Shockabilly
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Defunct | 1985 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Avant-rock music, studio albums |
Number of employees | 3 |
Shockabilly was a New York City-based American band known for its avant-rock sound. Active from 1982 to 1985, the group produced four studio albums that highlighted their experimental fusion of various musical styles. The ensemble consisted of guitarist and vocalist Eugene Chadbourne, bassist and organist Mark Kramer, and drummer David Licht.
Style and influences
Although their name might imply a concentration on rockabilly, only the album The Dawn of Shockabilly incorporated elements of this genre. Fundamentally an avant-rock outfit, Shockabilly merged diverse genres including blues, country, folk, folk-rock, lo-fi, noise rock, psychedelic rock, rockabilly, classic rock and roll, and surf music. Their avant-garde reinterpretations frequently transformed cover songs to the point where they were scarcely recognizable compared to their original versions. This groundbreaking style left a mark on subsequent experimental rock groups such as Sonic Youth and Primus. Notably, Les Claypool's vocal delivery has been likened to Eugene Chadbourne's distinctive approach.
Discography
- The Dawn of Shockabilly (Rough Trade, 1982)
- Earth vs. Shockabilly (Rough Trade, 1983)
- Colosseum (Rough Trade, 1984)
- Vietnam (Fundamental Music, 1984)
- Heaven (Fundamental Music, 1985)
- Live: ...Just Beautiful (Shimmy Disc, 1990)