Thee
Merry Widows - The Devil's Outlaws (peoplelikeyourecords.com)
Roller Derby v. Rockabilly!
Ok, here's my idea. We set up a show and
a Roller Derby game on the same night.
We get Asbury Lanes (asburylanes.com), to
sponsor it with The Jersey Shore Roller Girls
(jerseyshorerollergirls.net), and use The
Lanes and Convention Hall. Than we get Thee
(that's the way they spell it, "Thee")
Merry Widows to play. The night of the show
Thee Merry Widows head on over to Convention
Hall and become a Roller Derby team. There's
five of The Widows, including my fav. Eva
Von Slut (I hope to be Mr. Von Slut someday).
I'm sure with a little practice, this all-female
psychobilly quintet could do some serious
damage on the track, and probably have a good
time to boot, against oh, let's say Sleaze
Side Sally and some of those righteous roller
derby demons. Than, after the dust settles,
the whole gang goes next door to The Lanes,
and Thee Merry Widows put on one of their
amazing shows, playing some tunes from their
second full-length album, The Devil's
Outlaws. As an opening band they could
get the Jersey Shore Roller Girls to put together
a band, and the next day, have both Thee Merry
Widows and Jersey Shore Roller Girls play
a free show on the beach in Asbury. And for
an extra special attraction get that three-piece
instro-mental, kazoo- powered surf rock Jersey
band, El Muchacho to open. Yeah, and we could
get one of The Lanes DJ's like Jack The Ripper
to spin some vinyl on the beach. We could
build him a Tiki Bar! And of course they'd
be some guys and gals on surf boards. They
could call it umm... "Roller Beach Babes
In Bikinis with Martinis?! Yeah, I guess I'm
gonna have to work on the title, but I think
the show would work!
Anyway, thanks for humoring me! Now, you know
I wouldn't have gone through all this if I
thought the new album from Thee Merry Widows
was crap., would ya? The music on The
Devil's Outlaws predates but never quite
participates in the early 80's rockabilly
revival (Cramps, Social Distortion etc.),
and that's a good thing. Thee Merry Widows
use the genre's primal sound as a jump-off
point for a uniquely weird pastiche of rock
'n' roll, psychedila, B-movie themes (check
out"The Howl," "Elena's Empty
Tomb" for starters), all gussied-up in
Betty Page-era killer high hells, sheer black
stockings- with the seam up the back of coarse...
Oh man, I'm listening to "My High Heels"
which is just pure, naughty, peek-a-boo rockabilly,
with a submission theme, it is so funny! Hey,
lets add that number as a theme song for the
roller derby game, AND the beach party. Heels
and garters on the beach! Oh, YEAH!
Like a seance or a fortune teller, Thee Merry
Widows music needs time to work its spell,
but you won't be in a trance, rather you'll
be out on the dance floor doing The Fruge,
or The Watusi, or The Jerk, or whatever the
demons behind rock 'n' roll, will be possessing
you to do! The title cut "The Devil's
Outlaw" has a dirty surf rock alt. tuning
like the B-52's monster hit, "Rock Lobster."
Hey, let's add The B-52's to the mix! This
could turn out to be a whole weekend! Humm...
how about a "Bikinis and Martinis Weekend?"
Naw, still needs some work.
Thee Merry Widows are one of the most dedicated,
fun, and alluring all- female bands around!
Buy their album, see them live, you won't
be disappointed! - Phil Rainone
Oh, and one more thing...
We might as well get The Cramps to play at
the beach party as the closing act.
How cool would it be to hear, "Bikini
Girls With Machine Guns" on a hot, sunny
Summer day on the beach in Asbury Park? Priceless!
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