# Tell me bout some good Rockabilly and Combat Rock **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 12, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486 "2002-08-12T04:38:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![renigademaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@renigademaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/renigademaster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/1 "2002-08-12T04:38:04Z")
I have recently gotten into the Clash, and really like the later stuff, (hey, the early stuff is good too) and was wondering if there were some other bands out there alot like that. Also I am kinda getting into rockabilly and other then the stray cats, I don’t know of any other bands? Who should I listen to? thanks Ben ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/2 "2002-08-12T05:25:05Z")
Try \*\*The Reverend Horton Heet \*\*for the rockabilly. IIRC, \*\* Rancid \*\* did a pretty good Clash imitation. Also, look into \*\*Billy Bragg. \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/3 "2002-08-12T05:28:54Z")
Yes, RHH rules the rockabilly school. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/4 "2002-08-12T07:38:35Z")
Do **Southern Culture on the Skids** count as “rockabilly?” If not, listen to them anyway. _Dirt Track Date_ is their best album, followed by _Ditch Diggin’_. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/5 "2002-08-12T10:03:52Z")
try Brian Setzer for some good Rockabilly - great live show too ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/6 "2002-08-12T16:40:59Z")
I’ll echo the sentiment that **Rancid** is a pretty good facsimile of The Clash. I recommend their CD [Let’s Go](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000001IPP/qid=1029169879/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-1866261-4062303). As for rockabilly, let’s make sure you have some grounding in the classics of the style: If you like the Stray Cats, then RUN don’t walk down to your local record store and pick up some [Eddie Cochran](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000063B8/qid=1029168514/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-1866261-4062303), the artist from whom the Stray Cats borrowed most of their licks. Also, try some of [Elvis’s rockabilly output](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004UB9W/qid=1029168254/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-1866261-4062303). (Get Elvis’s [Rocker](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002W7P/qid=1029170088/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-1866261-4062303) CD, too, if you can find it.) The guy could tear it up in his prime. Also check out [Gene Vincent](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002ZAW/qid=1029169394/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/104-1866261-4062303), Carl Perkins, and the [Sun Records output of Jerry Lee Lewis](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000032D0/qid=1029169301/sr=2-2/ref=sr_2_2/104-1866261-4062303). For that matter, get [Chuck Berry’s greatest hits](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002Q61/qid=1029169581/sr=1-15/ref=sr_1_15/104-1866261-4062303). While not typically categorized as “rockabilly,” Berry is the guy from whom the early white rockabilly artists borrowed their sound. ---
**Author:** ![UWmite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d26b3c/32.png) [@UWmite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UWmite)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/7 "2002-08-12T19:31:15Z")
I’ll second Southern Culture and Rev. Horton Heat. Tried The Red Elvises? They’re a bunch of Russian guys who do some original music, some rock covers, and a sweet version of Hungarian Dance #5. Sort-of a mix of rockabilly, surf rock and russian folk music. They’ve even got a Balalika player! ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/8 "2002-08-12T20:09:22Z")
The Red Elvises rule, check 'em out in _Six String Samurai_, now playing at all decent video stores. ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/9 "2002-08-12T20:15:18Z")
Another **Clash** / **Rancid** fan checking in. _And out come the Wolves…_ is my favorite but all of the **Rancid** releases are worth the price IMO. ---
**Author:** ![TigoleBitties](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@TigoleBitties](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TigoleBitties)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/10 "2002-08-13T04:01:56Z")
Rockabilly…Social Distortion or if you can find it The Cadillac Tramps. Seen these guys nearly 20 times apiece. ---
**Author:** ![Tanaqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/11 "2002-08-13T05:50:45Z")
Like other people have mentioned, **Rancid** is often accused of being merely an attempt at another **The Clash.** I wouldn’t know, never having heard them, but I do love Rancid. My favorite of their albums is \* And Out Come the Wolves.\* Another punk band I haven’t seen mentioned here is often compared to **The Clash** : **The Swingin’ Utters**. While I haven’t listened to much of them, I’ve liked what I’ve heard. Might want to give 'em a try. Tanaqui ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/12 "2002-08-13T06:46:54Z")
Since no one has mentioned them - try **The Blasters** for rockabilly. Came up at about the same time as the LA punk scene ( lead guitarist Dave Alvin later played with a late iteration of the somewhat rockabillified punk band **X** ). They’ve been sadly defunct for a number of years, but they were a fine, high-energy band in their day. If you have ever seen the movie _Streets of Fire_, they were the bar band playing in the ‘Bombers’ hangout/club. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/13 "2002-08-13T07:35:41Z")
\ Rancid fans, what did you think of the NOFX/Rancid split? I’m a NOFX fan and I really like several of the covers done by them. The Rancid doing the NOFX songs sounded ok(Don’t Call Me White was painful) for the most part, but I think NOFX did a better job. Of course I am biased though. \ The Reverend Horton Heet is good stuff. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/14 "2002-08-13T08:19:01Z")
Social distortion and rancid come to mind the clash also And theres been a decade long discussion on wether their punk you might try bad religion Just beware of mike ness’s johnny cash/country phase … ---
**Author:** ![thermalribbon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@thermalribbon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thermalribbon)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/15 "2002-08-13T14:32:19Z")
**Southern Culture on the Skids** is the one the immediately came to mind. The guitar solo on Voodoo Cadillac rocks. Also, **Jason and the Scorchers** made some good albums. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-bout-some-good-rockabilly-and-combat-rock/123486/16 "2002-08-13T15:17:01Z")
[Here’s a link](http://www.rockabillyhall.com/) which should point you to several current rockabilly acts. Also, you just missed the [Rockabilly Rebel Weekend](http://www.rockabillyrebelweekend.com/) in Indianapolis, which always features some top current rockabillies. Try to catch it next year. If you’re ever in Atlanta on Labor Day weekend, the [Starlight Drive-in](http://www.starlightdrivein.com/events.html) hosts an annual “Drive-Invasion” which features rockabilly acts. Attendees often show up in retro, rockabilly costume. Also in Atlanta, the [Star Community Bar](http://www.starbar.net/) often features rockabilly performers.