POP MUSIC REVIEWS : Punk, Bluegrass With Killbilly Charm

Though punk rock and bluegrass seem like musical styles that would only meet in the confusing clamor of a stereo store, Dallas’ Killbilly have made a career off the unlikely combination. The six-piece band, which has released two indie albums in its eight-year career, picked and strummed twangy versions of punk-rock and pop classics Thursday at Club Lingerie, charming the sparse Hollywood crowd with its tight delivery and rollicking attitude.

Flamboyant singer Craig Taylor shuffled his bright white cowboy boots like an Appalachian David Lee Roth, while the band played bluegrass versions of songs by the Dead Kennedys, Violent Femmes, Bow Wow Wow and Deep Purple. They kept the speed and edge of the originals while adding their own definitive back-porch feel. Killbilly was just as adept on straight bluegrass classics, including genre founding father Bill Monroe’s “Little Maggie” and a 150-year-old ballad about Jesse James.

The mismatched band members--from the grungy stand-up bassist to the countrified mandolin player--played original material as well from their new album, “Foggy Mountain Anarchy.” The songs leaned toward a traditional country feel with tongue-in-cheek lyrics. A favorite was “Pass the Whiskey Round,” where each member declared his favorite way to drink the spirit and demonstrated on stage. A fitting grand finale for such a down-home show.