The Raunch Hands – Storm Warning [New York, USA ; Psychobilly / Garage Rock / Instrumental] (1985)

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• ˝In their mid-’80s heyday (such as it was), New York’s Raunch Hands were retro-rock representatives of that presumed golden age of sleaze, the mid-’50s to mid-’60s. Thus El Rauncho Grande offers neo-rockabilly, neo-R&B and even neo-Mex, all filtered through the band’s beer-heightened (lowered?) sensibilities. Learn to Whap-a-Dang is less quaint than the EP, and its denser band sound helps the Raunch Hands barrel through their own R&B: Raucous & Bawdy. Mike Chandler isn’t much of a singer, but attitude counts for a lot here, and guitarist Mike Tchang’s occasional sax is a definite plus. Too bad their originals (about half of each record) can’t match the ’50s obscurities for sheer mindlessness — not counting Whap-a-Dang‘s “Kangaroo Juice,” an “original” stolen from Eddie Cochran.˝

  ˝On following recordings the band increased its songwriting contributions, with mixed results. The last thing the Raunch Hands’ chosen genre needs is ambition, and Payday sometimes chokes on it; thus “Detox Moon,” an over-five-minute (!!) wino response to the Stones’ “Moonlight Mile.” The schoolyard couplets of “Bottle — Now!” (in praise of cheap booze) and immature humor of “Hare-Raisin’” (in praise of the Raunch Hands’ hapless career) prove that less is definitely more.˝

  ˝Which may be why Have a Swig is under a half-hour long. Highlights here include a lascivious stomp, “Everybody Loves Yo’ Mama,” and the less-than-existential “Naked, Naked, Naked.” More power to these guys, whose gutter-view perspective has undeniable aroma and charm.˝

  (source: https://trouserpress.com/reviews/raunch-hands/ )

  More info on them here: https://johnschooley.wordpress.com/2014/04/09/the-raunch-hands-new-york-citys-kings-of-sleaze-and-crypt-records-house-band/

  April 7, 2023 at 1:46 pm

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