Wolfie, Jeano, McNasty, Handsome Jimmy, Boomer…
Sounds like I’m listing off names for the next WWE wrestling event, doesn’t it? These names belong to a group of guys nestled in the little town just north of us called Nashville, Tenn. They’re called the Creeping Cruds, and no other name could fit these fellas any better. The horror-themed rock ‘n’ roll band has just put out their second album titled Tennessee Bloodbath.
Don’t listen to this album thinking you know what to expect, because you don’t. It’s not psychobilly by any means, and it’s not as hard as other horror-themed bands, such as Calabrese or even the Misfits. It’s straight-up, dirty rock ‘n’ roll with a pinch of the Wolfman, a twist of Dracula, and a heaping spoonful of Frankenstein’s Monster.
“I Kicked Dracula’s Ass” is a great fist-pumping anthem as Wolfie tells the tale of how Frankenstein’s Monster did the “monster mash” all over Drac after the un-dead bastard stole Frankie’s bride. “Meat & Three” is about finding out your girlfriend has been turned into the daily special at the local greasy spoon — a fun first date song. Any fan of the Charlton Heston thriller I Am Omega should get the title, “Come Out Neville.” It’s based on the Richard Matheson short horror novel “I Am Legend” that Will Smith turned into a big budget blockbuster last year — but Heston, and even Vincent Price, took it to the big screen before Bill Willy got his Scientology-laden hands all over it.
The album consists of 12 listed tracks with a hidden 13th titled “Down in the Graveyards,” which sounds like Buck Owens blended with Boris Karloff. It’s an excellent companion piece to the Creeping Cruds first release, The Incredibly Strange People Who Stopped Living And Became… All-in-all, it’s good clean family entertainment — if your last name happens to be Munster.
One of the things I really enjoy about this album, and the band, is they don’t take themselves too seriously. Many bands today think they have to be uber-serious about their craft and not bring any humor to the table, but the Cruds serve it up and they’re not shy about giving you a second helping. Take advantage of having a band of this caliber so close to Atlanta and check out their tunes online.
They frequent Atlanta and are a hop, skip, and a jump away in their hometown of Nashville. Their album can be purchased via their MySpace page.
(Photo courtesy Erin Owens)
Thurs., Feb. 26
For this edition of Roll Call, we call out Atomic Boogie’s John Barton.
