The Nekromantix written by Lynn

There was a time when the city of Philadelphia was one
of those places that was well known for its music, and most specifically,
its punk rock scene. That was years ago, the late 70's and early 80's, while
punk - and I mean real punk - still had a pretty big following because
there were actually punk bands. And they played punk music, not this
stuff that today gets called punk, or this new thing, "pop-punk".

There were all different kinds of punk music back then, too, and you could
actually tell them apart.
There was hardcore, like Black Flag and Minor Threat. There was American
Punk like the Dead Milkmen and the Dead Kennedys and there was UK Punk
like The Sex Pistols and The Anti-Nowhere League. There was plain-old Punk
Rock, like The Clash and The Ramones. And then, on top of all the different
genres of punk music that could be had in punk meccas like Philadelphia and
D.C. and New York and London (and San Fran and Detroit and...) there was
something called Psychobilly - punk rock mixed with Rockabilly (which
was a mixture of rock and country/western or swing) - and as I
learned recently, it sounds just as crazy and 'psycho' as the name implies.  


Along with all the different styles of punk rock music there were also
corresponding styles of dress, too - clothes to fit the scene - from the classic
punk look to the greaser punk look to the goth punk look and who
could forget the skinhead punk look? The clothing was just as varied

as the sounds, and this was commonplace. Unfortunately it's an era that's mostly disappeared, as has the music, with a lot of bands
claiming roots to some of these pioneers in punk rock, but falling short considerably, maybe lacking the general attitude that was
considered to be the heart of punk rock back in the day?

So naturally when a band comes along that not only manages to hold true to those earlier punk rock roots,
but get today's audience rocking along with them, well that's an accomplishment as far as I'm concerned. The Nekromantix came into
existence in 1989, well beyond that punk rock heyday of the late 70's, but to hear them, and to see them, you'd think you've gone back in
time. Kim Nekroman, lead vocals and "coffin" bass, Troy Destroy, guitar and backing vocals, and Andy DeMize, drums and backing
vocals, have it all figured out, that the old punk rock was the great punk rock, despite the original touch they've given to
their music - every song has something to do with death or dying, in a comical, humorous way. OK, so it's a little cheesy, but it sure as
hell works!

I'd heard of the band before I got to see them, but I hadn't really heard much of their stuff. I listened to
the songs on their MySpace, a few off their April 2007 release by Hellcat Records, Life is a Grave & I Dig
It!, and downloaded a few as well, and I was definitely amused. Amused, and I found myself playing
some of the songs over and over again, the tunes were so catchy, so I was really looking forward to the
show. It wasn't until I got there and stood in line before doors that I realized though, that this band
had done something amazing. They'd gathered young people, today's young people, as well as people in
their 30s and 40s and hell, who knows how old, gotten them out in their best cuffed jeans and wallet chains,
their best mohawks and spiked hair and pompadors and even brought out a few girls who were Betty-Paged to
the hilt, and they put on a kickass show that everyone, every single person in the place, regardless
of background or how punk they really were or the fact that they worked as a librarian at their day job, had
an awesome time. Even I, having never heard much of this style of music before, had a great time. I was
simply floored, grinning throughout the entire set. The only moment in which I felt a little out of place
or under-dressed was when I realized that I'd forgotten to wear my pyramid belt.

























"Coffin Bass," which is exactly what it sounds like - an electric stand-up bass made to look like... a
coffin. It has to be seen to be appreciated just how well he plays the thing, too! And of course what
psychobilly sound would be complete without a Gresch Hollow Body and it's recognizable, characteristic
twang as Troy Destroy really destroyed on stage.

Though the band played a full set, the time flew by quickly, I was so entertained. The songs, every last
one of them, were witty and catchy, and played perfectly, the band playing like mad and maintaining
lightening-fast tempos without missing a beat. The crowd was active, though well-behaved, even moshing
and slam-dancing without anyone getting seriously hurt. The band, well they seemed to have just as much
fun as everyone else, and I like seeing that, when a band truly enjoys what they're doing to the point that
going to work at night for them is more like going out to play again. I left the show still smiling, having
exposed myself to something new and definitely not regretting it, not by a long-shot. I'll be touting The
Nekromantix for sure, and hoping I get to see them again some time.

The Hellcat Records Tour featuring The Nekromantix, The Heart Attacks, Westbound Train and Orange will be
playing dates across the US through June 17th, so if you can catch the show, I'd say do it. Check their
MySpace and listen in to get a hint of what you'll be hearing. Then get out your bullet belt and your combat
boots, your tights and polka-dot blouse, or even your regular old ripped jeans and Bad Religion t-shirt and
go have a blast. You'll be talking about the show for days, I guarantee it. Catch the band now though, as
they'll be headed down under for a set of Australian dates at the end of this month, with a final
California date of July 7 for the Hootenanny 2007 as far as published tour dates go. Hopefully we get more
dates when they return.
SHOW DATE:
May 9, 2007

VENUE: The
Trocadero Balcony
at the Trocadero,
Philadelphia, PA
Rating
X5
Headlining the Hellcat Records Tour, which has been going on since about April, The
Nekromantix have been
hitting venues in cities across the US reminding people that good punk still lives, if
you know
where to look for it. Supported by the bands Orange, a more traditional-sounding
punk band, Westbound Train,
a Ska band complete with horn section that played a fabulous set, accentuated by their
rendition of the
Supremes' motown hit Cupid and the band The Heart Attacks, with their raw
California punk sound,
The Nekromantix were truly a unique sight dressed in their mechanic's shirts and
pomp haircuts, and put on
an amazing show. The room was small, the Balcony stage at the infamous Trocadero,
a former burlesque house,
and maybe seventy-five or a hundred people were there all crammed in, but spirits
were high as the band went
through some great tunes like NekroHigh, Who Killed the Cheerleader, Nekrofelia,
Back From the Grave,
and Rot in Hell among others, and my personal favorite of the night,  Demons Are a
Girl's Best
Friend. Particularly impressive, too, was Kim Nekroman's mastery of his rather
unique, custom