Big John Bates rocks while Dollz off

Big John Bates is not an idiot. He knows sex sells.

But he also knows he’s a pretty darn good musician and he’s got a solid shtick going.

So he accepts that he might not get the turnout he would hope for on Thursday at The B-Side, since his scantily clad burlesque dancers The Voodoo Dollz (Rowdy Rosie and Jailbait Jenny) couldn’t make it across the border for his brief U.S. tour that began last week.

But the Canadian psychobilly six-string demon still expects it’ll be a wild party nonetheless with himself, The High Priestess of upright bass spankin’ sCare-oline and their sixth drummer in four years busting out his notorious brand of darktown psycho-a-go-go.

“The Voodoo Dollz dance on about seven songs out of 25 songs that we play,” Bates said during a telephone interview just minutes after he crossed the border. “It’s not like we’re without any sort of ability to entertain.”

Indeed, the half-naked flame-twirling ladies shakin’ it are not quite half of the show. They would be pointless side porn without the real draw, Bates and sCare-oline’s mean musicianship and spookinky lyrical images of evil brain-eating vampire-zombie lezbos from hell.

It’s that crazy and catchy blend of bad-mojo-punkabilly-on-crank horrorcore that single-handedly gave Vancouver, B.C., a reputation of having an anything-a-billy scene. In rockabilly circles, Bates’ second album, “Mystiki” (2003), is considered a cult-classic alongside the best of works by the Reverend Horton Heat, The Cramps and Tiger Army. And it isn’t because of the dancin’ women.

And the stripped-down show still keeps its share of sex appeal with sCare-oline taking timeouts to bellydance in chainmail outfits she made.

To better get to know Bates and sCare, check the results from a quick Q&A:

7: Favorite incarnation of the devil?

sCare-oline: Louis Cyphre in “Angel Heart” because Robert De Niro is dead sexy.

7: When it comes to nations of the undead, it seems like you’re really into zombies. But wouldn’t vampires kick their butts?

Bates: You’d think so. But there are all sorts of ways to kill vampires. Zombies are fairly difficult to knock down.

7: How much did you sell your soul for?

Bates: $9.99. I was drunk at the time.

7: Favorite of the seven deadly sins?

sCareoline: Lust for $1,000.

Have a Halloween pre-funk with Big John Bates and sCare-oline at 9:30 p.m. Thursday at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside. Local cult-fave The Dearly Departed opens the show. The cover is $4.

Club hoppin’

• Local metal favorites Five Foot Thick headlines an all-ages show on Thursday starting at 9 p.m. at Fat Tuesday’s. Also on the bill are metalheads Drown Mary, Ambeo and Cryptonic. Tickets are $7 at the door.

• With members from metal bands around town, Fine For Now hosts a CD release party Friday at Crazy 8s, 20 E. Lincoln. Check for Domeshots, of Oakland, Calif., along with hometowners Riverside and Forget the Silence. Tickets are $6 at the door for the 21-and- older event. Showtime is 9 p.m.

• The Domeshots also play at Talotti’s 211, 211 N. Division, with Madside, also of Oakland, Calif., and local rock band Clintch. There is a $5 cover. Showtime is 8 p.m.