Back in the Day, 2017

Phantom Pomps

The Higher the Hair, the Closer to God

(Self-issued)

These players covered Hasil Adkins and Lorrie Collins (and did so with snarling reverence), yoking them with self-penned, chromed-jukebox rave-ups that swung elbows without regard for ambient welfare. Erstwhile Blazing Haley and Graveside Rockers drummer Chris Story (here, on guitar/lead vocals) found frantic co-conspirators in Kelli and Fuse. Having got the sock, they leaned hard into fracture. Whispered allegations that they were restricted to dives whose walls were padded was never confirmed.

"Bevare!," sputtered Prof. Gustav Klemperer, of the venerated Heidelberg Institute. "In all mine years contemplating abnormality, I haf nevah encountered such lunatic celebration! Innocent souls vill be lured from sanity by seductive Rock'n'Roll!"

Recommended: "Runaway Truck Ramp," "Psychobilly Attack," "I Forgot My Meds," "No More Hot Dogs." "Is You Is?"

Videos: "Psychobilly Attack" (live) "No More Hot Dogs"   "Runaway Truck Ramp"   

Facebook

Discogs

Apple

Amazon  

45cat

iHeart                                                                           

Spotify

Back in the Day, 1999

Blazing Haley

Sleeper

(Self-issued)

Memory falters, but I believe it was around 2000 that I saw Blazing Haley pretty much destroy all competition on an MTV beach-shindig battle-of-bands. For the brief span of an abbreviated "Train to Nowhere," real Rock'n'Roll blared on MTV.

As tempting as some might find the proposition, Santa Barbara's brutal knuckle-poppers didn't ultimately fade because they were too too for early 2000s palates; numerous walloping peers did prosper. Perhaps the combo fell to fortune's inexplicable vagaries. But their big-shouldered perpetrations (in which Rockabilly, Punk, Country, and Psycho instincts conflagrated kick-ass firestorms somewhere betwixt fun and mayhem) are salubrious options now, when it seems Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars will never shut up.

The iron-visaged quartet did release a second platter - the equally robust Mas Chignon - before going into that good night. Various members pursued gambits including Graveside Rockers, Phantom Pomps, and Whiskey Glass Eye. Later years' reunion performances attested to enduring combustible capacity.

Though Blazing Haley placed second in that MTV battle, competition judge Busta Rhymes proclaimed "If it was my choice exclusively, it would've been Blazing Haley!"

Recommended: "Train to Nowhere," "Run Down Dive," "V-12 Ford," "Blazing Haley," "Clambake," "Back for No Good Reason," "End of the Line"

Videos: "Train to Nowhere" (live, 2018)   "Back for No Good Reason" (live, 2016)   "Clambake"   "End of the Line"

Facebook (Drummer Chris Story)

[Contemporary information for group members Brian Lakey, Dave Kruger, and Matt Armor could not be located.]

Discogs

Merchbar

Apple

Amazon

Shazam

Spotify