Austin Rockabilly - Chadd Thomas and the Crazy Kings

In the Live Music Capitol of the World, Austin Texas, there is an old-school-rock-and-roll/rockabilly band busting up the music scene. Chadd Thomas and the Crazy Kings bring back the rockin' music that the original King of Rock and Roll was famous for. Some have tried, but few have been able to capture that unique sound that is making a big come-back; rockabilly.

I sit across from Dylan Cavalier, my good friend from high school, a great big handsome teddy bear with a big heart and an even bigger wit. Dylan, is their slap bass player and I asked him to give me a little insight on his music, the band, and what is next to come.

Ok, Dylan, tell me about the band.

The name of the band of course is Chadd Thomas and the Crazy Kings and we sing rockabilly and old School Rock and Roll.

Who all is in the band?

Chadd Thomas is on vocals and rhythm, Chris Harrison plays guitar, Dylan Cavaliere, that would be me, upright bass, and the drums are played by whoever we con into playing with us. Lately we've used Michael Bahan and Bobby Trimble (Big Sandy and the Fli-Rite Boys) on drums quite a bit.

How long have you been together?

We all courted each other for about 3 or four years, then we got to the heavy business and have been banging away 4 or five years since....So I guess you would say this line up has been together going on 9 years, Of course that first part is a joke...only my singer and guitar player are messin' around.

How many albums have you recorded and where can they be bought?

Chadd recorded one album when he was still in Houston called Shake Alive. And this line up has recorded 2 regular releases (Hush Hush and Adam and Evil) we also recorded an EP of cover songs called Playin' Favorites mainly to promote ourselves and get some corporate gigs.....uh that means shows for any readers out there. (He directs this to my notepad) All of our recordings were done at Fort Horton Studios run by Billy Horton of the Horton Brothers. Hush Hush I see every once in a while at online stores and local music stores like Cheapo Discs. Adam and Evil unfortunately can only mainly be found in France right now, but we will hopefully be producing a whole new run to sell at shows.

Now tell me about you. How long have you been playing?

This month makes about 12 years of learning the upright bass.

Do you play any other instruments?

I have a guitar and electric bass I am trying to play more and more. In Middle School I played Tenor Sax.

Is this a full time gig or do you have a day job?

Unfortunately I have a horrible addiction to various luxuries as well as health problems for which I need medical insurance for. So I keep a regular J-O-B

Where is your favorite place you've played? Wow, that's hard. For regular show type show I would have to say The Flying Pig in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Why?

Mainly because I remember everyone there being such nice people (the worst people were in Toledo, Ohio by the way). Greatest "big" show was playing to a sold out crowd (over 2000 people) at Stubb's Barbecue in Austin with Lucky Tubb opening up for Dwight Yoakum.

What other bands have you been in?

The American Standards was my first band

I remember that one. I saw y'all walking down Sixth Street and caught a show a week later.

The Chop Tops, The High Tops, The Blue Flames, Jimmy and The Mustangs, Sleeping with Snakes, Lucky Tubb (Ernest's great nephew), Hotrod Hillbillies, 40 Miles of Bad Road, The Loose Cannons, The Barnburners, The Jackson 3, Clay Jeffries Band.....and a handful I can't remember right now

Where is your hometown?

I am a Native Texan, Born and Raised in Austin Texas.

What do you like best about playing bass?

The Physicality of it for one. Also it is a dying art form to play slap bass like this, so it keeps me busy and making a little bit of cash as a result. I have always been drawn to rhythm. And being able to play bass lines as well as being so percussive on the board is a great way to live in two worlds simultaneously. Also the women love it!

If you could meet any singer/band, who would it be?

If I could have seen The Ramones or The Clash when they were around....but since I can't, I would like to get The Amazing Royal Crowns together in a room and convince them to get back together and get back on the road.

Why is that?

They are the best touring act I have seen on their level, and it's going on 7 years since their last show and I am Still Royal to the Loyal!!! It's a shame not as many people got to see them when they were around. All we have left are a few KILLER albums and various videos on YouTube

What got you into music?

Ever since I was a little kid my mom would wake me up by playing 'Hey Jude' by the Beatles and various classics from other bands. She also let me go see my first show at 3 years old with my grandparents. We went and saw Lawrence Welk, I used to love his show on PBS as a toddler.

I know you have been involved in the theatre...done anything lately?

I did some comedy videos with some friends from work....I have to say some of it was actually funny...but embarrassing. Which is why they probably won't be seen....ever again?

Which do you like better and why?

Playing music wins every time, I want more from an audience than butts in a seat and a courtesy clap, I want bodies moving, sweat and even sometimes blood. I want someone to come up on stage and kick my a**. I am so much more locked into my performance and "feeling it" when I have somebody loving my band and screaming in my face while we're playing.

Anything else you want to share?

I love the movie High Fidelity. Remember in the deleted scenes when Rob Gordon had to list his 5 favorite songs and kept changing his info because he was so neurotic about his answers being a good representation of himself.....yeah I know I am going to feel that as soon as I end this interview. Oh yeah and Cheryl Engelke is my favorite person in the world.

There you have it ladies and gents, the one and only Dylan Cavalier of Chadd Thomas and the Crazy Kings. Be sure to catch a show really soon and check them out at their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/chaddthomasthecrazykings

I promise you, it is well worth the trip!