Live and Raw - Cavegirl + the Neandergals

johnaalex
Jun 30
2 min read

Title: Live and Raw

Band: Cavegirl + the Neandergals

Released: 2025

Label: Independent

Reviewed: June 2025

Genre: Rock and Roll/Rockabilly/Psychobilly

Produced: Live at HOHN studios

Artwork: Strange Sugar Studio/Third Eye Signs

Photography: Sinead Ferguson/Alan Wheatley

Personnel…

Drums/vocals: Suzi Sabretooth

Double bass/lead vocals: Summer Cavegirl

Guitar//Lap steel/vocal: Ruby Raptor

Maracas: Tom Goodall

Reviewed by: A. D. Stranik

Track by track…

LIVE AND RAW is essentially a chunk of the Gals’ live set, chipped off for us Neandergal

aficionados to relive the paganism in the comfort of our own caven. Six of these self-penned screamers have been previously released on Western Star’s Carnal Desires 10”, but here they’re captured as raw as nature intended with the added attraction of two blistering covers.

CAVEMAN STOMP opens with a cute little Flintstones signature before stomping along in a

vaguely Jeepster-esque fashion; PSYCHO BITCH eliminates all rational thought with its

schizophrenic stop/start blues groove before it escalates into a full-blown meltdown for the

chorus. “Tommy f**cked his ex. Calm down, girl; it’s all in your head.” It’s funny ‘cos it’s true.

(heh heh).

Then we come to some ‘Some Other Guy’ riffage with some nice minor chords thrown in for the turnaround on BARBARIC BABY.

WILD is just that; “I’m wild, and I don’t wanna be tamed…” Fair enough. Who does?

Reminiscent of Ronnie Dawson/Commonwealth Jones, which comes as no surprise, as his

‘Rockin’ Bones’ (perhaps inevitably) features in the Gals’ current live set.

OOGA BOOGA KINDA LOVE ‘Stray Cat struts' into view but is NOT a toon you’ll be

hearing on daytime radio anytime soon, so it’s all yours! A Valentine's anthem for when the

chocolates are all scoffed, the flowers are wilting and it’s time for the romance to get down, dirty

and primitive. Warning: Contains loin-skin-thin innuendo.

George Thorogood’s BAD TO THE BONE is the first artefact excavated and given a

welcome oestrogen kick. NEANDERTHAL MAN extols the trials and tribulations of selfpreservation in a (still) wild and untamed world.

Finally, we sign off with the second cover to be given the Yabba Dabba Doo treatment, the

Johnny O’Keefe classic REAL WILD CHILD (WILD ONE), previously covered by everyone

from Buddy Holly’s drummer to Iggy Pop; here revived once more by the very capable (and

probably ill-manicured) hands of the gals who are bringing the rock back to rockabilly.

In summary,

Ascending pterodactyl-like from the primordial swamp of Covid-age Britain, Cavegirl and her cohorts carry the grand tradition of Jurassic jumpers and Stone Age stompers first excavated by the likes of Tommy Steele’s Rock with the Caveman and Wee Willie Harris’ I Go Ape. Most of the Gals’ material is in keeping with the prehistoric theme, complete with Betty Rubble outfits, in a package which, on the surface, conveys a cartoonish sense of fun, but there are pertinent points aplenty on the current sociological state of play in their self-penned lyrics. The unreleased (and hopefully soon to be forthcoming) BETTIE, inspired by the trials and tribulations of the 50s icon Bettie Page, suggests ‘cut above’ songwriting that puts this tribe ahead of the pack. Give these gals a spin at your first opportunity: you’ll be bopping like Freddie Stoned and Ginger Rockers.

(A. D Stranik)

Track list…

1) Caveman Stomp

2) Psycho Bitch

3) Barbaric Baby

4) Wild

5) Ooga Booga Kinda Love

6) Bad to the Bone

7) Neanderthal Man (Run Run)

8) Real Wild Child (Wild One)

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