Split Lip Rayfield and The Reverend Horton Heat on Sunday, August 1st at the Knitting Factory Concert House
A girl walking by said a phrase that we think sums up the night, “I’m Revin’ it up tonight!”
Split Lip Rayfield, a three piece blue grass band from Kansas shook the hell out of the crowd at the Knitting Factory. For starters their bass player plays a DIY Gas Can Single String Bass. Yep, how cool is that! They also had a banjo, mandolin, and acoustic guitars. What stood out most for me were the harmonies, their personalities, and that they plucked and strummed so much their hands looked blurry from the floor. I noticed how the bass player had to use tape on his fingers from all of the plucking and powder on his hands. Oh and the powder was in the shape of a White Cat with green eyes!
These three do not mess around, it’s almost impossible to not want to dance to these catchy fast beats and temp-o. Split Lip Rayfield must have been around for a while because there were a few kids in the front row who knew all the words and people kept yelling something about a chicken coop. I guess they retired the chicken coop ten years ago! Regardless would love to see them again and when they drop by your town, city, village… make a point to get out and get your bluegrass on!
A little bit of vintage country, a little bit of rockabilly, a smidgen of punk rock, and a snazzy shirt reads The Reverend Horton Heat. Walking out on stage with a smile and taking us all with quick opener, it’s wild to think that they are a three piece. There is so much sound and quick playing to keep you swinging your gal around on the dance floor. I love the fashion that comes with a Reverend Horton Heat show, all the cats with greased hair and foxy pinup gals.
No matter how many times you see The Reverend Horton Heat, the highlight is still seeing the Reverend’s guitar solo when he stands on Jimbo’s stand up bass while Jimbo plays it. It’s such a surprise each time, never gets old! It was a blast to stand in the bar and hear everyone sing along while they covered their table with $4 PBR cans. There was one crazy guy who kept slicking back his hair and he was pretty much looking for a fight. I just smiled and kept to my area.
If you have or haven’t seen the Reverend I can tell you this, he still puts one hell of a show that will have you talking about it at work for the next few days. He is a legend and will mix the new and old during his evening of music. Check his website out here for when he’ll be coming to a city near you!
Photos courtesy of Matt Auclair.
