***Before scrolling down any more, please keep in mind that there are gogo dancers pictured below in very little clothing. If you are at work and viewing this, please keep this in mind.***
The sun was sizzling, the beer was cold, the turkey legs were roasting, and my chest was thumping due to the massive stand up bass coming out of huge speakers. It was a good day for Revival Fest.
Okay, so I have to admit – I giggle every time I talk about seeing the Reverend at Revival Fest.
No. We aren’t religious. I’m talking about the great Reverend Horton Heat.
Yes. It is a music festival. A rockabilly music festival. I LOVE ROCKABILLY.
To those of you who know rockabilly – AWESOME! And for those who don’t, well, let me school you a bit on the ways.
Think Buddy Holly, pin up, a little bit of country twang, and this unstoppable need to dance your heart out all mixed into this conglomeration of HEAVEN (at least to me). Everyone dresses to the nines – lipstick, dresses, pomade, rolled jeans, and pompadours – creating a very unique experience in the music industry.
Think you have stepped into a time machine back to the days of American Graffiti? You kinda have.
This bit of subculture has been my community for over 10 years now (you should see my closet/wardrobe) and I’m always stoked when Revival Fest is in town. Not only is it something unique to Austin, but people all around the southern United States come to Austin just for this show.
So here are a few things to look forward to when heading to this once a year festival in the Live Music Capital:
The People
I LOVE taking pictures of people at shows.
Shaun did get mobbed by camera people due to his pink mohawk and had to sign a model release form. Apparently you may be seeing him in Austin tourism videos!
The Bands
We started off with a bit of the Psycho Devilles. This man has quite a bit of dedication to be wearing a full suit in 90+ degree weather.
Then we moved into some Johnny Hootrock. What performance is complete without gogo dancers – especially gogo dancers that are actually the ladies from the Jigglewatts Burlesque troupe here in Austin!
And of course… PILLOW FIGHTS. And the show continued with feathers in the air. Do these ladies look familiar? Maybe because you have seen them in my burlesque road trip posts (1 and 2) in the past.
Then came Three Bad Jacks.
You can’t get more epic than lighting a drum set on fire while the drummer is going at it.
Lee Rocker was just as amazing as I thought he would be. You know Brian Setzer (I’m sure most of you do)? They played together in the Stray Cats back in the 80s. Their song was #2 behind THRILLER (really, you can’t expect to beat that).
The Nekromantix is one of my all time favorite bands. This was the third time I had seen them (and the first with my camera). Technically they are considered psychobilly (think more METAL-Y with lyrics about zombies and ghosts) but generally have the same crowd as the other bands. And seriously – is there anything more HARDCORE than a freaking COFFIN BASS. Oh Kim Nekro, you are just so damn sexy. *swoon*
And as midnight approached The Reverend Horton Heat came on. We had been waiting so many years to finally see them. For some reason Shaun and I always had something come up when they were in town. You know what? They didn’t disappoint. They are celebrating their 25th anniversary as a band and are still kicking ass. They even played some of the songs we were most looking forward to (and they have 10 albums!).
We went home tired, sweaty, surprisingly not sunburned, and with HUGE grins on our faces. Sure, we couldn’t hear anything due to being in front of massive speakers all day but we were willing to put our ears on the line for this experience. We did learn we are getting a bit cranky and old to be near mosh pits. Shaun looked miserable half the time as he was looking out for massive, gross, sweaty, drunk men that were careening my way. This show definitely topped my list as one of the best shows I have ever seen – and being from the Live Music Capital of the world, that is saying a lot.
OK….I’ve never heard of ANY of these artists before. What, I’m from the UK…….we have no internet there…..yeah. Anyway, this looks super fun – I love going to music festivals, but can’t remember the last one I went to 🙁 Love the photos of the people, too – the style is totes amazing. Plus, you look super cute, too!
If Shaun is going to be in an Austin tourism video any time soon, post the link!
p.s. you should’ve warned that the go-go dancers are female. I got all excited and then scrolling down, there were no greased up six packs and neon short-shorts to be seen! Granted, it makes sense that the dancers are female and they look amazing in their outfits, but next time, go to a LGBT Rockabilly Festival, OK? Or just go to a gay club, snap photos, and somehow make a post out of it. Challenge laid down 😉
1. I love that everybody in these photos has something to SAY with their personal style.
2. I want a tasseled bra like that.
3. The Horton Heat station on Pandora is an excellent way to help survive a boring day at work.
4. This looks like so much fun!
So cool. We need to get to Austin, bad. Fabulous photos.
I love that I never know what I’m going to find on your site. Rockabilly or Eeyore–I’ll meet you at either event next year! Love me some Austin. Wish you planned to stay there =)
Well damn Tom. GET ON IT. Well, I guess only if you like a bit of country and rock and roll in your life. 😛 Rockabilly has many roots in Texas. <3
If I can find the video I will TOTALLY post it. I mean, we also expect a royalty check with it so yeah. My husband is a model. He signed a model release form. Yum.
And sorry about the lack of male gogo dancers. There are some at various gay clubs but seeing as my "boyfriend" is currently in the Navy, I haven't had much inspiration to go these myself.
1. I almost feel bad that I don’t go looking near as fabulous as some of these people do. I mean, they spend HOURS on their hair and it shows.
2. So do I. So… do… I.
3. It always brightens up my day when I need a little pep.
4. IT WAS A BLAST. Maybe you should come with us next year (if we happen to be around which I am half secretly hoping that we’re not.).
I try to tell people it is awesome. People have doubts about Texas in general!
We do “plan” on it being our home base… if people will have us in their homes (that is another problem all together when all your friends are poor artists lol!).
I definitely try to keep things different around here. And, most of all, I love that this is my life.
I have a friend who loves the Reverend Horton Heat and asks me to go see the show every year. Maybe I’ll have to go this time around.
This festival looks like so much fun! I love the way you captured those moments in your pics. 🙂 And, thanks for explaining rockabilly. I’ve always admired the style but never quite knew what it meant. 🙂
Ooooh, that blue photo of the coffin bass is super cool!! It would make an awesome album cover! You should tell them that. 😉
Oh, that Shaun! Love how everyone’s wearing colored sunglasses, even the guys. And I’m loving the red — your red shades/top, the red gingham chick with the parasol, and those red tassels shaking on stage. Oh la la!
FUN! It makes me want to go to Austin even more, but everyone says it’s too hot in the Summer and to go in the Fall.
They are REALLY FUN. If you get a chance I would totally go – although I’m sure they sell out of tickets every time they go through.
It is definitely something I could go into much more detail about but I think I got the Reader’s Digest version down pretty well. Glad I could show you a few things while in the car!
Yeah… I’ll get on that! lol
Their album covers are generally a little more… kitschy?
Only YOU would notice something like that lol! I really had no clue until you pointed it out.
And yes, I’m a little obsessed over the color red. 😛
I can’t imagine coming here in the fall (even though it is beautiful weather) just because there is SO MUCH to do during the summer.
I rather like the heat. It is delicious.