Halloween at Westport Saloon: Hellfire Hoedown

Halloween at Westport Saloon: Hellfire Hoedown


On Halloween, we headed out to the Hellfire Hoedown at Westport Saloon.  The acts featured ranged from rockabilly and hard rock to bluegrass and blues.  We caught the sets from Stay Sick: A Tribute to the Cramps, Electric Lungs, Freight Train Rabbit Killer, and Them Damned Young Livers.

There was an additional stage set up in the parking lot just north of Westport Saloon which featured more of the heavier acts.  It also featured cash only bars serving Busch and bourbon.  The bourbon proved to be the ticket for taking the edge off the chilly evening.

The first act we caught was a local group performing a tribute to the garage rock icon’s the Cramps.  They played an incredibly high-energy set hitting on many of the Cramps’ most popular tunes including: “New Kind of Kick”,”I Was a Teenage Werewolf”,”Bikini Girls with Machine Guns” amongst others.  It was highly entertaing complete with a pole dancer.

Click for more of Stay Sick

The following act was the Electric Lungs who play a no nonsense style of uptempo  hard rock n roll.  Singer Tripp Kirby screams songs of angst, anger and frustration with a backing band on top of the beat and helping to lead the charge. Time seems to always fly during Electric Lungs sets.  Just as the first song begins the last one ends and 45 minutes has gone by.

Click for more Electric Lungs

After the Lungs’ set, we headed inside for Freight Train Rabbit Killer the brainchild of Kris Bruders and Mark Smeltzer.  It’s a slide guitar fueled, outlaw duo with very dark bent.  It’s heavy on blues and twang with a solid beat that chugs along just like a well, train.

Click for more Freight Train Rabbit Killer

Outside in the tent, things were getting what some might call slightly rock n roll.  Them Damned Young Livers were on the stage and it was getting wild.  The bourbon and Busch was treating the crowd and the band well because the Livers’ played a hard charging rowdy set as they always do. The entire band completely decked out in drag wrecked the stage, smashed a bass guitar, knocked down light stands, fell off the stage and sent the drums into the energetic crowd.  It was a sight to see.

Click for more of Them Damned Young Livers

Head over to KC Live Music Blog for more music coverage!

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