Good God! – 4 Gospel Punk Songs
by Rebecca Seung on Nov 16th, 2010
The Almighty Defenders
While gospel and punk may seem like unlikely bedmates, the rawness of punk rock paired with the roots-infused heart-ache of gospel creates a sound so heady, so intoxicating, it’s like sipping whiskey on the back porch in the middle of an Alabama August.
Here are a select few songs that embody this fusion:
- The Oblivians – “Live the Life”
This song, originally written by Thomas A. Dorsey and later popularized by Mahalia Jackson, is off their last album, Play 9 Songs with Mr. Quintron. Most of their other albums trend towards a stricter punk rock, but Greg Cartwright’s interest in gospel and the addition of Quintron’s organ style allowed for this album, which – while lacking a specific religious focus – still carries a spirituality that celebrates the music instead. - Almighty Defenders – “Jihad Blues”
The Almighty Defenders brought together members from legendary garage rock bands The Black Lips and King Khan & BBQ Show for this side project that created a sound so furiously soulful, I wanted to dust off my tambourine and shake it like an exorcism. - Reverend Beat-man and the Un-Believers – “The Lord Is Coming Back”
Founder of Voodoo Rhythm Records in Switzerland, Reverend Beat-man plays his own special blend of blues trash that rails like an atheistic sermon set to a soundtrack of swaggering psychobilly. - Reverend Savage and His Holy Rollers – “I’m Leaving Now”
On the other hand, this band from Sweden manages to combine both Christian and rockabilly messages in a way that could appeal to either crowd, but there are good and bad sides to this story. The bad is the band broke up after about a year of their punk rock preaching, but the good is you can download their songs for free from both Myspace and Last.fm.
Listen: Reverend Savage and His Holy Rollers – I’m Leaving Now