Thundercuda Speed Queens helps launch Carbondale's hard rock renaissance

The newest installment to Carbondale's growing base of rock 'n' roll heavies is the Thundercuda Speed Queens. Just two months old, the group has honed its craft into a sonic masterpiece that hails back to the glory days of classic rock.

Thundercuda Speed Queens, which is performing it's very first show at 10 p.m. Sunday at Hangar 9, plays hard rock with the heaviness of Black Sabbath and the ballsy vocal style of Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister.

The group contains members who are also in The Copyrights, Headfix, Near Death Experience, The Hangarounds and Hateful Dead. Thundercuda Speed Queens consists of Ken Clifford and Josh Beckmann on guitars, Jon E. Rector on bass, Zach Kemp on drums and Tim Barrett on vocals.

Clifford, Barrett, Rector and Beckmann were previously in the local horror-rock band The Karloffs, but Thundercuda Speed Queens takes a less themed approach to rock music and has a heavier emphasis on full-throttle rock and gut wrenching lyrics.

The song "San Lorenzo" is about the play "Cat's Cradle," which is based on a novel by acclaimed author Kurt Vonnegut.

According to Clifford, the song "Black For You" has subject matter dealing with a person allowing others to walk all over them, and how that is a self-defeating situation to be in.

Barrett said the song "Now You Know" is about what happens after a person dies. The song is a personal reflection piece.

The group also ties the Black Sabbath classic "Hole In The Sky" into its set, paying homage to the band that Clifford admits is their biggest musical influence over all else. Clifford also cites High On Fire, Electric Wizard, Nebula and Bongzilla as influences on their sound.

The group got its name when Clifford decided he wanted to revamp The Karloffs, but with a different style and name.

"I liked the name 'The Barricudas,' but it was already taken," Clifford said. "So I just took the 'cuda' part and thought of 'thunder'."

This Sunday's show at Hangar 9 marks the very first public performance of the group. Although all of the members are veterans of the stage, there's the question of whether or not there's any apprehension since this is their first show.

Rector said he's a little uncertain only because his past experience with bands has been more into the punk rock sound, but Barrett and Clifford are solid in their belief that Sunday's performance will go off without a hitch. After the show on Sunday, the group is also slated to play at Booby's on Tuesday.

Once the band completes its sonic repertoire in its customized practicing studio, it will work on recording and releasing a 30-minute CD. Thundercuda Speed Queens also fully intends to play as many shows as possible. For more information on Thundercuda Speed Queens, go to www.geocities.com/thundercuda_speed_queens.

Thundercuda Speed Queens will be performing at 10 p.m. Sunday at Hangar 9 with Fighting 407 and American Plague. They are also playing at 10 p.m. Tuesday at Booby's with Like No Other and 13 Complaints.