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Artist: Southern Culture On The Skids
Album: The Electric Pinecones
Label: Kudzu Records
Release Date: 09/16/2016
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Southern Culture On The Skids
The Electric Pinecones
Album Reviews | October 18th, 2016
For over thirty years, Southern Culture
On The Skids have played an eclectic
range of Americana including
rockabilly, surf rock, country and r&b,
with a punk edge and heaps of humor.
They are known for their legendary live
shows and wacky antics, including
throwing fried chicken and banana
puddin’ into the crowd as well as
inviting audience members on stage to
dance. Visually SCOTS look a bit like
the hillbilly stepchild of the B-52’s with
Mary’s trademark beehive hair-doo
and Rick’s hick overalls. But it’s more
than just great fun; they are fantastic
musicians to boot.
Their latest release, The Electric
Pinecones, is named after a long time
side project now come to fruition. Here the focus is on 1960’s garage rock and the
cosmic country stylings of groups like the Byrds. Lead guitarist and singer Rick Miller
explains:
“When Mary and I first started the band we were listening to a lot of stuff like
International Submarine Band, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and at the same time the
Byrds, the Seeds, the Chocolate Watchband, etc. Once Southern Culture took off we
never ventured into those waters too much again, but we thought for this record we’d
revisit that stuff. We decided to name it The Electric Pinecones because it’s a little
heavier on the record than when we used to do it live.”

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The psychedelic influences are most evident in Miller’s groovy guitar tones. Throbbing
tremolo, cavernous reverb and twelve string melody lines rest atop the rhythmic
architecture built by Mary Huff on bass and Dave Hartman on drums. Miller is a
wicked player whose style is at once fresh and familiar. He cites Link Wray, John
Fogerty and Billy Strange as major influences and both captures and expands upon
classic sounds.
The first track, “Freak Flag,” has a sunny, ’60s west coast pop-rock feel complete with
hand claps. Huff’s tight harmonies compliment Miller’s vocal lead, and the infectious,
anthemic chorus sums up the band’s feel good philosophy about being true to you.
“Come on and raise your freak flag high. Give ’em something different. Give ’em
something new. Give ’em something so that they remember you.”
“Ain’t Gonna Hang Around” begins with pure country twang later embellished by surf
guitar flourishes. Mary takes the lead vocal on the minor keyed psych rocker “Grey
Skies.” At times her vocal inflections bring to mind those of Grace Slick.
With a jarring, dissonant intro riff and a hyper beat, “Swamp Fox” is classic SCOTS that
tells the story of a southern hottie. This is good time music that’ll make you wanna get
down and twist. “Slowly Losing My Mind” closes out the record with gentle, dreamy,
surf twang, lush, reverb drenched harmonies and tropical percussion.
“I drifted out with the tide. Watching clouds pass me by. Just killing some time. Slowly
losing my mind. Yes, I…”
Recorded primarily at their home studio Kudzu Ranch Recorders and released on their
own label Kudzu Records, SCOTS have carefully crafted a warm, vintage sound. And for
audiophiles, a limited edition colored vinyl LP will be available in November.
The Electric Pinecones is like a beach party where Jan and Dean smoke a joint with
Jefferson Airplane. Psychedelic surf meets country twang. Jump in and ride the wave.
-Mike Cobb
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