DC Larson's JUKEBOX JURY

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The Brains

"Vampire Zombies from Space" digital single

(Cleopatra)

Theodore Bezaire wrote, directed, and produced the 2025, mock '50s drive-in antic of this name. "What a cool and unexpected piece inspired by our film," began Theodore's appraisal of the night-prowling Brains' crispest. " When we were making the film, we never imagined that there would be a song and music video created for it. And it's even cooler that Rene is a fellow Canadian. Amazing work!"

As Brains' label Cleopatra also markets the film, it's not implausible that label execs suggested Rene and cohorts craft a commercial lure. But, even should that be the case, Rene may already have been no less a fan of Poverty Row monster flickers as any amongst us. (Whilst in formative phase, he may have spent numerous late nights awash in television-beamed monster rallies. This writer did.) Best to cast down cynical suspicions and appreciate the song for what it is: A union of saucer antics native to the Plan 9 niche, and undeniably disarming Psycho that makes acolytes of listeners from planets both familiar and uncharted.

PS. The endearingly schlocky B&W film's Dracula reminds a tad of Zandor Vorkov. Those who know, know that's a plus.

Video (Not to be missed)

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Cleopatra

Atomic Music Group (agents)

Apple

Shazam

Spotify

Cleopatra film ordering site

Kit Major

"Not as Witty as I Used to Be" single

(Futureless)

London sparkplug Kit not only draws influence from the safety-pinned Class of '77 and its successive roustabouts - her 'wanna make somethin' of it?' attitude and full-throated declarations qualify her as a member in good slouching, herself. At her back are electrified agitators, themselves of wicked potency. Numbered among them are AJ Peacox (guitar), Kamber Fishbein (bass), and Tom Fitzgibbon (drums). With forces combined, they crusade as a juggernaut of slashing gusto. "Not as Witty" was culled from forthcoming EP Miss Ego, scheduled for June 12 issuance.

Video

Sick Shooters

Super Sonic Rock Saga

(Wap Shoo Wap Records)

Cut the first, "Heartbreaker Soulshaker," comprises all the elements that make successive tracks blaze incandescently: youthful, kick-out-the-jams feverishness; vocals from the coolest Garage in town; hooks so tunefully efficacious they must've come down from the clouds; and Seven Day Weekend Rock'n'Roll firepower. Scuse me, while I "mess around with the Mokum sound."

Recommended: "Heartbreaker Soulshaker," "Evacuation," "Sick Shooters," "Daisy," "Sweet Telephone," "Supersonic Lovin'," "Never Comin' Home," "In Between," "Holding On," "Gambling Girl," "Great Escape (On the Run)"

Videos: "Heartbreaker Soulshaker" "Supersonic Lovin'"

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Facebook (Wap Shoo Wap)

The Strike Kings

demos

(unsigned)

Whether booted or stiletto-heeled, every foot flew. The men treading the boards poured every ounce of vinegar into raising up and throwing earward the wailing Rebel Music that had, for generations, meant Release! in every sense of the noun. Walls quaked.

Absent from this scenario are label reps - for the moment.

Demos: "Bound to Die," "Under Vultures," "No More Reason to Cry," "Folsom Prison," "That's Right"

Videos: "Under Vultures" (live) promo (1:47)

Site (demos posted here)

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Sunday, February 15, 2026

Guitar Slingers

Invasion

(Diablo Records)

Were a roundtable gathering of the world's most fleet string molesters convened, buzz cut bomb shot Doyley might well assume the head chair. Eruptive Psychobilly deviance and science fiction fantasies make Rabelais's "beast with two backs." So gaudy is the spectacle of an amphetemine, late-night Creature Feature on Saturn, as to conjure spirits of wreckers fallen, bashing their elbows into faces of more freshy misbegotten. The meeting will come to disorder.

Recommended: "Invasion," "Atomic Shock," "Let's Go," "Ska Trek Krew," "Alien Hooligans," "Martian Stomp," "Plasma Sting," "Rip Roarin' Rocketship," "Planet of the Drapes," "Earth vs Psycho"

No new videos available, so here's one from 2024: "Twangster"

Zombina and the Skeletones

I Was a Teenage Frankenstein, B-sides and rarities 2008 - 2024

(Ectoplastic Records)

Advisory: '80s and '90s synthy endeavorings in the New Wave styling popular in those eras are best put behind later Psycho flamethrowers. The latter are the wonderfully ankle-twisting consequences of Alternative Cryptland cavorters, eccentricism mongers, and a gang of jackhammers hopped up on speed, meeting up in a cauldron (with Whit Bissell and Robert Vaughn), and conspiring to wreck the joint. So frantic are the thunderings, so compelling to utter fracture TheBeatTheBeat that, should walls crack wide and flooring crash in, none but the strictly cubic would notice.

(Though presently on break, Mistress Zombina and her morbid accomplices will play a summer show with the March Violets.)

Recommended: "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein," "Touch Me and Die," "Love Like Blood," "Teenage Caveman vs Gargantua," "Zombie Crush," "Sea of Heartbreak," "Last Chance Dance"

Videos: "I Was a Teenage Frankenstein" "Touch Me and Die" "Sea of Heartbreak"

Kieron McDonald

Because of You 45 rpm EP

(Sleazy)

Easy-drawling Kieron is as comfortable bobbing to melodies as a crooner can be. (A manner he doubtless absorbed while a youth, listening to his dad's old Country waxings.) He presents affability with understated, black-and-white, pointed-shoe heptitude that puts wise every jukebox-jonesing he and she on deck. The former mic swinger for Melbourne Rockabillies the Flatfoot Shakers, Kieron gains immeasurably from sharp assist lent by ace players, including highly-reputed guitar dab hand Kid James.

Recommended: "Because of You," "All She Wants to Hear is Dean Martin," "Exotic Woman," "At the Bop Hop"

Videos: "Because of You" "All She Wants to Hear is Dean Martin"