Season of Nightmares, Hotroddin’ Romeos, Screaming Starts: Monster Bash 2011 at The Horseshoe Saloon In Woodinville, WA, By Holly Homan

I had never heard of, therefore had never been to the Horseshoe Saloon before. Woodinville is a bit off the beaten track for me. But when I learned Season of Nightmares, my favorite Seattle psychobilly band were headlining a Halloween show, I knew I’d have to lay trust in Google Maps to get me there and prayed to the Great Pumpkin I wouldn’t get lost. Google Maps didn’t let me down. I got there just fine. I parked above the saloon and trekked down a block long steep hill but before I approached the club, I had to don my mask. I was an Ood (reader, if you don’t know what an Ood is, go to Google Images). A woman immediately intercepted me and HAD to take my picture. “I’m a big Doctor Who fan,” she exclaimed.

I ventured inside, mostly blind, as visibility in masks is nearly nil and this one was no exception. The club was a cozy, but friendly place and I groped my way using sound as a guide, to the back of the club. The Screaming Starts were already in full swing. The Screaming Starts are more punk/hardcore — not psychobilly at all. However, they fit in with the show perfectly and did a great job warming the swelling crowd. This hardcore Seattle punk quartet– made up of Stewmanchu-Guitar, Wolfman-Bass, Youngblood-Drums and The Creeper on vocals– reminded me of The Misfits. The entire band wore clothing streaked in blood. The bass player and drummer wore white t-shirts streaked with blood and both sported slash wounds on their face and necks. Stewmanchu wore a blood-stained lab coat and a ski mask (which he claimed was uncomfortably hot to play in). The Screaming Starts never let up with their witty, hard-driving brand of rock. When the finale came about, Stewmanchu dropped to the floor (there was no stage — The band was set up at the back end of the club), writhed around, played dead, writhed some more, leaped to his feet, only to drop and writhe some more.

Then, it was all over for the Screaming Starts. After a twenty-minute set up time, Hotroddin’ Romeos came on stage. They did not disappoint either. All psychobilly with a hardcore edge. The stand-up bass had white ferry lights attached to the perimeter and a player looking a little like Elvis Costello, complete with black-framed glasses. He and his band mates got the crowd up on their feet dancing. He stood on his bass, cradled and played it like a guitar all without missing a lick. The Hotroddin’ Romeos were a blast.

After another twenty-minute set up, Season of Nightmares came on stage. Each member of this Seattle psychobilly trio emerged on stage dressed like women and wearing identical long black haired wigs that resembled Elvira on a bad hair day. Singer/guitarist Bill wore a snug-fitting blue skirt, grey sweater and black nylons and looked like he was working in an office cubicle. His slight build wore it well. The bass player wore jeans and a tight shirt with bare midriff and at first I wasn’t sure if he was dressed as a woman until he turned around to reveal a fake chest. I wondered if he used water balloons or . . . .? to pull off the look. The drummer was even more crass wearing nothing on top but a black bra. It was evident the minute they tore into the first song that the wigs were getting in the way. Their hair kept falling in their faces, making playing difficult at best. While Bill’s wig kept falling off, resulting in his keeping it off, while Nick, the bass player finally asked if anyone in the audience had a hair tie. A generous young lady was able to comply and he tied the longest part into a sloppy knot and played away.

This is the third or fourth time I’ve seen Season of Nightmares and I always have a great time watching them play. They are a very talented band and do a resounding version of the old Talking Heads’ song, “Psycho Killer” all punked up and psycho.

In the idle of the Season of Nightmares’ set, a costume contest was held. The three bands were ordained as judges but alas, my costume didn’t win squat and wasn’t even an honorable mention. Some guy with LED lights in his suit won. There were some great costumes there, but I still think my Ood costume was the most imaginative.

Regardless, I had a great time and will see any of the bands that played again.

– Holly Homan