REVEREND HORTON HEAT STILL SAVING SINNERS WITH 25 TO LIFE BOX SET

The Best Of The Reverend Horton Heat
2012

588 Miles To Go

If the great guitar player showdown ever does take place in a desert somewhere in Southern California or maybe on Austin's Sixth Street, keep your eyes peeled for Jim Heath.

Bo Diddley was a gunslinger and so is Heath's alter ego and band - The Reverend Horton Heat.

The Rev - a guitarist, singer, songwriter and sly lyrical comedian - will be sitting in the corner with his back to the wall. His hair will be slicked back, and he'll be wearing a shiny suit, coolly waiting for his turn to perform.

His trusty companion "Nature Boy" Jimbo Wallace will be by his side with their guitars and flaming stand-up bass at the ready.

When the time is right, The Rev will unholster his wiggle stick and scorch the hootenanny with the riffs, notes and chords he has created over the last quarter century.

The Reverend Horton Heat trappings are pure hot rod rockabilly, and their time on the Sub Pop label powers the punk rock cred. But, to pigeonhole him and the band as either misses the point.

There isn't a punk rock guitarist alive who's going to stare down The Rev with what was learned from the Ramones.

Brian Setzer merits slightly better odds, but the only thing he has on the Heat is greater commercial glory.

The Rev can play punk, rockabilly, surf, country, metal, fast, slow, smooth and rough. He's a "career artist" with more licks than an alley full of Stray Cats.

Just take a hit of instrumentals such as Marijuana, Big Sky and Psychobilly Freakout to catch the band's buzz. 

Born in Dallas' Deep Ellum district in 1985, The Reverend Horton Heat has been roaming the rock range with the regularity of an old bluesman, bringing its "drink beer, raise hell" revival to a variety of venues and watering holes all over the map.

To celebrate it's 25th anniversary, Yep Roc Records released a 25 To Life mini box set that includes The Best Of The Reverend Horton Heat compilation, a Live At The Fillmore CD, a Live At The Fillmore DVD concert film/career documentary and an extensive picture book retrospective.

The Best Of The Reverend Horton Heat compilation includes 22 songs spanning the group's entire career. There are seven songs from Sub Pop's Holy Roller set on this, but enthusiasts will find the total box set more than worth any title duplication.

Moreover, because of the widened window on the newest issue, listeners can see the band polishing its guns as the songs evolve from 1992 through 2004.

As for the great guitar duel in the sun, you can bet it will be martini time when The Rev hits the pulpit to save all the souls he's left lying in his wake.

Song For The Soundtrack: Loco Gringos Like A Party

Running Data For Sunday, June 9:
7.08 Miles
1:19:23

Mileage In The Change Jar: 0.57 Miles