Checkered Fist

Checkered Fist are a young, psychobilly trio from the Central Coast of NSW. Now, when I say young, dig the ages of these cats - Julian (lead guitar, 15), Jake (drums 14), and Damon (double bass 11). But they aren't some novelty act - these lads seriously rock. They already have an EP of orignal tunes out called 'Where Society Leads Us, which is getting heaps of radio airplay. They Play the sinners Ball on Friday, 1 August at Souths Leagues Club and Greazefest Hot Rod Show this Sunday at Davies Park, West End - Courier Mail July 24 08 - Pat Whyte

..................The sinners ball on Friday night saw a colourful congregation with all sorts or fockers, glamorous gals, greased and chopped guys and tattooed sweethearts turning out for this night of nights. Lori Lee was working hard at the DJ desk, setting the mood with some choice rockabilly cuts. Live on stage the Bad Moon Company summoned their army of fans who crammed the dance floor for their jungle rythum rockabilly. The Vaudevillains were quick to follow and they stepped on the gas peddle with a quality set of hopped up rockabilly. The youngest rockers I have ever met, Checkered Fist (aged 11 to 15) hit the stage and the crown just went nuts when they discovered these cats really could play with energy and angst - Cruisin Magazine - Issue 98 December 08

When I first got the Checkered Fist CD in the mail I laughed, really really loudly. Since then I have been putting off the review like the black plague. Not because I don’t like the band, just because every time I see them I laugh. The first time I saw them was about a year and a half ago at GOATS Festival, and the bass player was literally four and a half foot tall. The singer was maybe just turned fifteen and shitting himself on stage and the drummer was still wearing his school clothes on a Sunday. Since then not much has changed.

Except they have some of the biggest in NSW rockabilly names backing them with this EP, The Rumblers and The Porkers both being a 'Checkered Fist' band means that these dudes are set with gigs, gear and chicks for their teen lives. So maybe this review is more out of jealousy: I wish I was sixteen touring the country playing psychobilly, but I’m not.

Anyway, so, I have this new EP… It’s pretty psycho, with constant reassurances that it is so, and that you should already know this. It has a pretty good sound in the EP, the guitar has a pretty thick sound and the double bass sounds pretty cool, for a little tyke he has a lot of skill on an instrument much bigger than himself. And they are definitely setting themselves up for some serious lady action when they get a bit older, rockabilly women always know how to keep themselves.

The music has a lot of punk influences and speed rockabilly; his vocals are slightly underdeveloped for that chain smoking singing style he is trying to master. But their skill in being able to write psychobilly is pretty amazing. Some of their some structures need to be worked on to create fluent transitions but other than that, very catchy. I reckon this is a great start, and they should stick at it and in five years or so blow ZGT out of the water and get them to get their arses in gear.

Psychobilly ain't dead is obviously the best track, catchy, and is completely what everyone wants to hear. One of the great things about this band is their influences on their friends, hopefully creating a whole new Central Coast scene of little rockabilly dudes and dudettes. Show them what real music is. That’s pretty exciting. The Folsom Prison Blues cover originally by Johnny Cash isn’t too bad. A nice little EP. Good on ya kiddies.
- thedwarf.com.au - Marrowmonkey 21 April 09