The Psyatics, the Hideaway, Green Fuzz at the Usual Place, Friday March 4, 2022

 

Way back in our LA days, we did a number of shows with promoter Ralph Carrera, including the infamous 2001 Shakedown here in Vegas just weeks after 9/11. Ralph has just recently started doing some promoting in Vegas and kindly asked the Psyatics if we wanted to participate in this event - and it really was an event - and we were happy to oblige as it was a cool happening in a club that we had never played at before.

Although the location of the club is a little awkward (Maryland and Fremont, with essentially no street parking - but they have a parking lot - and construction everywhere), it is a step up from the average Vegas dive bar, with a full bar, real stage and PA, and even a soundman! It will be interesting to see where it goes as far as booking policy.

In any case, this evening opened with a relatively new 50's styled band, the Hideaway, made up of members of other local 50's influenced combos (the Vegas rockabilly-and-related scene does seem pretty small and incestuous but with some good players). This trio were all terrific musicians (the drummer was strong and solid, and played guitar in No Que No, the bassist was fluid and swingin' and the guitarist/singer put the hip flavoring on top of it all) and the songs ranged from rockin' raves to almost doo-wop numbers. to some surf and blues, among whatever else they decided to throw in the mix. I was certainly impressed and hope to catch them again soon.

Of course, I couldn't take any photos of the Psyatics set (thanks John Armstrong for this posed pic), but we had a fun, high energy set (although I had a couple technical issues), running through new'n'older numbers while jumping on go-go boxes and terrorizing the enthusiastic crowd. Ralph managed to get quite a number of people to come down for the event and they were there for a good time! 

In between bands were some top-notch DJ's - local Cromm Fallon, along with Shanty Tramp and Rik Collins (from the Wooly Bandits, among many other combos) - as well as gorgeous go-go dancers Moana Santana, Ruby Champagne and Dolly Danger. After the Psyatics set, there was a trio of lovely burlesque dancers: Kalani Kokonuts, Isabelle Marie and Bettina May, strutting their well-endowed stuff to the delight of the audience.

For the finale of the evening (the Ramones cover band had to cancel due to the never-ending Covid), local scenestress Kitty Chow (if that IS her real name!) is a pompadoured, vinyl outfit/laced-up stripper boot-wearing female Lux Interior fronting Vegas' own Cramps cover band, Green Fuz. With a super strong rhythm section (fellow Hypnotiques guitarist appears here on bass) - the drums and bass were both powerful and tonally appropriate sounding, which is not always easy to do - and a male guitarist who dons a jokey, silly-looking, Poison Ivy drag (which I personally do not think is necessary but who am I to say), they run through a greatest hits of the Cramps with Kitty doing a fine Lux impersonation. There were a few trip-ups here'n'there - they gave up on "The Way I Walk" after a few notes for some reason, and got lost in a couple of other places - but overall, they were a fun romp through the tunes from the  masters'n'originators of Psychobilly and the crowd certainly loved 'em!

The night continued on with Rik DJ'ing through the early hours, but after a week from hell at work, I had to split and get some rest. But, thank you to Ralph and Beau Monde for a super fun night from start to finish!