Hot Rod Walt & The Psychodevilles Rockabilly Rodeo

*This review was originally posted in 2012 on our old website*

Atlanta Georgia is home to one of the best Rockabilly bands I’ve ever seen live with my own two eyes: Hot Rod Walt & The Psychodevilles. Walt and the boys have been burning up the highways and byways since 2002; the band has also done some extensive European tours. Walt himself has been featured on the T.V. show “Auction Kings” where he auctioned off his beautiful 1960 Pink Cadillac and get this, he did it to purchase a tour bus for the band! How strong is that, sell off one of the greatest cars ever manufactured for your bands comfort.

The band has released several albums, the latest is entitled Rockabilly Rodeo. Next to Lee Rocker’s cd Night Train to Memphis, there wasn’t a better offering from the Rockabilly genre last year! The opening track “Ton-up” gets the blood moving with a nice mid-tempo groovin’ feel like “Twenty Flight Rock”. Next up is “Cursed Be the Moon”, aside from the bridge, this tune romps maniacally all about the place. I highly suggest all you Psychobillies, check this one out. There is also a handful of nice Country/Western/Swing ditties – “One Minute At A Time”, “Never Alone” and “Give And Take”. You also get a legit Blues tune; “Perfect Shade Of Blue”, this track is packed with Hammond B-3 sounds. I’m softly reminded of the old tune “Stormy Monday” every time I hear this track. Several other songs on this effort will have you shaking your ass slap off “Rodeo”, “Made of Me”, “Bar Fight” and we can’t forget the ever-impressive “Psycho Cadillac” which was re-recorded for this effort. Hands down, this is my favorite off the album with “Made of Me” coming in at a close second.

With the release of Rockabilly Rodeo, Hot Rod Walt & The Psychodevilles have shown once again why they’re the best Rockabilly band in Georgia. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of seeing them live a few times and will no doubt see them a great deal more! They never disappoint, the PBR is always cold, the Jager is in abundance, the holler and swoller is in full effect and the band is hotter than a two dollar pistol every time out! So, head over to their site, check out a few tunes, pick up this album and a few other things. Rockabilly Rodeo is number one out of my top ten releases from 2012.

~Black Angel