Desolation Rowdies

Headless-Horseman Desolation Rowdies, Shotgun Sugar Shackin'
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers' Pandelirium

by Don Allred
April 3rd, 2006 1:32 PM Issue 16

Th' Legendary Shack Shakers
Pandelirium
(Yep Roc)


Th' Legendary Shack Shakers' Pandelirium begins with a triumphantly swooping
cackle, same as the beginning of the Ventures' immortal "Wipe Out." Once again
we begin at the end and enter the Afterlife, this time galloping along on a
kind of punk metal surfabilly polka, sporting a well-placed glockenspiel,
pursued by horsemen: Headless of course, the better to deeply threnodize,
"Ich-a-boh, hoh, hoh, hoh, ah-ah-odd."
All of which might be almost unbearably novelty-poo, except that: (1) Didn't
poor you always suspect the Afterlife would be this bizzy buzzy bizzy, same as
it ever 'twa(t)s? Also: (2) There is an everpoppin' kernel of anger in head
Shaker Col. J.W. Wilkes's manically vivid nasality. He rages, not only at the
dying but the frying of the light, by the cruelty of triflin',
nature-stiflin'/-sportin' Man and his Maker. Of course, anger has been known to lead to
cruelty, which is both facilitated and countered by J.W.'s cartoony voice and
lyrics. Which: (3) are (usually) given sufficient dimensions by the music: 32
minutes of the toss and slice of the dice, till spring is here, and you're in. Now
run along, like a good little ghost!
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers play the Mercury Lounge April 6.

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