Angie and the Car Wrecks
Seattle, Washington, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"Keeping it in the family is almost always a good idea, especially when it comes to country music... You have the Carter Family, the Collins kids, Billy Ray and Miley... (I did say ALMOST always a good idea). Angie and the Car Wrecks definitely do keep it a family way of life, with Angie Ball the vocalist married to Dale Ball, the guitarist who is kin to Shawn Ball the doghouse bass player, it's a family band for sure. Rounding out the line up in non-relatives drummer Calvin and harmonica player Garrett. Hailing from what they refer to as "the wettest circle of hell" in the Pacific Northwest, this rockabilly/old school country band play music like they mean it. Feeding of (sic) the influences of such greats as Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr, Loretta Lynn and more contemporary acts like the Reverend Horton Heat AATCW bring their own style to the plate but with noticeable influences.
The album starts out with a military like snare drum beat and reverb heavy guitar kicks in as well, then the bass, and then without warning it picks up the pace. This is a cool instrumental opener simply called "Intro." Up next the Car Wrecks are off and running with a sample of a car revving the motor and doing a burn out as it takes off, then the band kicks in with "Draggin' Down." It's an up-tempo toe tapping tune with a cool guitar tone and good vocals and lyrics. Keeping the fast pace is the tune "Hellriders" even if it starts out slow with some kind of back masking of the upright bass that sounds pretty cool to me. The song takes off after about a minute and never looks back. I can almost hear a jaw harp in the background over the chorus "ohhh and they ride, ohh and they ride..." What can I say I'm a fan of the jaw harp... (I got a fever and the only cure is more jaw harp). The tune "Little Willy's" has a very traditional bass riff littered through out the tune, it makes for a great tune in my book. The guitar solo is spot on as well. The deep pocket drums on the tune "Moonshine" has a cool floor tom vibe, deep and dark; great playing on this tune! The fastest tune in the collection just might be "Have another One" I bet the dance floor gets busy when they play this song live. It's a fun tune all about drinking and partying with lyrics like "hoist up them glasses kids and have another round" this song is a party song. It's not all car song and party songs on Boozed and Bloodied; they do have a surf tune in the form of "Surfin' Tucson" with a killer reverb soaked guitar tone. The drums kill on this as well. They also have a softer romantic side to them as well, with the tune "Some Kind of Hate." Now I know what you're thinking: that doesn't sound like a romantic song... Well it does to me! Showing off the more romantic side is the song "Necrofella" with its acoustic driven guitar and a little mandolin thrown in the mix. The lyrics are pretty funny too. It's all about a dead boyfriend Angie met in a graveyard, "My new guy gave me his heart, and a couple other body parts." It's a great closer to the record.
So if you're a fan of good old country/rockabilly with a bit of a twist of it you're a psychobilly fan you will dig this collection of songs. I got this from the fine folks at Psycho-A-Go-Go records and they deal in downloads only but I'm pretty sure AATCW also have this in hard copy CD format as well. For download information stop by www.facebook.com/pages/Psycho-A-Go-Go-Records and for all your other Angie and the Car Wrecks needs stop by their repair show on the world wide web at www.angieandthecarwrecks.com it's one car wreck you wont mind being in!" - Traditional Rod & Kulture Magazine
A true-to-their-roots rockabilly sound permeates Angie and The Car Wrecks' music. The guitar's resonating tremolo shakes, the thundering slap-bass drives, the drums steady it out, and Angie's voice adds the sass necessary to pull this off. The added bonus of them delving towards psychobilly with many of their songs makes it especially attractive to me. - Quote Sheet
When you go out, you don't want to see a decent live band. You want a great live band. This band is a great live band. The music is a thriving, rusty diesel machine and Angie's voice drives the motor. Don't miss it. - Quote Sheet
Angie and the Car Wrecks are a great down to earth Rockabilly band with no attitude and easy to work with as i have on many occasions.. check them out live as they will leave you with a great impression. - Quote Sheet
Angie and the Car Wrecks' music washes away the dust of your everyday life and brings a new spring to your soul!!! - Quote Sheet
Angie & The Car Wrecks bring a fun, heartfelt & rockin' good time fueled by American Roots Music of old. - Quote Sheet
What can I say about the band, not only were they fun to work with they were easily one of the most prepared bands I've recorded. Everything was done on the first or second take. Also, they don't just play rockabilly, they live it. All hail Angie and the Carwrecks! - Quote Sheet
Raw 'n' rockin', and as stripped-down as it gets Angie & the Carwrecks have lit up Grays Harbor with their rockabilly sound. From the opening cowbell of Little Willie to the Dick Dale surf sound of Psychobilly Boys, Angie and the Carwrecks bring a unique sound to the rockabilly world. From the free running baseline of Shawn's upright bass, to the jangle of Dale's guitar all held together by a driving backbeat laid down by Calvin, nothing is held back. Capped of with Angie's searing voice which ranges from a little country twang on Bender Bound and Iron Horse to the wail of Zombie Creatures, Angie and the Carwrecks has been a staple of The Garage on 104.7 KDUX, and with their song Junior Rebel being the first song ever played on the program that features music of the northwest. A fun rockin' rockabilly feel with a twinge of country, Angie and the Carwrecks bring the fun to rock and roll. - Quote Sheet
Some might call 'em Rockabilly...or Psychobilly....or Honkytonkabilly. I call 'em my friends. They're definitely folks you want around and on your side if you're drinkin' or fightin'...or if you know some other way of havin' a good time. - Quote Sheet
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Gather 'round, ye rubes: young and old, dirty and clean, innocent and ravaged. Allow us to stretch your senses to new heights...and lows. Witness: from the psychobilly world rises a band of eclectic proportions. Our current line up includes: Dalenquent on guitar, mastering its sounds, and inventing his own as well; no shirt can contain him. On the doghouse, literally, most of the time, is Skwerll, AKA KC Mauk, raised by wolves and hater of shoes. Dustin Beck on drums, dominating as a heavy, uncompromising force that only Sasquatch can bring. Also on percussion is our friend Pigpen, master of face melting washboard licks so intense he can only be released certain times of the year. And all tied together with the pretty bow that is Angiebelle on vocals and acoustic guitar, releasing sultry lyrics of serial killers and zombies with as much love and devotion as any drunken barfly could muster.
Angie and the Car Wrecks: all of the members mad scientists, and all of their patchwork monsters on display for your sick and sordid auditory needs.
Their two albums, the 2010 "Bender Bound" EP, and 2011's "Boozed and Bloody," have been well-received, landing them some prominent gigs all over the Northwest, and eventually leading to their signing with two independent labels, Texas-based Psycho-A-Go-Go Records, and Splatterhouse Wreckords in Tacoma, WA.
In 2010, they were chosen to play the Pacific Northwest Brewcup in Astoria, WA, the 4th annual Jake the Alligator Man B-day Bash in Long Beach, WA and they were also hand-picked by the founders of the Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee to open for Grammy award-winning band Soul Asylum at that year's Lounge Acts show in Kurt's, and the Car Wrecks', hometown of Aberdeen, WA.
In 2010 & 2011, they were chosen to play the Kustom Kulture Festival in Silverdale, WA with The Rocketz, Graceland Five, Big John Bates and the Voodoo Dollz, James Hunnicutt, and Three Bad Jacks.
In 2011, the Car Wrecks were selected to play the first ever Reno Rockabilly Riot, the 7th annual Seattle Psychobilly Brawl, the Seattle movie premiere of D.a. Sebasstian's Rat Rod Rockers, and they were flown to Ketchikan, Alaska to play Ketchikan's annual Halloween party. They also embarked on their first summer tour in 2011, playing shows in Reno, NV, Chico, Red Bluff and Benicia, CA as well as Rogue River and Medford, OR.
2012 has been another big year for the Car Wrecks; they released their third album "Half Grass," as well as a live split with local Rockabilly band the Hard Money Saints, They also played the 2nd annual Reno Rockabilly Riot in June, the 8th annual Seattle Psychobilly Brawl, and Farmageddon Records' annual Farm Fest Music Festival in West Yellowstone, Montana.
Angie and the Car Wrecks have played with such bands as FANG, The Goddamn Gallows, Koffin Kats, Izzy and the Kesstronics, Rum Rebellion, Joe Buck Yourself, Hellbound Glory, Hard Money Saints, The Rocketz, Long Beach Rehab, Shivering Denizens, the Infamous Swanks, Sweet Water, The Defibulators, Sassparilla, and many, many more.
Their album "Boozed and Bloody" has been reviewed by the popular Psychobilly weblog Subculture Collective, and by Traditional Rod & Kulture magazine.
Band Members
Links
