"Punk-a-billy rockers throttle local reigning kings of swing"
Token Lounge Killbillys/Twistin'Tarantulas Saturday, April 29, 2000 review by mitch phillips
Who'd have thought rockabilly virtuosos, "The Twistin'Tarantulas" could be TKO'd on their own turf and in their own genre? But that's exactly what happened at the Token Lounge's Room #2 when warm-up surprise "The Killbillys" sucker-punched the kings of swing and wowed the crowd with their psychobilly siezures. There wasn't a still foot in the outhouse while this band dominated the stage with their unique brand of Ethel-pumpin' cow-punk. True, The Tarantulas tend to be more traditional, rockabilly with a hearty dose of upright bass - something the Killbilly's lack if only for its aesthetic value. But even the untouchable double-bass talent of "Pistol" Pete Midtgard and his infectious plank spankin' couldn't save the arachnids from certain defeat by the Killbilly's "Jethro on Amphetemines" guitar attack. Two-thirds of this overworked trio were in a palpable slag making their presence anti-climatic spider-squash when following Killbilly road rage. If the Tarantulas want to keep their title as rockabilly heavyweights, Pistol Pete had better update his role as "keeper of conceptual continuity" in the post swing-fad era. The Voodoo Lounge has closed it's doors and the crowds are trading in their martinis for 'Hi-octane, chicken-pickin', ass-kickin', finger-lickin', stick-yer-dick-in rockabilly/punk heavy on the grease' as stated in The Killbilly's bio at: Metro Times. Don't miss this act.