Concert Review Number 4: Southern Culture On The Skids

Sooooooo...what do you say about Southern Culture on the Skids (SCOTS)? Kukla and I went out for a mad evening of some live music and a few beers at the Duck Room. Kukla is a sometimes willing accomplice to go see music with but I only drag him out when I know he will like the show. We last saw SCOTS at The Pageant when they opened up for BR-549 and frankly stole the show. That having been said they seemed like a safe bet for the intimate Duck Room on a week night. With the closing of Mississippi Nights if you want an intimate venue to see a show there is now really only The Duck Room and Off Broadway and sometimes The Lucas School House. If you get their early enough and stand in line for a little you can always stand right in front of the stage. The beer is always cold, the bar is always undermanned but it is also ALWAYS a good time.

The show opener was Brian Henneman and he showed up at 9:00 with his guitar and was on stage by 9:05 with very little tuning or bullshit. The Bottlerockets, his band trace their roots all the way back to Chicken truck which predated Uncle Tupelo. Henneman cut his teeth in those days as guitar tech (roadie) for Tupelo and then picked up some of the guitar work on their later albums. He has stayed around and frankly...after losing wight and sobering up has become a local treasure. He always wears hats to cover his bald head and he could use a little dental work but he looked good and he played...great. From the start he called out for what people wnated him to play and the crowd called out for the mellower and older stuff and we heard a ton of great music. Welfare Music, Gravity Fails, Kerosene, Smoking 100s, 1000 Dollar Car (both requested by Kukla), a brief Waylon Jennings set and then back for some more of his stuff. he can flat out play and his voice has held up well. He got done with a pleased group, packed up quietly...and disappeared.

Beatle Bob showed up later (perhaps he does not like Henneman?) By the time of the SCOTS show the place was packed but Kukla and I were right up front directly in front of the stage. Studio monitors at me knees. The bands drummer came out and set beers and water by everyone’s spot...Rick Miller and Mary Huff were no where to be seen. Miller showed up eventually in plaid shorts, green Converse and a Hillbilly Surf T-Shirt on and then at about 9:20 the fabulous Mary Hiff showed up. I say fabulous because with a red full wig, blue eye shadow and red metal flake lip gloss she is a site. I have no idea how old Huff is but she has been with the band since 1987 so...well lets say she is in her 40s but she looks pretty good and between her and Rick Miller and even their drummer who wears a straw pork pie and stands while he drums...it is as much performance art as a rock and roll show.

They finally all came out together and immediately broke into one of their first hits...”Too Much Pork For Just One Fork.” They then broke into Huff’s best vocal performance, the awesome “Nitty Gritty”. Huff plays a beautiful sea foam green bass which she immediately after the first soing stock her wad of gum on the head of the guitar. Miller plays a beat up old plastic Danelectro guitar. Off tot he side of the stage there were several beautiful Gibson and Fender hollow body electrics but Miller does not need any of that. With his cheap guitar and an effects box that looks like an HVAC system he simply tears it up. I have never been able to see Dick Dale but I have seen Junior Brown and The Flat Duo Jets and quite simply Rick Miller is my favorite surf guitar player. His work is precise and economical but never seems to bore or repeat and it is very accesable. Dave Hartman just stands behind the two of them sometimes beating the skins and cymbals with a maracha in one hand but always keeping...perfect time.

The band started in 85 out of North Carolina about the same time the B-52s were hitting the scene. I do not know who sported the big hair wigs and dramatic eye make up first but these guys certainly have held onto that retro look....with a passion. It was a great show with a lot of high spots including “Mexcian Radio”, Liquored Up and Lacquered Down” and a whole lot more. I managed to get a decent pic of the set list. This is a band that everyone should see...cars, bar-b-que, fried chicken and sexual pecadilloes all provide grist for entertaining guitar, twangy vocals and a damn good time.

Record Review 9 Southern Culture on The Skids: Countrypolitan

Southern Culture On The Skids (SCOTS) has redefined white trash rock for years. Rick Miller who handles the guitar and male vocal chores might or might not be the bastard son of Roger Miller but he certainly is not the half brother of the tunefull and too good looking Rhett Miller of the Old 97’s. I am a SCOT’s fan come lately. They have been around since 1986. A Chapel Hill North Carolina band they have had the same three people, Miller, Dave Hartman on Drums and well coifed Mary Huff on bass guitar. They won me over when opening for BR-549 at the Pageant about two years ago when they stole the show.

According to Wikipedia, “SCOTS music is generally very upbeat, as they usually write and perform songs about dancing, sex, and fried chicken, which are main themes in songs such as "Cheap Motels," "Soul City," and "Eight Piece Box" respectively. They are also known for their live shows, which often include throwing fried chicken and banana pudding into the audience, and audience members invited to dance onstage.” All true. They simply put on a great rocking show and Miller does the surf guitar as well as anyone (including Dick Dale) and can more then hold is own in rockabilly. He makes it scratch and pop.
Not that there is anything wrong with dancing, sex and fried chicken but they chose to do this CD as one of covers of other artists and they go all over the map with some...interesting choices. Do not look for respectful Buck Owens and Hank Williams and Carter Family homilies. They do touch some country greatness like their take on Don Gibson’s “Oh Lonesome Me”, but they also reach into some odd “country” choices like the Kinks “Muswell Hillbillies” and the Who’s “Happy Jack.” Unlike most cover CD’s this is not really a romp but seems to be a well thought out focus on showing their range. There are some mis-steps such as in Roger Miller’s “Engine Engine Number 9” and T-Rex’s “Lifes A Gas” does not make the transition but this CD is worth the price of admission and right now seems to be a critics darling.

If you are not familiar with them I would suggest going out and getting their CD “Dirt Track Date” to really get a feeling for them. This is not thinking mans music. If your looking for depth or feeling go get a Modest Mouse CD and put a gun in your mouth but for my money their version of the song “Venus” for out shocks the Shocking Blue. All in all this is a CD for fans of the band, or fans of the weird. I like it but I would never put it on for strangers. 7 1/2 Slingers out of 10
Your iTunes Composite for Souther Culture on the Skids
1. Nitty Gritty
2. These Boots Were made For Walking
3. Venus
4. Soul City
5. Banana Puddin
6. I learned To Dance In Mississippi
7. Camel Walk
8. Muswell Hillbillies
9. Liquored Up and Lacquered Down
10. Dirt Track Date
11. The Wet Spot
12. 8 Piece Box
13. Fried Chicken And Gasoline
14. Country Funk
15. ‘69 El Camino
16. Voodoo Cadillac
17. Oh Lonesome Me