Coffin Nails - Live & Rockin’

Decent live set by psycho stalwarts

As Simon Nott points out in his sleevenotes, by 1989 the hallowed home of psychobilly, London’s The Klub Foot, had closed down. Just to make sure, the Clarendon Hotel that housed it was also knocked down, so venues such as the Take Two in Sheffield had become increasingly important to the psycho scene.

Though the early 80s glory days were long gone, psychobilly proved to be an enduring beast, and its resurgence with bands such as Tiger Army is largely down to the persistence of the likes of Coffin Nails. They formed back in 1985, soon playing The Klub Foot, and made their vinyl debut with tracks on the Stompin’ At The Klub Foot live compilations. Original drummer Toby left to join The Meteors (the first of many line-up changes) and by the time this live set at the Take Two was recorded, the band were operating as a three-piece with vocalist/guitarist Steve ‘Humungous’ Clarke, Scott ‘Madman’ Milsom on bass and drummer Alex.

This incarnation of the band didn’t last long (though Humungous and Madman have continued with various collaborators ever since), but on this evidence it was a pretty good one, hard-hitting and darkly humorous.

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Reviewed by Shane Baldwin
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