Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors – “Red Neck Rampage”

SXSW 2020 – OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Charlie Daniels Band, Kinky Friedman, Austin Lounge Lizards

If you a MAGA hat wearer, you probably won’t like Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors.  You’ll probably think he is making fun of you and you’d be right.  Nixon is a veteran (some say notorious) outlaw country music veteran, although he prefers to call his music psychobilly.  It’s a fun, driving rockabilly sound with a satirical political bite.  His better known songs include “I Saw Jesus At McDonalds,” “Burn Down The Malls,” “Stuffin Martha's Muffin,” “Elvis Is Everywhere,’ “Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child,” “Don Henley Must Die, and “Drunk-Divorced Floozie (The Ballad Of Diana Spencer).”  Sampled here is “Red Neck Rampage” which features some excellent Southern rockabilly guitar work along with Nixon’s typical blue lyrics. Nixon has largely retired from playing live and recording, although he does host radio shows on Sirius Satellite Radio and comes out of retirement for one-time events. This will be his first official SXSW in over twenty years and there might not be another one.  His set should be fun and a nice chance to blow off some political steam if current events have been getting you down.  On the other hand, if you have the hat, don’t stay away but you probably shouldn’t wear it to this show. (David Zlotnick)