Rockabilly Space Force

Satellite Rock single and podcast space adventures 

Joe Tate and the Hi Fives issued Satellite Rock in 1958 (on Roulette), but couldn't have known it would be covered in 2022, and by a Spokane combo with intergatactic imaginings.

But Rockabilly Space Force is not only a band.

"The Rockabilly Space Force wants to rock where no one’s rocked before," says bandleader Garrin Hertel. "You know, in space. Hopefully somewhere with an atmosphere so that we can be heard - and so we don’t freeze, suffocate, and die.

"For now, we perform on Earth," he adds. "But while we wait for a real chance to rock out with colonists on the Moon or Mars, we’re writing and recording a podcast called 'The Adventures of the Rockabilly Space Force,' which takes us out into the inner solar system. Well, in our dreams, anyway." 

He says in their podcast universe, they’re a "motley" crew of engineers and mechanics living in a rocket refueling base on the second moon of Mars, "a little potato-shaped rock called Deimos," in the year 2095. 

"It’s Route 66 meets Deep Space Nine. Or maybe the Stray Cats play The Expanse. Buddy Holly hitches a ride on a Firefly? Lighter than Cowboy Bebop but definitely more gravity than the Monkees."

"In real life, we have an engineer in the band whose designs are riding out on the International Space Station," Garrin relates. "So we’re leaning a little more toward hard sci-fi with his technical expertise leading the way. We’ll probably still bend a few laws of physics when the story demands it, or whenever we damn well please. 

Garrin says they’ve also got an IT/software designer, a theater master, and a former magazine publisher. They and others play piano, guitars, tenor sax, stand up bass, and drums. 

"Technically a 5-piece," he notes. "Though our front man, Dayan Kai, plays every instrument known to humankind." 

Satellite Rock is a leisurely paced number that hints throughout at potency. The skilled members of Rockabilly Space Force easily toss off good-time music with flair. It all but pulls listeners toward the hardwood.

Indeed, in it is a sound that's always welcome: that of musicians genuinely pleased with their undertaking. It's a vibe that marks superiority of perpetrators.

The podcast is written and presently in production. ("Season 1 of the podcast is 16 episodes, about 8-15 minutes each.") Rockabilly  Space Force hopes to launch it in the first half of 2023. "Each episode will be like a radio play," Garrin says. "With a new song every show. Sometimes a cover, sometimes an original."

Per Garrin, the Rockabilly Space Force members are:

Hertel,himself: bandleader, guitar. "I play the role of “Buddy” in the podcast - Buddy is the bandleader in the story, and also plays guitar."

Olivia Brownlee - (Bass, lead vocals) "Mercy Palomino in the story."

Andy Bennett - (Drums) "Verne in the story." . Robert Folie - (Sax) "Zoot in the story." Dayan Kai - (Piano mainly, "but plays a lot of instruments." Also lead vocals.) "Randy, in the story."

"'The adventures of the Rockabilly Space Force' is a semi -

serialized show, and we've written an extensive backstory to keep the plot moving. As for our sound, we're constantly experimenting to find the right sound for each song. We love the original Sun label recorddings, and we also love edgier, raw rockabilly, a la the Phantom. Why lock in to just one style?"

Video: "Satellite Rock"

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