Another month, another Cockabilly (London’s only monthly queer
rockabilly night!) in the louche “anything goes” beatnik surroundings of the
divoon George & Dragon in ultra bohemian Shoreditch. Mal Nicholson and Paul Dragoni founded Cockabilly way back in 2008, making 2013 the club night’s five year anniversary. Keeping a club afloat in London's glamour jungle for five years is no mean feat and shows true grit and tenacity. It’s never been a better time to show Cockabilly some love! Gay greasers
unite! Rock around the cock!
As per usual when I guest DJ at Cockabilly (I was sandwiched between head honcho Mal and Elma Wolf of Twat Boutique notoriety) I strove to whip-up a primitive and taboo atmosphere with my most rancid musical selections, incorporating rockabilly, punk, surf, titty shakers and rhythm and blues (give me Ike and Tina Turner or give me death!).
Playing us out: Link Wray and His Ray Men absolutely ripping it freaking up on a live rendition of killer rockabilly instrumental “Rawhide” on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1959. Wray and his besuited and neatly Brylcreemed musicians may look pretty sober (they're wearing ties!), but they are tight as fuck and the music is so bristling with menace and aggression it’s the like the soundtrack for a biker gang switchblade fight. I also love the contrast between the ferocity of Wray’s greasy, punk-y assault and the utterly unimpressed wholesome teenage audience in cardigans and horn rimmed specs (they’re adorable in a Corny Collins Show / Hairspray vein, but what a bunch of squares! They should be rioting and trashing the place!), who only come to life when they catch a glimpse of themselves on the screen (watch for the girl whipping off her glasses at 2:01).
Rawhide - Link Wray and His Ray Men
You're the One for Me - Wanda Jackson
Ah, Poor Little Baby - Billy "Crash" Craddock
Lucille - Masaaki Hirao
Bombora - The Original Surfaris
Dance with Me, Henry - Ann-Margret
I Stubbed My Toe - Bryan "Legs" Walker
One Hand Loose - Charlie Feathers
Booze Party - Three Aces and a Joker
The Whip - The Originals
Suey - Jayne Mansfield
Vesuvius - The Revels
Chicken Walk - Hasil Adkins
What Do You Think I Am? Ike and Tina Turner
Here Comes the Bug - The Rumblers
Shout - Johnny Hallyday
Boss Nova Baby - Elvis Presley
The Girl Can't Help It - Little Richard
Chicken - The Cramps
Margaya - The Fender Four
Breathless - X
Save It - Mel Robbins
Hoy Hoy - The Collins Kids
Boss - The Rumblers
Fujiyama Mama - Annisteen Allen
Where's My Money? Willie Jones
Welfare Cheese - Emanuel Laskey
Jim Dandy - Sara Lee and The Spades
Whistle Bait - Larry Collins
C'Mon Everybody - Sid Vicious
Cry-baby - The Honey Sisters (Cry-baby soundtrack)
Mambo Baby - Ruth Brown
Read about previous Cockabillies here, here, here, here, here and here.
For all your kitsch / camp / homoerotic / vintage sleaze needs, be sure to follow me on tumblr.
Until next time ...
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