7 Shot Screamers at SXSW

One of these years I'm going to make it to South by Southwest. Not this year, though. Perusing the highlights lists, like the ones posted by Twangville, I've noticed a whole lot of great roots and alt-country that I'm going to be missing. One band that hasn't been pointed out is the 7 Shot Screamers. SXSW has them listed under the punk genre, which may be why they haven't been noticed by roots music fans. This is a prime example of the limitations of the one-and-one-only genre classification scheme the SXSW index uses.

The 7 Shot Screamers' blend of punk and rockabilly should appeal to a wide variety of punk and roots-oriented tastes. I've written about their first album. Their most recent album came out last fall on St. Louis-based garage rock label Big Muddy. They've also been touring with Exene Cervenka, formerly of X and the Knitters, as the current incarnation of her Original Sinners.

They're playing 8:00, Saturday at the Dirty Dog Bar in Austin.

Listen:
7 Shot Screamers - Love Always, Charlie
7 Shot Screamers - War Song

Buy:
From CD Universe

7 Shot Screamers - I Was a Teenage 7 Shot Screamer

The 7 Shot Screamers are a punk rockabilly band out of St. Louis. I'm including them in my Tuesday night series of "local" bands because, well, because I can and I figure it's close enough.

I first saw the 7 Shot Screamers opening for Split Lip Rayfield a couple years ago. Honestly, I don't always expect much from the first of a three-band bill, but on this occasion I was rather surprised. In fact, I have to say these guys blew away the middle band whose mediocre country-rock sent me looking for a copy of Pitch and left me forgetful of their name.

The Screamers, although appearing as clean-cut, greased up rockabillies on their album cover, have a more glam look these days. The lead singer also engages heavily in glam histrionics, but don't let this turn you off; their music is sharp punk rockabilly reminiscent of the more '50s oriented numbers by the Clash. This album features mostly originals, but also several covers, including the one-two punch of Buddy Holly's "Maybe Baby" and the Stones' "Paint It Black" halfway through the album.

Check out some downloadable songs from their second album on their myspace page.

Listen:
7 Shot Screamers - War Song

Buy:
From mp3.com