On 27.11.2010, THE CREEPSHOW from Canada kicked off their nearly month-long tour through Western Europe. Joining them were their label mates BUSTER SHUFFLE from the UK. The tour opener was set to take place that evening at the Roadrunners Paradise Club in Berlin-Prenzlauer Berg, a club that has been around for a few years and gained notoriety mainly through the annually held “Race 61.” By now, the club is also relatively easy to find. While it was difficult to locate the right driveway and navigate to the third backyard during the opening days, a neon sign now announces the club at the front of the street. Where fire barrels used to stand in front of the club, a large heated tent has now been set up, cozy in an Arabic style. The club really puts in the effort. The same goes for the interior design. Many items reflect the golden Rock’n’Roll and Muscle Car era. Quirky objects like the giant chainsaw above the bar complete the interior. It’s definitely a place you want to visit.
At first, I was skeptical about whether the club or the bands would be worth it when the entrance fee was set at €17. A hefty price!
Until now, I had always seen THE CREEPSHOW at Wild at Heart for a good tenner. However, my skepticism soon faded. The place quickly filled up with rockabilly fans, psychobillies, Rock’n’Roll enthusiasts, and all sorts of other folks. By the time BUSTER SHUFFLE started, it was already quite crowded.
I had recently seen the band from the UK as the opening act for Broilers and found them simply boring. Musically not bad, but they failed to create any atmosphere in the large hall of Huxley’s. Maybe the band is better suited for smaller clubs. So let’s see what they have in store today.
What the four guys showed in the first few minutes left me, to put it mildly, astonished. Their music, a blend of old ska, reggae, mod, rock’n’roll, and a touch of indie, came across well and made the first predominantly female attendees sway their hips. Singer and keyboardist Jet Baker was in great spirits and managed to entertain the audience well from the very first minutes. By the time he attempted to play the keyboard with his feet in the middle of the set, he had captivated those present. It didn’t matter that the rest of the band stood rather static on stage. The music is definitely great for dancing, no doubt about it. I can also imagine that BUSTER SHUFFLE would do well in the UK. Very British!
The changeover took a bit long as the entire drum set was swapped out, but eventually, the intro of the new album “They all fall down” announced the band led by Sarah Blackwood. The club was now really full. The band didn’t keep the audience waiting long and immediately blasted their hot mix of horror punk, punk’n’roll, and psychobilly at the crowd. It was loud, very loud indeed. So loud that sometimes Sarah’s powerful, energetic vocals hurt the ears. You could tell the band was eager for the gig. The drummer, who hadn’t stood out to me in previous gigs, pounded on his instrument with such intensity that it was frightening. Technically superb and always on point, just like the keyboard and double bass (which unfortunately was only rarely heard strongly). The audience held back a bit during the first songs, but as soon as the band announced the title track of their latest album “Run for your Life,” the dam broke. People started dancing, moshing, singing along, and sweating. The atmosphere was fantastic, and once again, it was a joy to see this band mix melody and speed into a special blend that becomes unmistakable through Sarah’s voice. Even the young man in front of the stage who wanted to kiss Sarah’s shoes didn’t throw the band off their game. The Canadians presented songs from all phases of their career, including some tracks from the new album “They all fall down,” which has been on the market since 15.10.2010.
In summary, it was a great and entertaining evening. THE CREEPSHOW were excellent, as always, and with BUSTER SHUFFLE, they had a good band to warm things up.