Nekromantix, the kings of psychobilly, roll back into Miami

Show info: Advance tickets, more | Facebook event | Tour Facebook page

The “Tonight We Unite” tour, which hits South Florida for a date at Miami’s Grand Central next Friday (July 27), is billed as a union of the psychobilly and punk rock worlds. Though under-represented by having just one band on the bill, the psychobilly genre nevertheless stands almost equal by virtue of the tour’s co-headliner, the mighty Nekromantix.

Kim Nekroman of Nekromantix at Churchill's in Miami on July 20, 2010

Kim Nekroman of Nekromantix at Churchill's in Miami on July 20, 2010. (Photo by Moe)

Nekromantix is perhaps psychobilly’s most popular and prolific band of the past decade. As co-headliners, the band is joining forces with thrash-punk icons The Casualties for this summer tour that offers a great underground alternative to Warped and other corporate packages. No stranger to South Florida (they played a jam-packed Monterey Club last September), Nekromantix appeal to punks and rockabilly fans of all ages with an incredibly tight array of fast-paced original songs with a macabre twist.

Just one look at the song titles and you know you’re in for a tongue-in-cheek good time: Bats in My Pants, I Kissed a Ghoul, and Bela Lugosi’s Star are just three of the catchy tunes on the band’s most recent album, What Happens in Hell, Stays in Hell (2011, Hellcat Records).

The band, which originated in Denmark in the late 1980s and now is based in Los Angeles, has seven other albums on its discography, including Return of the Loving Dead (2002), Dead Girls Don’t Cry (2004), and Life Is a Grave & I Dig It! (2007), all on Hellcat. The label’s owner, Tim Armstrong of Rancid, reportedly signed the band after he became a fan of the early European releases.

"Tonight We Unite" featuring Nekromantix and The Casualties

They may be the odd men (and woman) out on this punk-rock extravaganza, but Kim Nekroman (“coffinbass” and vocals), Francisco Mesa (guitar), and Lux (drums) will no doubt represent psychobilly proudly.

*** Friday, July 27 – “Tonight We Unite” featuring Nekromantix and The Casualties, plus Down By Law, Lower Class Brats, Flatfoot 56, and The Sheds. At Grand Central, 697 N. Miami Ave., Miami. (305) 377-2277. Ages 18 and older welcome. Tickets $15 in advance online at GrandCentralMiami.com and Slammie.MusicToday.com. $20 at the door, 8 p.m.

Past Atomic Grog coverage
* 10 things you may (or may not) know about the Nekromantix

Photos from past Nekromantix shows
* 2010 at Churchill’s in Miami | 2007 at Flavour in Coconut Grove
* 2007 at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach

Official sites
* Grand Central | Facebook | Nekromantix | Facebook

About Hurricane Hayward

Inspired equally by historic Polynesian Pop and the modern Tiki renaissance, Jim "Hurricane" Hayward aims to use his acumen from 20-plus years of independent concert promotion and 30-plus years in journalism to bring a greater awareness and appreciation to the vast ocean of Tiki culture and its many tributaries. Since the early '90s, his Slammie Productions has presented live shows featuring hundreds of indie artists: Agent Orange, Dick Dale, The Nekromantix, Exene Cervenka, The HorrorPops, The Phenomenauts and many more. Now, he's launching The Atomic Grog as a vehicle to promote Tiki culture and its music, art and cocktail scenes. A lifelong student of mid-century pop culture, Jim solidified his appreciation for the Atomic Era in his childhood in the 1960s. His father promoted custom car shows featuring George Barris classics such as the Batmobile and "Munsters" cars and his earliest memories of Tiki come from visits to some of the era's vintage restaurants. In the mid '70s, his family settled in the Sunshine State, where he graduated from the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. He has spent more than 30 years toiling at several of the state's major daily newspapers as a writer, editor and for the past 15 years as a Web producer.
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