Psychobilly chemistry will be on full display when Koffin Kats hit xBk on April 9
By Fred Love
Chemistry comes first for the Koffin Kats.
The long-running psychobilly trio from Detroit has carved out a living as a hard-touring independent act by leaning on brotherhood. That bond fuels their high-energy performances, even as they grind through the final stretch of a long tour, said Zac “Vic” Victor, the band’s upright bassist and singer.
The Koffin Kats headline Thursday night at xBk, joined by Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy and The Rumours. The bill promises a start-to-finish blast of revved-up rock with heavy punk overtones. Tickets are available on the xBk website.
Formed in 2003, the Koffin Kats have weathered lineup changes over two decades, but their current roster features all three founding members: Victor on vocals and standup bass, Tommy Koffin on guitar, and Eric “E-Ball” Walls on drums.
“We’ve always been a tight-knit group. At this point, we’re old dudes in the scene, and younger bands ask us how we do it,” Victor said. “What’s more important than talent is chemistry. Talent will come if the chemistry is already there. We’re like brothers out on the road. This is our way of life.”
Offstage, that bond extends into the practical world. During the warmer months, the trio runs a commerical irrigation systems company together, a business that helps fund their musical life while keeping their schedules aligned for touring and recording.
Their current tour began in November, meaning they’ll arrive in Des Moines road-tested and locked in. Setlists pull from fan favorites across nine studio albums, blending acrobatic, melodic guitar lines with furious punk tempos and the thump and swing of upright bass. Their sound fuses punk urgency with rockabilly swagger, often wrapped in horror-inspired imagery.
“In the back of a hearse / Is where I met her first,” Victor croons in “Graveyard Tree,” one of the band’s signature tracks, as distorted guitar snarls and drums crash behind him.
Even after years on the road, the band’s energy hasn’t dulled. If anything, it’s sustained by the people in front of the stage.
“We really appreciate the gift we’ve been given with such a rock-solid fanbase,” Victor said. “We’re so connected to them, and we don’t want to let our friends and family down. We pour it out every night. The last thing we want to do is disappoint people.”
Thursday, April 9
Koffin Kats w/ Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy and The Rumours
Doors 7 p.m., Show 8 p.m.