Steve Train and His Bad Habits Releases from Off Label Records

For those of you who are serious rockabilly and roots rock fans, if you aren’t already familiar with the band, let me introduce you to the Augsburg, Germany sextet Steve Train and His Bad Habits. This is the sort of band that recalls the good old days of rockabilly and rock and roll, when Sun Records, Meteor Records, King Records, and the like, ruled the scene with artists like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Sleepy LaBeef, Warren Smith, Billy Lee Riley, and Charlie Feathers. Steve Train and His Bad Habits are the genuine article, and only one of many excellent German bands carrying today’s rockabilly and roots-rock scene forward.

In addition to a handful of vinyl singles, Germany’s Off Label Records has released an EP consisting of both covers and originals, including the singles that were on the limited edition vinyl. From the first song “Down Among the Dead Men,” one knows one is listening to a quality collection of songs by a worthwhile band. And the EP keeps the listener engrossed until it is over, through “My Love Give Me Love,” “Similau,” “True Lovin’ Woman,” Jezebel,” “Why Don’t You Love,” and the bonus track “Don’t Knock What You Don’t Understand.” My only complaint about the EP is that it is too short and goes by all too quickly. To be sure, this is the type of music that demands an LP.

Inspired by an old, beat-up cassette tape of Jack Rhodes songs, Steffen Train aka Steve Train (vocals/rhythm ruitar) assembled his Bad Habits — Howlin’ Max Messer (bass), Simon Czermak (drums/percussion), Revelling Norberto (piano/organ/accordion), Lou Thompson (steel guitar), and Max Rossing (guitar) — to put together and release their debut album, which also served as a tribute, titled The Lost Jack Rhodes Tapes (2012, Bad S Records). From there, they went on to record and release their most recent material from Off Label Records.

For an idea of what to expect from this band, check out the video (below) for the EP opener “Down Among the Dead Men.”