German Rockabilly Band Returns for Annual Pilgrimage

By R. Gabriel Villalobos

Rockabilly veterans The Booze Bombs are gearing up for a tour of the sun-bleached towns and neon-lit cities of the American Southwest.

They’re coming in from Germany, but this isn’t their first rodeo. Their rockabilly odyssey stretches back 20 years! Having toured all over Europe, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Croatia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Austria, the UK, Canada, and Australia, there’s a special place in their hearts for the US and especially the Southwest.

The band kicks off its annual US tour this month, a February tradition spanning four states and some 20 shows, with a stop at Milton’s Brewing in Carlsbad on February 10. For guitarist and co-founder Stephan Brodbeck, it’s a journey to the source.

The tour is a testament to rockabilly’s enduring, cross-continental appeal. Brodbeck notes the scene in Europe is vast, fueled by countless festivals and a vibrant subculture of vintage cars and fashion.

“There’s a lot of rockabilly festivals in Europe,” he said. “So, it’s a big scene everywhere.”

Fifteen years ago, an American neighbor of his in Germany offered to put together a tour for the band so they could play some venues and find their US audience.

Brodbeck explained in his stout German accent, “So since 15 years, we did it every year in February. Only when COVID happened, then one or two years, we could not do it. But normally, every year, in February, we start our tour for three or four weeks. It’s great.”

This year’s route winds through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California, with the possibility of a Las Vegas date. While they’ve ventured as far as New Orleans in the past, Brodbeck identifies a clear favorite.

“I think the best is Texas. So, the best shows we always have are in Texas—Austin, San Antonio,” he said. A regular Sunday night show at Rehab Bar in Houston is a particular highlight. “It’s on a Sunday, but it’s always packed and perfect.”

The tour showcases the range of the rockabilly circuit, from massive outdoor festivals to intimate breweries. They are slated to play the Rockabilly Reunion Festival in Lake Havasu, AZ, an event Brodbeck said draws thousands.

“There are maybe 15,000 people, 500, 600, 700 old cars,” he said. “But we also play on the weekdays…breweries, pubs, whatever…everything.”

The Carlsbad show at Milton’s is a familiar stop.

“We always played at Milton’s Brewing. It was always good. Nice people, good beer,” Brodbeck said.

Fans can expect new material from the band, which includes a female vocalist and has seen several bassists over the years. They recently cut a new 45 for the Los Angeles-based Wild Records, a label dedicated exclusively to rockabilly.

“We recorded the songs, and now, we have to wait for the pressing,” Brodbeck said, noting the long lead times for vinyl. “I hope it will be there in time.” If not, their previous 14-song LP will be available.

For Brodbeck, the live rockabilly experience is uniquely universal. The visual spectacle of the standup bass and the music’s innate rhythm create an immediate connection. The Booze Bombs deliver on everything that rockabilly music promises. Their tunes have all the energy and momentum of an eighteen-wheeler.

“The rockabilly music, I think everybody—if you’re 80 years old or if you’re 15—you can get into it,” he insisted. “You don’t have to be a big fan. But if it’s live, especially with the upright bass and everything, people love it.”

That love is most visibly expressed on the dance floor in cities with deep rockabilly roots like Los Angeles and Austin. Some of the most memorable shows happen in uniquely American settings, like a converted 1940s gas station in Tyler, TX.

“Everything is original 1940s. Nothing is new,” Brodbeck said. “The man owning it is not charging a cover, so everybody put money in the tip jar, and it’s always perfect.”

It’s these authentic exchanges—playing American-born music back to American audiences in iconic roadside venues—that fuel the band’s annual pilgrimage. For The Booze Bombs, the Southwest is less a tour route and more a homecoming.

“We love it because it’s real America,” Brodbeck said. “We get to see different cities, and we stayed at so many cool places. That’s why we do it every year.”

The Booze Bombs will play at Milton’s on February 10.