The Matadors Like Their Booze And 'Billy

If you haven't seen The Matadors and their devilishly infectious and bourbon-soaked live show that combines sordid songs about zombie sluts with vicious doghouse bass, what in tarnation are you waiting for? The group have been blazing a trail in Canada's horrorbilly scene for 10 years and, with their new Horrorbilly 9000 album and current hectic tour schedule, they're likely to bring more converts to their dark side.

After wrapping up a two-month-long tour promoting their latest release with like-minded Stereo Dynamite labelmates The Creepshow, The Matadors will be back at Toronto's Kathedral this Saturday before heading out on their East Infection tour next month. Never ones to shy away from stage antics that have included fire, consumption of mass quantities of alcohol and giant zombies spouting smoke, the band's charismatic frontman, guitarist and vocalist, Joel "Hooch" Parkins, promises a bunch of tricks and some new songs.

"Our undead MC, Johnny Boner, is doing some impressions," says Hooch about the potty-mouthed skeleton that's dressed in a black and red suit and entertains the audience before the band hit the stage.

One of the new songs is "If You're Going To Bitch, I'm Going To Drink," which is pretty self-explanatory.

Hooch describes The Matadors' music as Chuck Berry rock 'n' roll with some roots in Ted Nugent that's still "drawing from the same well of tits and booze and burning stuff." Their brand of horrorbilly, also espoused by such bands such as The Creepshow and The Alley Dukes, has become increasingly popular in the last year.

"I think kids are sick of moping and stuff," says Hooch. "I think that got tired. I think kids wanna have fun and they want to dance."

Following the Kathedral show, the band will take part in a "Battle Royale" in their hometown of London, Ontario where they'll be matched against The Legendary Klopeks. Both bands will be on stage at the same time performing one song after each other with no changeover. Hooch's winning formula involves "a lot of drinkin' and a lot of late nights.

"You have to keep your body in tune for something like that. It's the same with touring. If you're going to go out touring with The Matadors, you have to get your liver in shape."

With so much time logged on the road lately, Hooch has a list of tour van essentials that includes his phone, his Nintendo DS and his banjo. The self-professed "game nerd" is digging New Super Mario Bros. right now.

If you live out east and you're considering seeing the band — go.

"They've never seen The Matadors out there before," says Hooch. "They better come out or we're not going back."

And if you're going to Saturday's show, buy Hooch a drink. It's his birthday and, as he says, "Goddamn it, I like drinkin'."

Here are The Matadors' tour dates:

July 22 Toronto, ON @ Kathedral w/The Creepshow
July 28 London, ON @ Call The Office w/The Creepshow
July 29 London, ON @ Call The Office w/The Creepshow and The Legendary Klopeks
August 9 Saint John, NB @ Elwoods
August 10 Fredericton, NB @ Bugaboo Creek
August 11 Halifax, NS @ The Attic
August 12 Moncton, NB @ The Manhattan
September 4 Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ TBA w/The Creepshow
September 5 Thunder Bay, ON @ Jack's w/The Creepshow
September 6 Winnipeg, MB @ The Royal Albert w/The Creepshow
September 7 Regina, SK @ The Gaslight Saloon w/The Creepshow
September 8 Edmonton, AB @ Sidetrack w/The Creepshow
September 9 Calgary, AB @ The Hi Fi Club w/The Creepshow
September 10 Edmonton, AB @ TBA w/The Creepshow
September 11 Canmore, AB @ TBA w/The Creepshow
September 12 Kelowna, BC @ TBA w/The Creepshow
September 14 Nanaimo, BC @ TBA w/The Creepshow
September 15 Victoria, BC @ Sugar Night Club w/The Creepshow
September 16 Vancouver, BC @TBA w/The Creepshow