Slim’s in downtown San Francisco was fully packed on Friday night with creeper shoes, high heels, pompadours, and ladies in Bettie Page hairdos for the two-night-stand kickoff of psychobilly band Tiger Army’s fifth “Octoberflame” tour.

Although the group originally hails from the Bay Area, they have not played a show in the area in over four years. The group is known for their loyal followers, many who sport the band’s “Tiger Bat” logo in permanent ink.

Many of Tiger Army’s fans have been following the band since the debut of their first studio album in 1999. The album was actually recorded here in Hayward at a studio called Art of Ears.

Over the following years, the band grew to become one of the most recognized of their genre.

The devotion of the crowd could be observed during the band’s self-described anthem, “Never Die” when the entire venue erupted in a charismatic chant of the tune’s titular lyric.

The energy in the room was easy to detect throughout the group’s entire set. The tiny, stuffy club was so full that it was impossible to scratch your nose without bumping into someone.

Yet fans smiled, sang along, danced, and when bassist Geoff Kresge beckoned, roared deafeningly.

Long-time fans were also surprised with a special appearance by original drummer Adam Carson, who now plays with the post-punk band AFI and resides in San Francisco.

They played a mix of songs from their four studio albums, the last of which came out in 2007.

The opening acts each night shared a punk rock ethic with Tiger Army, though the styles varied with each band, resulting in two distinctly different shows.

Skinhead rockers Death March and Michigan-based rockabilly group the Goddamn Gallows opened Friday night, while the dark, electronic sounds of God Module and “soul-pop” band Suedehead warmed up the crowd for a completely different set Saturday night.

Both nights were completely sold out, according to the box office website.

Many fans in attendance reported that they were attending both gigs.

Tiger Army dedicated one fast, rowdy song specifically to the fans their punk-influenced genre: “This one’s for the psychos!”

Frontman Nick 13 was referring to psychobillies, a niche subculture that evolved from an appreciation for the aesthetics of 1950’s Americana commingling with an outlaw attitude.

The favored musical styles of psychobillies involve amped-up rockabilly instruments, galloping drums, and wild guitar solos, mixed with dark, haunting lyrics.

Early psychobilly artists include Dick Dale and Reverend Horton Heat. Tiger Army was one of the most popular bands in a revival of the style in the punk scene during the late nineties and early 2000s.

Psychobillies commonly style their dress after 50’s rockabillies, with a dark twist. The band appeared in all black, with high, tight, fade haircuts and tattoos covering nearly every exposed inch of skin.

The band went on to play a date in Santa Cruz on Sunday and several more dates in Southern California over the week.

Based on the reception of the fans, Tiger Army’s homecoming to the Bay was long-awaited and warm.