Beware the Ides of…. Well that’s a different month, but this year on the ides of October (the ides are the 15ht of each month on the roman calendar) I am going to talk about one of the all time best horror punk bands, nix that, they are one of the best punk groups ever… The Groovie Ghoulies. Now before you object I ask you this one question ‘Have you ever seen them live?” Unfairly lumped into the 90’s pop punk explosion due to their records boring released on Lookout Records, the Ghoulies have roots that stretch back into the late 1980’s. When Kepi the lead singer started the group as a one-man band type outfit, releasing a couple of 7” records and the first Groovie Ghoulies LP. Sonically at first listen you can hear where they would get the pop punk tag, but if you stick with them, you can hear the influences of not only the Ramones, but classic pop, 77 punk and proto punk. A quick list of the artists that they have covered would include: Chuck Berry, The 13 Floor Elevators, The New York Dolls, Devo, Men without Hats, Motorhead, Jonathan Richmond and Billy Bragg. What makes the Ghoulies stand out from the pack is that they are represent the cartoon end of horror punk, but lurking jut below the surface is the social commentary that much of the best horror punk traffics in. There is also their sheer joy and energy of their music, when I am feeling down a few Ghoulies tracks bring a smile to my face and there are only a hand full of groups that can do that. All of their albums are worth checking out, but you have to see them live, I have seen them almost a dozen times in the last decade and they always put on a great show and are really cool people to hang around and talk to.
For the 16th of October my subjects will be..The Finish Rock Goddesses The Patsy Walkers!
My Trusted MOGs
I still remember clear as day the first show I saw. It was G.G. and they put on a great set. My young ears were tuned to rock n' roll from that day on.