Life Less Ordinary

With his experience organising the long-running Camperdown Cruise Rockabilly Festival, promoter Arthur Matsakos should be reasonably confident that his latest offering, the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival, will become similarly successful. With a line-up boasting the best of local and overseas talent – including The Desperados and Omar Romero from the US, and Australian acts The ReChords, Sun Rising and The Yard Apes – it seems difficult to imagine where anything could go wrong, really. Lou 'Slim' Cervantes, vocalist with Californian rockabilly sensations The Desperados, is naturally stoked to be coming to Australia, although it might be fair to say he's seen one too many tourist adverts.

“This will be my first time in Australia and I'm extremely excited,” he says, “not only to perform and meet new friends, but I've seen pictures and movies and it just looks amazing. [I] can't wait to witness it for myself. I expect to see kangaroos and koalas and lots of friendly people. I'm a big fan of culture and nature and I love food so I definitely want to try an authentic Australian meal. I want to explore a bit and enjoy the hot weather since it's been real cold here in California.”

There'll be loads of punters at Ballarat who've heard The Desperados' incredible debut album, On The Rampage. Cervantes says that this is nothing compared to one of his band's live shows. “When people hear our album it's cool and everything,” he continues, “they play it loud and get crazy, but it doesn't compare to seeing us live. I think I get a little too crazy on stage and I feed of the audience. Once the music and cheers start I can't stay still. You can say our music can be too wild, scary and frantic for some people whom we shall call squares.”

What's Cervantes' theory of the enduring popularity of rockabilly? Paradoxically, he says that what once was rebellious and then became mainstream, is now antiestablishment once again. He also suggests a sense of community has something to do with it, too. “I believe 1950s rock'n'roll is kinda underground these days and not many listen or dress like it, but those who do, they do it because it's something unique and different and I like being different. I was about 12 years old when I first heard of rockabilly and my mind was blown away. I looked into it and just started getting obsessed with the '50s. It makes me real happy that there are still people from all over the world listening and supporting the music and lifestyle.”

In closing, Cervantes tells the touching story of a life, quite literally, saved by music. It's not something a lot of musicians would be willing to share, and it's a feeling that comes through in The Desperados' music, as well. “I never thought I'd be traveling the world,” he says. “I grew up in the ghetto where there were drugs, gangs and violence happening every day. I had to witness many things I wish I never saw. I couldn't even afford any instruments, but I tried to avoid all that bad stuff by getting involved with music. I started my first band with instruments that we would borrow and had to return the same day, but luckily I picked up everything real quick and we started playing gigs that wouldn't pay too much 'til finally we were able to get our own equipment and here we are now, rockin' all over the world. I have to thank the owner of the record label, Mr Reb Kennedy from Wild Records, my friends, fans and family because without their support I'd probably be involved with gangs, dead or in jail. I really want people to get more involved with music because music really does save lives, it saved mine and it can save yours.”

The Desperados will be playing the following dates:

Thursday 14 February - Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC
Friday 15 - Sunday 17 February - Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival VIC