the rockabilly scene

[6StringShooter]

how does one find it? does it exist everywhere or just in certain cities? what "is" the rockabilly scene? is there even such a thing? thanks!

 

[RIOT]

You need a secret password and then only then the magical gates of Valhalla open up.. jk!

It depends where you are. It is not a huge scene to begin with. Try going to a car show (pre '63 type shows), not your normal goldchainer car shows. Look for the Hot Rods, Beaters, Barris type Kustoms. Introduce yourself, I'm sure someone would point you to the next event or show to meet more of the crowd. We don't bite.. hard.

Good luck!

 

[Undertow]

Think Rev. Horton Heat or The Legendary Shack Shakers. If you ever see those guys touring through your local hot spots (usually not arenas), you can bet there will be some Rockabilly scenesters.

And like the previous post mentions, check out car shows, motorcycle shows, gearhead stuff, etc. We're talking West Side Story, Grease, sideburns and motor oil.

Maybe even check out your local tattoo shops.

 

[RIOT]

Think Rev. Horton Heat or The Legendary Shack Shakers. If you ever see those guys touring through your local hot spots (usually not arenas), you can bet there will be some Rockabilly scenesters.

And like the previous post mentions, check out car shows, motorcycle shows, gearhead stuff, etc. We're talking West Side Story, Grease, sideburns and motor oil.

Maybe even check out your local tattoo shops.

??? I don't get why people associate Rev Horton Heat with Rockabilly music? And West Side Story, Grease, Sideburns, Motor Oil? LOL!

That's like saying the swing scene is all about Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Gap Khakis. The 30-40's Fedora scene is all about Dick Tracey and Indiana Jones. C'mon!

If you are looking for a fashion show, go with the above, if you are looking for folks who live and care about a lifestyle, you have to dig deeper.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[MaryDeluxe]

how does one find it? does it exist everywhere or just in certain cities? what "is" the rockabilly scene? is there even such a thing? thanks!

Why don't you google it. Google "rockabilly" with your "area" and see what you come up with. And while you are googling different terms you can get an idea about what it is that interests you most about the scene.

I think it's important no matter what "scene" you are interested in that you are true to yourself.

 

[gluegungeisha]

Bars and venues where rockabilly bands play (if there are rockabilly bands in your area, which is likely). Ask around, Google, and look up what bands are either local or coming to your town. A bar in Albuquerque has rockabilly night every Thursday.

Car shows (greasers).

Um...bowling alleys, sometimes.

Swing dancing nights (more likely if a variety of music is present -- aside from swing, my community center plays country, rockabilly, etc.).

 

[resortes805]

Local scenes vary from region to region. Some areas are more gearhead focused, some are more mainstream, some scenes have an older demographic, some scenes have a younger demographic, and etc.

Honestly, save your dough and check out one of the weekenders like Viva las Vegas, or Green bay. All shades of rockabilly enthusiasts go to these and you might meet someone from your area.

Oh yeah, and myspace is an easy way to start checking stuff out to.

 

[Babydoll]

Swing dancing nights (more likely if a variety of music is present -- aside from swing, my community center plays country, rockabilly, etc.).

Unless your city is like mine.... where the swing kids and the rockabilly kids don't mix. Different types of music, dress, interests.

I second the google idea. Look for country bars - good bet they'll have some sort of rockabilly-ish shows going on.

Or do what I've done.... if you see someone around town that is interesting looking, go up and tell them that they look like someone you need to know.

 

[6StringShooter]

thank you all very much! i tried googling with no luck I'll keep my eyes peeled around town though!

 

[Benny Holiday]

Unless your city is like mine.... where the swing kids and the rockabilly kids don't mix. Different types of music, dress, interests.

You should hear them carry on here in Sydney! Mostly from the (dumb part) of the Rockabilly side: "We hate that jazz crap!" "I can't stand Swing!" whinge whinge whinge, boo hoo hoo . . .

Back in the mid-late 80's when Rockabilly was really big here, most of the crowd would've gone crazy to see and hear a good Swing band and embraced 40's style quite enthusiastically. Of course, things have gone way downhill since then, and there are those who think black jeans and a black T-shirt and any music with a doghouse bass that goes "thwacka-thwacka-thwacka" are all there is to Rockabilly . . .

 

[LolitaHaze]

??? I don't get why people associate Rev Horton Heat with Rockabilly music? And West Side Story, Grease, Sideburns, Motor Oil? LOL!

I know... everyone knows Rockabilly is all about Mike Ness and the Horror Pops.

 

[Undertow]

??? I don't get why people associate Rev Horton Heat with Rockabilly music? And West Side Story, Grease, Sideburns, Motor Oil? LOL!

That's like saying the swing scene is all about Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Gap Khakis. The 30-40's Fedora scene is all about Dick Tracey and Indiana Jones. C'mon!

If you are looking for a fashion show, go with the above, if you are looking for folks who live and care about a lifestyle, you have to dig deeper.

Just my 2 cents.

Sure, if you already possess some grounded knowledge on a subject, go for the real thing first. But if you've never heard of Rockabilly or if you have no idea there is/was/could be a scene in your local area, you have to start somewhere, correct?

If you've never worn a fedora and you don't know anyone that has (and you didn't start by googling the subject and found FL) you might think, "Hmm, Indiana Jones wore a fedora so I'll look for Indiana Jones hats." In fact, I'm sure there are a few guys on this forum that started that very same way.

If I was interested in becoming involved in my local body building scene and I wanted to meet some body builders that could help me out, what would I do? Just transport myself to their homes, having no idea who they are, or do you suppose I would go to a local YMCA, look for guys in muscle shirts holding gym bags, see them pumping massive iron and possibly ask them if they knew about a local body building club?

Sorry Riot, but you might want to avoid being so righteous and think this through from a beginner's perspective. Everything I listed is reasonably attainable in any area and tailored to someone new to the scene.

And also put what you said into another scenario - someone wants to join the DJ scene. Rather than tell them to buy some cheap vinyl, spin on some turntables and record themselves for a few years, you ridicule them for not snorting 4 kilos of coke, staying up all night with groupies and REALLY spinning some records.

Have it your way, I guess. [huh]

 

[pigeon toe]

I know... everyone knows Rockabilly is all about Mike Ness and the Horror Pops.

I'm seeing the HorrorPops in a couple of weeks and I'm so psyched!

It's such a shame that rockabilly & swing (and psychobilly, for that matter) doesn't mix in a lot of areas. I'm pretty heavily involved in psychobilly and the vintage lifestyle, and you don't see much crossover, but I've never experienced people being hostile.

Big groups like Social Distortion, Rev. Horton Heat, Tiger Army, etc. are sure to bring in tons of rockabillies, greasers, psychos, what have you, so bands like those are a good place to start. A lot of car shows, unless you're in an area like L.A. where it's overrun with people in the scene, usually have more old folks than greasers I've noticed! But it's also a good place to start, chances are you'll see a few people in the scene. I'd also suggest finding a good vintage store in your area and talking to the owners. A lot of rockabilly kids are also into vintage, so I'm sure the owners might know of some events.

 

[gluegungeisha]

Unless your city is like mine.... where the swing kids and the rockabilly kids don't mix. Different types of music, dress, interests.

I second the google idea. Look for country bars - good bet they'll have some sort of rockabilly-ish shows going on.

Or do what I've done.... if you see someone around town that is interesting looking, go up and tell them that they look like someone you need to know.

Aw, that's unfortunate. I'm sure there are a bunch of people like that in my own city too, but I'm really not into either "scene," and I certainly couldn't bring myself to choose between them. I like rockabillies, I like people into swing, and most of them seem to like me. Maybe it's because I'm very eclectic when it comes to music, dress and interests. [huh]

Our swing nights really are very rockabilly-friendly, though. I mean, the group is primarily swing kids, but there are always a few rockabillies and greasers hanging out. Albuquerque has some fantastic local rockabilly bands, and they often come to the community center to play -- great for me, since I'm under 21 and unable to go to the venues I would like to visit.

 

[RIOT]

Alright, I'll pipe in.. I've been trying to stay away from posting and enjoying the lurking instead as I see that there are enough "experts" here on the subject.. but then again I get sucked in like a black hole.

OK. Fine and Dandy if 6StringShooter were to have done a "search" on the rockabilly scene without knowledge on what it was all about.. then by all means, type in the words "grease", and "crybaby" and "elvis", and whatever else stereotypes rockabilly and see what he comes up with.

However, he did ask for leads in a public forum and we or whomever had the knowledge of what rockabilly was all about should have given the proper description as to what to search for. I was also at fault to this as I gave a generalization as to searching at car shows..

6StringShooter, I am not exactly sure where you are located other that Calumet on your profile. Maybe if you gave us a location we could better help? Is it Calumet City, IL or Calumet, WI? If it is WI, one of the best rockabilly shows is held yearly at the Oneida Hotel/Casino in Greenbay. Definitely worth going to as the "who's who" in the rockabilly music industry perform at this one week event. If it is a different Calumet, then please give us a better description as to your location. As they say "Let us help you". Cheers!

 

[J. M. Stovall]

Sometimes you can find a venue in reverse by first getting a list of the bands, go to thier websites tour section, and see what the places are that host them. I've done that when visiting a city I've never been to and wanted to check out "my kind" of places.

 

[Matt Noir]

I think it's important no matter what "scene" you are interested in that you are true to yourself.

Probably the best advice I have read in a long, long time!

Regards,

Matt

 

[Edward]

I'm seeing the HorrorPops in a couple of weeks and I'm so psyched!

It's such a shame that rockabilly & swing (and psychobilly, for that matter) doesn't mix in a lot of areas. I'm pretty heavily involved in psychobilly and the vintage lifestyle, and you don't see much crossover, but I've never experienced people being hostile.

Big groups like Social Distortion, Rev. Horton Heat, Tiger Army, etc. are sure to bring in tons of rockabillies, greasers, psychos, what have you, so bands like those are a good place to start. A lot of car shows, unless you're in an area like L.A. where it's overrun with people in the scene, usually have more old folks than greasers I've noticed! But it's also a good place to start, chances are you'll see a few people in the scene. I'd also suggest finding a good vintage store in your area and talking to the owners. A lot of rockabilly kids are also into vintage, so I'm sure the owners might know of some events.

I'm still fairly new to it all over here, but it seems that here in England there's something more of a crossover than it sounds there is in the US. That said, with the imievitably much smaller numbers involved in the UK, it seems much more likely that there will be a necessary levle of crossover in order for the individual scenes to survive.

Enjoy the Horrorpops - I've not had the pleasure yet myself, but from what I hear and see at the non-live remove, they're great fun.

 

[TheKitschGoth]

I'm seeing the HorrorPops in a couple of weeks and I'm so psyched!

They're good fun live, I'm hoping I'll get to go to one of their gigs again