The House Is Rockin'

“The House Is Rockin’” is a high-energy track from Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble’s 1989 album In Step, and it’s got a vibe that perfectly fits the Zoo Crew’s groovy, free-spirited radio aesthetic. The song, written by Stevie Ray Vaughan and his longtime collaborator Doyle Bramhall, was a gift from the band to Vaughan, celebrating his hard-won sobriety after years of struggling with addiction. According to a post on Reddit, fans noted that the track’s upbeat, boogie-driven rhythm was a nod to Vaughan’s renewed energy and personal triumph. Its infectious groove made it a standout, even inspiring a memorable use in the 1996 film Multiplicity, where it plays as Michael Keaton’s character works on fixing up his home, as mentioned on I Love Blues Guitar. The song’s title also riffs on a cheeky 1970s bumper sticker, “If this van’s a-rockin’, don’t bother knockin’,” giving it a playful, countercultural edge that Zoo Freaks would totally dig.

Another cool tidbit about “The House Is Rockin’” comes from its musical setup. Transcribers on Ultimate-Guitar.com suggest tuning down a half step and using .013 gauge strings on a vintage Fender Stratocaster through a Fender amp to nail Vaughan’s tone. This setup captures the raw, gritty energy that makes the song explode through the speakers. Fans on social media, like a post from Stevie Ray Vaughan’s official Facebook page in 2020, have raved about the track’s live-wire feel, with the official music video racking up over 1.3 million views and thousands of shares. The song’s lyrics, with lines like “Kick off your shoes, start losin’ the blues,” invite listeners to let loose, making it a perfect anthem for the Zoo Crew’s laid-back, party-ready audience.

Stevie Ray Vaughan, born in Dallas, Texas, in 1954, was a guitar prodigy who redefined blues rock in the 1980s. Inspired by his older brother Jimmie, a talented guitarist himself, Vaughan picked up the guitar at age seven and was gigging by nine, as detailed in his bio on AllMusic. He honed his craft in Austin’s vibrant club scene during his teens, dropping out of high school to chase music full-time. By the late 1970s, he formed Double Trouble—named after an Otis Rush song—with drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon (joined later by keyboardist Reese Wynans). Their big break came in 1982 at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where they caught the eye of David Bowie and John Hammond, leading to a record deal with Epic Records and Vaughan’s studio work on Bowie’s Let’s Dance. His debut album, Texas Flood, released in 1983, showcased his fiery, soulful style, blending influences from Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, and T-Bone Walker.

Vaughan’s journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. His struggles with addiction sidelined him in the mid-1980s, but after rehab, he roared back with In Step, the album that gave us “The House Is Rockin’.” Tragically, his life was cut short in a 1990 helicopter crash, but his legacy lives on through his music and passionate fanbase. You can stay connected with his official pages: The Official Stevie Ray Vaughan Site, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather on sites like I Love Blues Guitar and in Facebook groups such as Stevie Ray Vaughan Fans, where Zoo Freaks can share their love for his music and swap stories about tracks like “The House Is Rockin’.”