JASON PERL

ROCKABILLY-ISH RADIO

From punk rock to rockabilly, Jason Perl has spent over 35 years making music and discovering great records. We caught up with him to talk about Elvis, his Uncle Bill, the records he can't live without, and why punk rock still influences everything he does.

THE INTERVIEW

HOW DID YOU GET INTO ROCKABILLY?

Elvis! I went to Graceland as a kid and fell in love with that rock 'n' roll persona. I've always loved the King.

But really, my Uncle Bill set me on that path when I was around 21. I was playing bass in Evenground and wanted to become a better player, so I started learning rockabilly, country bebop, and Motown licks.

My uncle and I were talking about Bill Black, Elvis's bass player, and he said, "You have to check out Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, but really check them out." That meant listening to everything.

I fell in love. Of course, the Stray Cats and Brian Setzer were always rocking too.

Then I discovered everything from Dion and the Belmonts to Demented Are Go. I love rockabilly, psychobilly, honky-tonk, doo-wop, and everything swinging. It really vibes with me, even more than punk rock. I've always thought of rockabilly as the punk rock of its time.

Rockabilly is simple three-chord songs with great guitar melodies, thundering bass like an engine firing off, and clicking rimshots, all behind a singer who's so COOL! I love it!

WHAT MADE YOU START ROCKABILLY-ISH RADIO?

Andy Harrison, host of Just Punk Enough, asked me to put together an hour of my favorite rockabilly songs. I had so much fun doing it that when Andy asked me to do more, I jumped at the chance.

There's so much music out there. If I can help someone discover all the great music I've found, I have to do it.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SHOW?

Rockabilly-ish Radio is everything that swings and rocks.

There's so much new music from all over the world that has that great rockabilly sound and feel. The Stray Cats and Elvis are only the beginning.

Anything that swings! It can go from "Wild Child" by The Killer to "Who Killed the Cheerleader" by Nekromantix to "Twisting by the Pool" by Dire Straits.

There's so much to share with anyone who likes old-time rock 'n' roll and doo-wop. Bring two ears to the radio and leave your day behind. Rockabilly-ish Radio will take you back in time.

WHAT ARE THREE RECORDS YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT?

I'm not sure I'm capable of answering that question! But for rockabilly-ish records today (haha):

Elvis Presley — Sunrise
Stray Cats — Retrospective
The Misfits — Project 1950

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I started off playing punk rock on guitar, and that morphed into playing bass in Fuzzy Warbles, T.H.C., The Project, Evenground, and Last One Down, all while learning rockabilly music for the better part of 35 years.

Now I write and perform rockabilly and country music with my acoustic guitar.

Without punk rock, I couldn't do what I do now. Punk rock taught me to go out and do it yourself. Nothing can stop you. There's always another punker who can show you how to do anything.

Start in punk rock!

If you like Rockabilly-ish Radio, you can catch me performing originals and my favorite rocking covers with my Acoustic With a Kick! act, Jason Perl, and Jason Perl and Kat throughout Nevada, California, and Arizona.

Tour dates and more: JasonPerlMusic.com