History has documented both as legendary live bands albeit for different reasons. The Mats for the Johnny Thunders-level of potential chaos that could occur on stage at any given moment and the The Hypstrz for memorable high-octane beer-fueled garage rock rave-ups!
Back then I only had the Hypsrtz records and they sadly went missing in some move 15 or so years ago. Bomp has compiled the original Live at the Longhorn and an earlier live EP plus 17 or so unreleased tracks. Part of me feared time and nostalgic memory had built these guys up too much, but after 30 seconds into the first track it was clear that the Hypstrz are still one of the benchmarks to reach for if you think you want to be in a garage cover band and play some classics.
Like lab rats on military speed, they scream through songs by Wilson Pickett – The Flamin Groovies – The Remains – Love – The Pretty Things – Troggs – 13th Floor Elevators. The power engine of the Batson brothers – Bill on vocals and Ernest on guitar - spill blood and grind true love for these songs deep into the recording tape.
Oddly, they didn’t concentrate on regularly writing originals but did manage to come up with a near gem in “Only A Matter of Time”. It all comes to a close some 37 tracks later with a blistering version of The Sonics “Witch” that would make Gerry Roslie knowingly smile that someone worthy had taken a bit of the torch flame to light a new righteous road. This record has already sent me to the chiropractor once – play it loud but clear the room of breakables, as you won’t be sitting still.
