Skunk Ruckus, it turns out, is not a skirmish between Pepé Le Pew and his kin. It’s “hillbilly gutrock band from the hills of Western North Carolina” as performed by Mr. Jim Daddy (on, simultaneously, vocals, claw hammer banjo and bass drum), Dr. Dave on guitar and Maxxx Steele on bass.
The band is raw and gritty and often spooky. In fact, their songs — from mountain breakdowns to edgy swing — would be downright haunting (themes range from murder and booze to boozy murder) were it not for the bombastic energy the band brings. But even with their potential for detonation, Skunk Ruckus has a keen sense of dynamics. This is a band that knows how to work up to an explosive moment.
All of which leads us to Raised on a Stick, the band’s full-length debut. It was “recorded last winter and spring at Turtle Farm studio with Daniel Shearin,” according to Jim. The album “features original compositions that highlight a unique blend of songwriting and story-telling, all wrapped up in an unusual power trio.” And they’ll hold a release show for Raised on a Stick at The Altamont Brewing Company on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Pierce Edens and the Dirty Work opens the show at 8 p.m. Tar and Rosin close out the night. Jim calls that band “hell-raising backwoods voodoo musicians;” they describe their sound as “Appalachian string band music with the tenacity of a cornered rabid gaze of drunk raccoons.”
Raccoons, skunks… it’s going to get rowdy.
