Southern Culture on the Skids

This is totally one of the funnest and coolest rock and roll bands ever! We could call them psychobilly, and they are in my top 3 psychobilly bands along with the Cramps and Reverend Horton Heat. I first saw them at VZD's in OKC after Dirt Track Date (a great record). I had never heard of them before though they had been around awhile. The place was packed and the show was awesome. They threw pieces of fried chicken into the crowd - actually they had a girl from the audience come up and throw it. A few days later, I went out and found Ditch Digggin' and For Lovers Only, which I liked just as much as Dirt Track Date, although they are a bit different - not quite as polished as Dirt Track but very well-made records with a clean sound. They came back to OKC after Plastic Seat Sweat and played at the Will Rogers Theater. An even bigger show. Again with the chicken. I got to hang out with them a little bit at a party after the show - they're all real nice. They came back to VZD's again after Zombiefied (more chicken). Although they play nothing but ultimate rock and roll dance music, there wasn't much dancing going on at this show, which was packed since they had finally been getting some press. Since they are usually classified as "alternative", most of the crowd packed onto the dance floor like sardines and just stood there (about half of the tables were removed), even as Rick announced each song with something like "Here's another twisty one!", begging people to dance. I'm proud to say I was among the six or seven who got right up in front of the stage and danced (how could I help it?). I don't think they played anything off of Zombiefied except the title track (which is a cool song). Mary sang a Wanda Jackson song, Funnel of Love, which stuck in my head for days. I didn't find out what song it was until I got the Mike Ness record, Under the Influences, which has an interesting cover of this great song. Rick is one of the coolest (and hottest) guitar players around - he has mastered many styles of rock and roll guitar. Their last record, Liquored Up and Down Lacquered Down, took me awhile to warm up to, it has a very polished sound, but it is a great record, like all of their records. You get a good dose of Mary's voice on the beauitiful song, Just How Lonely.

And finally - a new record - Mojo Box (JAN 2004), awesome, as expected. Cousin Crispy has left and the SCOTS are once again a trio.

OK, I'm getting around to updating this at the end of 2011. I see I have missed a few records, which I will now list and will be hunting for soon. This is one band that has never put out a bad record, or even a substandard song. Get their records!

The SCOTS really are the funnest band in the world!

Some SCOTS Links:

Official SCOTS website: www.scots.com

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Culture_on_the_Skids

Facebook: www.facebook.com/southerncultureontheskids

The Records: (get some!)

This is just the stuff I know about on CD. The official website has an extensive discography. Yes I have all these - yes they are all great. You can also buy lots of these at the official site. (and I left vinyl behind long ago, but if you're into it, many of these were also issued as LPs, can find at Amazon or SCOTS.com)

For Lovers Only (1992) Safe House
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000001XU8/

Too Much Pork For Just One Fork (1992) Moist, (2009) Kudzu
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005GAAXBU/ Have not seen this one yet. Appears to have songs from other records, but I think they are older verions. Amazon doesn't seem to have the reissue, but can get from SCOTS.com.

Ditch Diggin' (1994) Safe House
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000001XUH/

Peckin Party (EP) (1993) Feedbag
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000001XTR/

Girlfight (EP) (1993) Sympathy for the Record Industry SFTRI 266
6 Songs: Girlfight, Whole Lotta Things, El Mysterioso, Twistin' (On a Red Hot Spike), Hey Chuck Berry, Wheels. I think the actual title of the CD is just Southern Culture on the Skids
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000002RE5/

Dirt Track Date (1995) Geffen
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000003TBN/

Santo Swings (EP) (1996) Estrus
May be out of print. Not listed on Estrus' website.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000002RE5/

Plastic Seat Sweat (1997) Geffen
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000003TCR/

Zombiefied (1998) / (2011) Kudzu Records
I bought this from the band at a show in 1998, and for a long time you could just get it from them (in a cardboard sleeve) or as an Australian import. Reissued in 2011 with extra tracks by Kudzu. It's one of their best records. Its kind of a Halloween record, with lots of spooky songs.
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B005FQNIC6/

Liquored Up and Lacquered Down (2000) TVT Records
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000508YW/ Yikes! This appears to be out of print! Grab it!

Mojo Box (2004) Yep Roc Records
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B0000ZMHC4/
I found out about this one when I saw the review in the 02/19/04 Rolling Stone, which my sister passed on to me. Those idiots gave it 2 stars out of 5. I guess they have no ears! This is actually one the best SCOTS records ever, with sparse production and lots of guitar. I give it 11 out of 10 stars!

Doublewide and Live (2006) Yep Roc Records
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000EHQUSA/

Countrypolitan Favorites (2007) Yep Roc Records
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B000MDH8C8/
A selection of 15 choice cover tunes.

Kudzu Ranch (2010) Kudzu Records/Redeye
Amazon: www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/B004708JF2/



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