Friday, January 9, 2009

The Asylum Street Spankers

The Asylum Street Spankers have everything that I enjoy in a band. They are really more than a band, they are also a bit of a theater troup. They formed in Austin, Texas in 1994, their music for the most part is rooted in early 20th century American musical forms.

Their history as presented at Wikipedia states;
Founded by Guy Forsyth, Wammo and Christina Marrs at a legendary party at the famous Dabbs Hotel along the Llano River in Texas, the band began by busking on the streets of Austin and playing for tips in bars. In their earliest days, the Spankers' repertoire consisted almost entirely of country, blues, jazz, swing and Tin Pan Alley songs dating from the 1890s to the 1950s with a particular emphasis on the 1920s and 1930s. While their tone was raucous and irreverent, the band was also known for its musicianship, theatricality and militant acousticism. Until 2004 they played the vast majority of their concerts without any amplification at all. Not only did this heighten the theatricality of their shows, it caused the musicians to develop inventive vocal and instrumental arrangements in order to constantly engage an audience in such a quiet performance. Several early members were actors and nearly all members have been multi-instrumentalists.
What? And Give Up Show Biz?
What? And Give Up Show Biz?
please click image for info @Amazon.ocm


No comments: