Gothic Americana Music

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Chopper Franklin’s Gothic Dub Single “The Hexed DUB”

Chopper Franklin's Gothic Dub Single“The Hexed DUB” is the latest creation from the Heathen Apostles’ Chopper Franklin (The Cramps, Mau Maus); it’s his gothic dub remix of his original song “The Hexed”. This single is from his upcoming “Darkness in Hymn and Dub Vol. 1” EP; it also features his Heathen Apostles bandmate Mather Louth on co-lead vocals. Check it out HERE.
Chopper cut his teeth in the early days of the Los Angeles punk rock scene, a world that was infused by the post-punk dub sounds of Public Image Limited, Bauhaus and Killing Joke (among others). The roots reggae dub revolution that was lead by Lee “Scratch” Perry, King Tubby and Scientist was also prevalent, and plays a heavy influence on this project.


THE HEXED
(lyrics by Chopper Franklin)

She said, join our order, as a friend, or a lover
She took my soul, wrapped it around her
It’s said, the moon’s her lover, she had a dream about a powder
I took a dose, fell down beside her

He’s the hexed, brought down by the best
He’s the hexed, and you know the rest

She said, abide me brother, took off her robe, made of rubber
Then mixed our blood, brought on another
We bled, often hidden, Christ saken, and God forbidden
Lost and low, and bed-ridden

He’s the hexed, brought down by the best
He’s the hexed, and you know the rest

Poisoned sleep will come tonight
To take your lover dead
So find your sword in shadows cast
And track the wolves instead

Murdered kings who’ve yet to come
To see the flames they fed
For those who wave the blackened flags
Would rather end up dead

He’s the hexed, brought down by the best
He’s the hexed, and you know the rest

Heathen Apostles are Appearing at 100 Club with The Waterboys’ Steve Wickham

The Heathen Apostles are appearing at 100 Club, the famous, and infamous venue in London, England, on 30 July with The Waterboys’ Steve Wickham (with Ray Coen), and their pal Sarah Vista will also be appearing. Here’s the ticket link, they’ll go fast, grab them while you can HEREHeathen Apostles are Appearing at 100 Club

Steve Wickham is recognised as Ireland’s premier rock fiddler since the mid-1980s. His distinctive playing has been a major contribution to the Waterboys groundbreaking records over the years. Steve Wickham became a member of The Waterboys in 1985 shortly after playing on their seminal album “This is The Sea”. After the album was released Wickham joined the group officially. Wickham’s influence and the new environment resulted in the traditional Irish music and traditional Scottish music sound of Fisherman’s Blues (1988). In 1990, Wickham, preferring an acoustic sound over rock, disagreed with Scott and Anthony Thistlethwaite over the direction of The Waterboys,[6] and left the band. Wickham has experimented with a technique he calls “fuzz fiddle”, partially inspired by rock fiddler Warren Ellis and the genre of grunge music. Wickham’s first attempt at a distorted rock fiddle sound was with a band named Juggler.

With a hand-picked posse of musical desperadoes alongside her, Sarah Vista creates a dark and dangerous country style that doffs the stetson to classic artists like Loretta Lynn, Nancy Sinatra, Nick Cave, Marty Robbins and Johnny Cash while also veering into spaghetti western territory. Her powerfully emotive vocals are the velvet glove but her truly original lyrics are the iron fist. Lee Powell from UK Rock & Roll magazine nailed it when he called Vista’s music “a unique blend of Morricone-esque western soundtrack style sounds and brooding, blood-soaked balladry.”

Heathen Apostles are appearing at 100 Club with The Waterboys’ Steve Wickham

New Gothic Roots Music Video For “Coffin For The Nail”

The Heathen Apostles’ Chopper Franklin and Mather Louth started filming their new gothic roots music video for Coffin For The Nail last Friday the 25th in downtown Los Angeles. It will be the first music video from their latest album The In Between (out now on Ratchet Blade Records check it out HERE), and comes before they embark on the first of three legs of their 2025 European tour, which begins on June 5th in Amsterdam, The Netherlands at Teatro Munganga. The video was directed by the band, and will have a May release date, check back for more details.

Heathen Apostles Gothic Roots Music Video For "Coffin For The Nail"

Heathen Apostles Gothic Roots Music Video For "Coffin For The Nail"

 

 

 

 

Here’s a post from the band’s Instagram page: Mather and Chopper throwin’ it down; just a few pickup shots left for our “Coffin For The Nail” music video, then we begin editing. Many thanks to camera operator/DP Robert Nelson @robert_nelson_photography, FX makeup (and sclera!) master Kelton Ching @keltonfx and video villain Kaine Livesay @thekainerocks , you all added heavy Heathen energy to an already energetic song. Mather’s wardrobe by @heathenbymatherlouth #gothicoutlaw #hellbilly #heathenapostles #matherlouth #chopperfranklin #lamf

Photos by Robert Nelson.

COFFIN FOR THE NAIL
(lyrics by Chopper Franklin)

Peace out – War in
Take the word of a K Street has been
Big P, little O
Got down and forgot what you came for

Gold in, Black Hills
Trouble is that it’s not for sale
Goddamn, gee whiz
Is that what honor is?

(chorus)
R – you ready for the feast?
I – got a belly full of beast
P – like the guts in a pail
Got a smoke for the hole and a coffin for the nail

Your shame, straight from the mouth
So proud but your tongue’s stickin’ out
Gotcha paid like any other day
But the people are about to go crazy

Strict Daddy, where ya been?
How long ‘til the fire burns in
Tell me, Daddy, where will we go
When the fire glows?
(chorus)
(break)
Good god, straight from madness
Comin’ ‘round, lickin’ on sadness
Hate pigs, tryin’ their damnedest
Trickle down, but it’s always so late
Crowd so bound, always fallin’ for hate

Heathen Apostles to Headline Rustic Stomp 2025

Heathen Apostles to Headline Rustic Stomp 2025The Heathen Apostles are excited to play their first UK festival appearance of 2025, and one near and dear to them, The Rustic Stomp 2025. Hawkeye Houlihan and team always put on a great show, and this year they have the added firepower of Muddy Roots. They’ll be playing on Saturday, 12 July, but the entire festival will be a blast, see you there!

From Rustic Stomp: “And Boom , here it is, the first release of our line up for The Rustic Stomp 2025 . A sweet banger of local, national and international Roots centered music. Some you’ll know, some you won’t, and that’s the joy of it. The known and the unknown. Come explore our heady collection of Roots music as we jostle from Bluegrass to Western Swing, from Cajun to Hoedown, to heart felt ballad to shin kicking, full-on stompin. Bring your Shiny Boots to the only Muddy Roots Music Festival based in England. And it’s in Dorset too – yeehaw..!

Heathen Apostles to Headline Rustic Stomp 2025“Rustic Stomp is a unique music festival that brings together the best of Americana music, alternative and traditional music. Founded in 1999, the festival has grown to include the popular Wonkydonk, Dark Holler and Acoustic Movement events and is a member of The Muddy Roots network of international festivals. We are committed to providing a platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their talent while giving back to the community through our charity events. Join us for an unforgettable musical experience

Heathen Apostles to Headline Rustic Stomp 2025At Rustic Stomp, we celebrate roots revival music and its history and culture. Our event is a three-day extravaganza held annually on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Week 28. We currently have four stages with over 60 acts performing, giving you the full spectrum of musical genres to enjoy. There’s also plenty of food, bars, and a wellbeing and glamping provision, plus entertainment for the kids and lots of impromptu performances. Come join us at Rustic Stomp for an unforgettable music experience!”

Sean Cheetham on his Heathen Apostles Western Gothic Paintings

On a recent episode of Double Wolf TV, Wayne Wilson spoke to fine artist Sean Cheetham about his Western Gothic paintings “There in the ground, my buried heart” and “All of our vows, in death did part” (featuring Mather Louth and Chopper Franklin of the Heathen Apostles), as well as his other oil paintings “Coach Robbers”, “Let It Burn”, and “Game Over”. They also spoke about the upcoming year and then take a look at some of his work, showing a few of Sean’s oil paintings as well as the work he has done on knives.

Sean Cheetham was born in 1977 in San Francisco, studied at the College of San Mateo, in California, and earned a B.F.A. degree with honors from Art Center College of Design, in Pasadena, California. His paintings have been included in numerous significant exhibitions internationally including the National Portrait Gallery in London. He has a devoted following of collectors and art students that are inspired by his work and distinctive technique. Primarily a figurative painter, Sean is known for his technical prowess in achieving accuracy and harmony in his alla prima paintings which he credits to a deep understanding of drawing and his own system of mixing colors which he uses adeptly to govern shadows, midtones and highlights. In addition to having an exceptional ability to understand, draw, and paint the human form, Cheetham’s selection of subjects typically in familiar urban scenes contributes a truthful and often raw spirit that makes his work distinctive and a contemporary testimony of our time.

Heathen Apostles Western Gothic Painting