thefaint

Their myspace page says they are from Omaha, Nebraska… that seems surprising, and cool considering they must have really been standouts in the music scene there when starting out…? (I know nothing about Nebraska. Just making random assumptions.)

Ladytron, on the other hand, put on the most boring show of all time. Seriously. They spent a lot of money on stage lights (the same ones that Yaz had on their last tour, except Yaz’s were programmed with better graphics); but stage lights alone cannot make a show exciting. (We aren’t 2 year olds after all). The singers both stand on stage like frigid mannequins, singing as if they might blow up if they actually moved. It was frightfully boring, so I considered their set to be like the background music for the end of the Faint show. I like Ladytron’s music, but seeing them live is not exciting. www.myspace.com/ladytron

On May 14, I went to see German Psychobilly band, Mad Sin, at Slims. Their singer is one of the biggest men I’ve ever see front a band, and he still has crazy stand out style. (There’s no way he could go anywhere and be unnoticed). He had great energy and movement, especially for a big guy. I was impressed. Beforehand, I heard he was sick in the hospital, and the show might be cancelled, but they made it, despite his bout with blood poisoning (according to myspace). They sounded great and the show was a lot of fun. They finished touring the US and are touring Europe this summer. www.madsin.de/home.php www.myspace.com/madsin

I really wanted to attend a Tattoo and Music weekender called Ink n Iron, held in Long Beach on the Queen Mary the first weekend of June, but was unable to get a press pass, and with times as tight as they’ve been recently, coupled with the fact that I didn’t plan far enough ahead, and it was also my Birthday, I didn’t get to go this year. One of my favorite bands, Batmobile, headlined as well as The Bronx and The Sonics, among others. I hope I will get to go next year, and that the bands they book will be just as amazing. I’ve always wanted to stay on the Queen Mary.  www.ink-n-iron.com

Coming up:

SF Gay Pride is the last weekend in June. Also, on August 23, I’m going to see The Cult “Love” tour. I’ve seen my old favorites, The Cult, many times, but find it interesting that they are doing a “Love” tour. This was their second release, before they became undeniably famous in the states for “Electric,” (which was produced by Rick Rubin). I love the first 4 Cult albums: Dreamtime, Love, Peace, and Electric all so much, but would have to say that the “Love” tour is something I’m excited about and never thought I’d see, since it came out when I was too young (1984). I love the songs, and hope they are still into playing them, and in top form. www.myspace.com/cultmusic

That’s all for now! As I’m wrapping this up, our site is being re-designed. I can’t wait to see it!

XXXOOO Alisha Amnesia