WTFukushima, the Psyatics, the Swamp Gospel at the Double Down, Saturday Mar 16, 2019

With a bit of help from some friends, a bit of negotiating and a lot of planning, Rob'n'Jack from the Psyatics arranged to get Fur Dixon's (ex-Hollywood Hillbillys, Cramps) latest, all star project WTFukushima out to Vegas and to the "stage" of the glamorous Double Down. Of course, the Psyatics had to be on the bill and they invited the Swamp Gospel, as well, along with VJ Atomic for some hip, happenin' sounds between the bands.

The Swamp Gospel opened up, as we are wont to do, to a great crowd of enthusiastic converts who joined in for the soul salvation. Wonderful to see so many of our regular congregation and plenty of new members. Our next revival will be at the Golden Tiki on March 30 for a specials Cramps tribute night!

(SG and Psyatics photos by Nikki Ruffling)

As I am now also in the Psyatics, there's not much that I can say about our set, other than it was also plenty o'fun and we got a great response from the full house! Lots of tunes from their four CD's along with a couple new numbers. The Psyatics will also be at the Golden Tiki for the Mar 30 extravaganza! And, as always, thank you to the lovely Ivanna Blaize for adding to the visual experience!

WTFukushima has Fur Dixon in the driver's seat as main songwriter, lead singer and guitarist aided by none other than Durty Watson (drummer for the Sonics, among many others), Bernard Yin (Fuzztones/Bellrays) and newest member Archie Frugone (La Ley) for a superstar band of epic proportions! Dusty is a terrific time-keeper - always a pleasure to watch him play - and Fur is a personable frontperson and a fine singer while Bernard and Archie filled in the songs without overstepping or overplaying. The style is an interesting combination of garage, punk and plain, old-fashioned rock'n'roll with covers like Buddy St. Marie's "Coedine" (learned from Poison 13's terrific version, according to Fur), the 13th Floor Elevators "You're Gonna Miss Me", the Phantom's classic "Love Me" (run through Fur's former employers, the Cramps, of course) and a hip, slow, unique take on the Cramps' "New Kind of Kick".

The crowd loved the band and were with them from start to finish and their merch table was flooded with fans after the set. Hopefully, Fur'n'company will spread the word that if bands take a chance on a Saturday in Vegas, they can bring out an enthusiastic audience. Thank you to the Double Down, the Psyatics and WTFukushima for a super fun night!