Reverend Horton Heat in Syracuse

Reverend Horton Heat is an American psychobilly band formed in Dallas in 1985 and led by guitarist and singer Jim Heath. Its fast rockabilly, punk and country sound is captured on albums including Smoke ’Em If You Got ’Em, Liquor in the Front and It’s Martini Time, as well as songs such as “Psychobilly Freakout” and “Bales of Cocaine.” In the 1990s, the band supported its early Sub Pop releases through extensive North American club touring and appearances on the Vans Warped Tour. It later established its own recurring Horton’s Hayride and Holiday Hayride events while continuing to perform in clubs, theatres and at festivals. A Reverend Horton Heat concert is a trio performance centered on Jim Heath’s guitar and lead vocals, drums, and the upright bass of longtime member Jimbo Wallace.

Messer Chups are a Russian band founded in Saint Petersburg by guitarist Oleg Gitarkin. They play largely instrumental surf rock shaped by rockabilly, garage rock, exotica and horror-film samples. Albums including Crazy Price, Black Black Magic and Church of Reverb established their combination of twanging guitar and vintage monster-movie imagery. Messer Chups have toured extensively outside Russia, playing clubs and surf-rock festivals across Europe and the United States in a guitar, bass and drums format. Their live history includes the Surfer Joe Summer Festival in Livorno and an in-studio performance for Seattle broadcaster KEXP.