Like many cities in America, the late '90s represented some kind of wasteland in terms of live music performance. A renaissance effect was felt when the scene began opening up again, although it is somewhat difficult reconciling that word with an ensemble whose songs include "Pill Popper" and "Riot." New performing opportunities in both old and new venues including New York Pizza, The Green Bean and Ace's Basement have been the equivalent of a set of good guitar cables to bands such as the Tremors, allowing an audience the opportunity to actually hear something in the first place. Now, if only these crowds were willing to pay cover charges!

Maybe the cheapskates are saving up for CD purchases, in which case the 2004 debut by this group, The Scourge of the South, has a good chance of making it into whatever southern homes survive the hurricane season. Performing under a set of pseudonyms, the Tremors consist of frontman Jimmy Tremor on guitar and vocals plus Slim Perkins and Stretch Armstrong on bass and drums respectively. Tremor had been involved in a previous rockabilly effort, Ubangi Stomp, not to be confused with the Washington, D.C. combo called the Ubangis. A good place to find out about all things related to the Tremors is the Hypnotica shop on Spring Garden Street; Perkins can often be found working behind the counter. ~ Eugene Chadbourne