My aversion to rockabilly has cemented over time. There seem to be two main categories that bands self-put themselves. 1.) Skinhead Retirement Program. Rebellion from a different era, endless shit to buy, and a “little lady by my side.” The music’s another accessory. 2.) Ookie-spooky graveyards and/or zombies and/or being crazy with standup bass and pomade. Sure, I’m over-generalizing, and Rock’n’Roll Purgatory’s got their finger on the pulse of great rockabilly currently being released if you’re interested in bands beyond the gloss, sheen, and surfing of stand up basses. Enter PTATFA. It was bound to happen—actually, it already did with The Staggers (well worth checking out) and the Beltones—DIY punk rockers bring in their self-loathing, funny song titles (“The Best Part About Getting Dumped Is You Get to Write a Power Ballad”), and gritty energy in and blow the barn doors off of the play-acting hootenanny. Their music’s clear, instantly hummable, and beefy; I’d love to see them on a bill with The Pine Hill Haints or Almighty Do Me A Favor.
–todd (ADD)