Charlie
Hightone
6
They call him the Spanish Cat
yet this big man from the
mainland has got more
meow than any other rockabilly
sound you've ever heard...
Charlie Hightone (or the Spanish Cat as he is also known) is probably one of the smallest rockabilly stars to come out of mainland Europe, but what he lacks in height, he gains mountains in energy, exuberance and volume.
If you haven’t heard of him already on the rockabilly roundabout, then you would need to question what planet you have been residing on over the last few years. He is, in short, like listening to Lonnie Donnegan on speed; like Johnny Cash on Red Bull, throw a few wails and growls in along with some authentic Tennessee rhythms you might not think even existed anymore, and you are half way there to experiencing this completely unique sound.
Remember the first time you heard Blue Jean Baby by Gene Vincent? Well, amplify it, pick it up; throw it around your lounge a few times; add a shot of Bourbon to it and you have all the makings of some very forbidden music. I suspect that had Mr Hightone been around during the mid-fifties, he would have been banned in at least three states.
There are not many albums around that can get away with opening with Booze, booze, booze, you are almost spinning around the room drunk with him.
This has been quite an anthem on the weekender circuit and has flooded floors quicker than an overturned bucket of water.
The crescendo of noise that this hyper guitarist and his band, the Rock-its produce is quite infectious and you will be listening to him religiously over a long period of time if you are not careful.
Look out for Hightone coming over to the UK shores at Camber and Hemsby over the next year, see his website for further details.
As for me, I will be booking October Hemsby 2016 as soon as I get a chance when this humble little Norfolk seaside town will have the wax blown out of its ears….