The Go-Katz: The Go-Katz Will Survive

For the uninitiated, The Go-Katz were a psychobilly band initially formed in Loughborough back in 1986; they were hugely popular within the then burgeoning UK psychobilly scene; their sound was the perfect combination of rockabilly roots delivered with punk energy and mindset; despite their profile their recording history is limited to just a handful of singles – with only The Go-Katz EP from the actual period, and a follow up compilation album entitled Real Gone Katz that was released in 2002.

As such I welcomed the news that the band had reformed, have gigs announced, and most importantly are to issue The Go-Katz Will Survive as a 10” double vinyl album that not only includes old favourites such as Nightmare and Real Gone Demented Hillbilly Kat, but contains five previously unreleased tracks; so let’s get wreckin!!

The album is presented chronologically, as such Nightmare opens things up, originally released via Raucous Records back in 1987 as part of the Go-Katz EP alongside Fine Thing Baby, Nowhere Train and No Gene Vincent. I recall seeking out the original EP (a decent copy of which will set you back £30 currently) and being instantly grabbed by their rollicking sound that sits somewhere between old school psychobilly peppered with a neo-rockabilly slant – the lyrics largely fit within the psychobilly vibe, though the delivery has a more refined edge all driven by a glorious slap bass and some fine guitar runs to keep things motoring. Its good to hear Brain Decay once again, this was originally released as part of the Maniac EP that came out in 2007; the track is an unreleased demo from 1987 and it’s an absolute belter, why it was not released back then remains a mystery – a deep bass kicking things into place, on the edge vocals, rabble rousing backing yelps and yet again some neat guitar work.

Then we get a couple of obscurities; Living In Your Shadow came out on a Fury Records compilation back in 1987, whilst Real Gone Demented Hillbilly Kat came out on the better known Psycho Tendencies compilation a couple of years later, and is one of the bands finest works, its got the pace, it’s got drums to ignite a slam dance amongst the dead, vocals clinging to the edge and an insane ho-down guitar that had me thinking of The Legendary Shack Shakers who followed years later, similarly with the previously unreleased Pack Of Lies which draws from the same recording session, whilst the bizarrely titled Arthurs Pink Kitchen is another unreleased track, this one from 1989; the track sits more comfortably in the neo-rockabilly vibe, the upright bass to the fore, the overall sound is more melodic and reminded me of the likes of Frenzy as opposed to The Meteors; which neatly brings us to Maniac a track the self proclaimed originators of psychobilly recorded in 1980 pre the In Heaven album that eventually appeared on their own Lost Album in the early 00’s. The cover of Maniac we get here is credited to Howard Raucous & The Bombers and was recorded in Russia before being released on a Meteors tribute style album; this is darker version of an already fantastic song, the recording captures the energy of original yet delivers it with Howards own signature, and was certainly worthy of a reissue alongside Walkin’ Johnny Cash Blues and Long Blond Hair both of which perfectly capture the band at that psychobilly/rockabilly juncture they have claimed their own.

Then we get the It’s Not Fair EP from 2009, which includes the Go-Katz own covers of Roy Orbison’s Domino, and Green Door which hit the top of the US chart for Jim Lowe in the mid 50’s, both tracks famously being covered by The Cramps. We also get Gunning For The Dog, a cover of the Matchbox track, but most interestingly Not Fair which sees them ably tackle the Lily Allen Top 10. I like the bravery of the Go-Katz to take on such well-known songs; and they absolutely pull them off, each is a faithful cover, though far from slavish – they wholly inject their own style, which when you consider just how many versions of Domino for instance is likely to be in a psychobilly collection is no mean feat.

The album closes with three unissued tracks recorded in 2012. I’ve played it a couple of times and I remain mystified by I Will Survive… yes it is the 70’s roller skating disco anthem spun on its head and squashed into some bleach spattered jeans… which is followed up by an excellent cover of Del Shannon’s So Long Baby which switches out the originals pop chirpiness for something much more malevolent, at which point things curveball into a cover of Tommy Tucker’s High Heel Sneakers the 12-bar rhythm and blues staple, it’s a on the face of it an odd choice, that said it was covered by Carl Perkins and if its good enough for The King of Rockabilly then it will do for me!

This is a very welcome release – hearing the original tracks again some four decades later, it’s clear they have lost none of their initial impact; the Go-Katz forged their own style in a genre that that is a difficult to achieve, and the material from the intervening years retains that identity, a solid slap bass, turbocharged delivery, matched by teetering vocals and some fantastic guitar slinging.

With gigs announced including the Raucous Records 40th Anniversary All-dayer (Leicester 8th August) and The Official Monster Raving Party Conference ( Belper 25th September), as well as:

Saturday 28th November – Vinyl Tap, Preston
Sunday 29th November – The Boat Shack, Bromsgrove

What we need now is a new album!!

The Go-Katz online:

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