Rockabilly in the New Millennium

Rockabilly has joined the ranges of deep-rootedand availability into the future.
musical subcultures in America. As with someIn Europe, rockabilly stays a spirited and dynamic
other accepted music genres such as jazz, blues,subculture, with heavy interest not just in
bluegrass, and punk, a few core rockabilly bandscontemporary revivalist musicians, but as well as
are able to bring in regular but modest revenue,in performances and recordings by living artists
mainly by traveling and performing at festivalsfrom the 1950s. A considerable cause for the
and clubs, and also by recording for indie recordpersisting phenomenon of new generations
labels. Similar to the other subcultures, thediscovering and adopting rockabilly is their
rockabilly "scene" funds the livelihoods of musiciansdissatisfaction with mainstream culture, music, and
and their performances utilizing fanzines and socialstylistic icons. Rockabilly frequently becomes a
networking sites.way of life or lifestyle to those active, who see
While no other rockabilly performers have climbedthe larger scene to be like a family. The rockabilly
to the degree of large-scale fame enjoyed by thelifestyle is not restricted to only the music but
Stray Cats in the 1980s, the scene has developedalso the home furnishings, cars, and even small
further in the 2000s. There has been athings like the cigarettes smoked. The rockabilly
considerable convergence with, and interactionculture is an antithesis to current trends as it
between, the rockabilly scene and swing musicembraces its roots in "old school" societal fringes.
scene. Brian Setzer (of the Stray Cats and the50's movies 'The Wild One', James Dean's 'Rebel
Brian Setzer Orchestra) assisted in joining thesewithout a Cause' concentrated in countries like
two subcultures, in that he was both a rockabillyUSA, Australia, New Zealand, UK, and also in the
musician and a swing musician. Different artists,rest of Europe.
such as Trick Pony, Danny Dean and the HomeIn the United Kingdom revival of Teddy Boy
wreckers, (trio influenced by both rockabilly andstyles and in the United States, rockabilly fans
honky-tonk styles), The Reverend Horton Heat,have preferred the greaser look, in which men
Rattled Roosters, and Royal Crown Revue werehave flashy pompadour hairdos, with tons of hair
also favorites amongst both scenes.pomade and long sideburns , in addition they comb
There are lively rockabilly scenes in several majortheir hair straight back however the pompadour is
US cities, especially on the west coast; as well asthe most beloved look. For clothing, men wear
large festivals such as Viva Las Vegas andtight jeans or black pants, brothel creeper shoes,
Hootenanny and the Heavy Rebel Weekendslim 'bolo' neckties, belt buckles and leopard-skin
festival on the east coast. Rockabilly lovers haveaccessories. Also rockabilly men have
attained a shared cause with hot rod car culture,embraced1950s-style clothes, such as bowling
and many festivals have both music and classicshirts, gas station "work" shirts, cowboy shirts,
car shows with a 1950s flavor. With theand Hawaiian shirts, as well as the leather
emergence of satellite and internet radio, theremotorcycle jacket.
are routine broadcast outlets for rockabilly music.Women style in the rockabilly community has not
The not-for-profit Rockabilly Hall of Fame wasbrought back the proper 1950s look of poodle
created March 21, 1997 to remember the earlyskirts and letter sweaters. Yet the alluring 1950s
rockabilly music and to encourage those whodresses, sometimes made with crinolines, have
would like to carry on rockabilly music popularitygained some favor.