Rolling Stone Network: Live - Asylum Street Spankers
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 00:40:52 -0500 From: Vickie Lucero [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Organization: Propaganda Media X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 Subject: Rolling Stone Network: Live- The Asylum Street Spankers Status: Music the way God intended it. Asylum Street Spankers Mercury Lounge, New York, April 18, 1999 It takes considerable balls for a band to face a packed New York City club and play an entire show without a single mic or amp on stage. It takes even bigger cajones to ask that crowd to sit down on the grubby, cigarette-strewn floor for the length of two entire sets. But for the Asylum Street Spankers, it was just business as usual. The Spankers are a ten-member-strong collective of musicians from Austin, Texas, that specializes in a hybrid mix of swing, jazz, country and lounge. The band members, ranging in age from twenty to fifty-something, include (among others): a portly old ukelele and guitar player in overalls named Pops; an even older, skinny cat with a clarinet and cool beat poet's rasp; a blond siren with a huge tattoo on her back and voice that moves from Betty Boop to Bessie Smith in a heartbeat; a guy with a huckster suit, shades, kazoo and Sammy Davis Jr. vocal chops named Mysterious John; and a long-haired washboard-and-harmonica-playing loudmouth named Wammo. Then there's their real gimmick: everything, including vocals, is delivered completely sans amplification. "Music," proclaimed Mysterious John, "the way God intended it." That's assuming, of course, that God's got a stoner sense of humor bluer than Cheech and Butthead in a barrel of skin mags. The Spankers do a lot of things very well, but they excel at lowbrow bawdiness. Pops sang about funny cigarettes and Whitehouse politics, wherein "you gotta go down to go up." Wammo, who earlier had pointed out that his parents and family doctor were in the house, invited audience participation during a sing-along about his scrotum. Mysterious John hammed through a paean called "Fanny," which closed with the band leaping into the chorus of Spinal Tap's "Big Bottom." And during the last song of the evening, "Shave 'Em Dry," Christina Marrs grabbed her crotch through her long black dress and salaciously boasted, "I got fat from fucking!" Juvenile? Hell yes, but the Spankers pull it off like vaudevillian pros and back it up with serious musical talent. For every tribute to sex and drugs, there was a straight-up tribute to giants like Benny Goodman, Al Jolson, Django Reinhardt and Hank Williams. Several of the bandmembers took turns on lead vocals, but the standouts were Marrs and clarinetist Stanley "Cool Pops" Smith. Marrs stands out on one level as the lone female in the bunch, but it's her extraordinary vocal range that stole the show tonight. She would sing one song in twee sex-pot caricature, and belt out the next in a full-bodied, sultry roar which made it perfectly clear why the Spankers get along just fine without microphones. And when Smith took the spotlight to blow a solo, sing-speak a verse or even just snap his fingers to the beat of the stand-up bass and brushed snare drum, the shenanigans ceased and the Spankers snapped into class. It was announced that Smith would be leaving the group in the immediate future, and his loss to the band will be a great one. That's not to say Smith's departure will cripple the band. Not by a long shot. As evidenced tonight, there's too much inventiveness in this group to go around for it to hang together by any single talent. The opening song, "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie," was all about Marrs' high, sweet voice and ukulele, until Wammo cupped his hands over his nose and mouth and began to scat like a warbled old 78 record being piped in straight from either Mars or 1925 while the band kicked in behind him. Things would only get weirder as the Spankers went on to play for two and a half more hours, but after that opening flash of inspired, lunatic brilliance, the rest was all gravy. RICHARD SKANSE (April 22, 1999)
RE: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
I know I'm a little late in chiming in here, since I was out of the office here, but I couldn't help but add that this part: Would you please go find a life. ... was pretty hysterical given that, for my money, Jon is the best bass player in this area, and regularly anchors the bottom end for three (occasionally four) top-notch bands. Dave *** Dave Purcell, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Northern Ky Roots Music: http://w3.one.net/~newport Twangfest: http://www.twangfest.com
RE: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
Interested musicians must be incredibly badass. In fact, unless you have chops to burn, don't bother. Gee, and here I thought that feeling would have to be the number one qualification Jon Weisberger Kenton County, KY [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.fuse.net/jonweisberger/
RE: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
Interested musicians must be incredibly badass. In fact, unless you have chops to burn, don't bother. Gee, and here I thought that feeling would have to be the number one qualification Would you please go find a life. I have a band in crisis here and I certainly don't need every middle-aged mediocrity's two cents. Unlike you and your ilk, these are world-class players and all the "feeling" in the world is not gonna allow a half-assed player to keep up with this band. Though you might be more interesting if you spent your time doing something other than taking swipes at every post that comes down the pike, you're not nearly as clever as you think you are. So, please tell me what purpose your post serves. It certainly doesn't help me or this great band. What it does is illustrate your sullen smugness and beg the question of why you don't have better things to do. And if you or anyone out there takes issue with my tone, tough. My post set out some pretty stringent qualifications. Unlike Weisberger I don't have time to waste by qualifying everything I say for the consuption of lameasses who can't handle a little direct communication. I'm over here doing things rather than taking shots at people who do things.
Re: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
Someone's gonna have to say it, and better not-Jon than Jon: JP, you completely misconstrued Weisberger's meaning here - it was an inside-joking reference to Jon's long, untiring **defence** of the importance of chops in country (and other) music. In other words, he agrees with you completely. He was kidding, and he wasn't taking a shot at you but at various of his P2 sparring partners (Roy Kasten, call home). Fair enough you didn't get the context (request the P2 archive containing the Freakwater Chronicles for clarification), and by the sounds of it you're under stress right now. But it's boorish, to say the least, to refer to "you and your ilk" when clearly you don't know the first thing about what Jon's ilk might be. I'm always amused when people declare themselves to be above basic social decency. The Superiority Fairy works in mysterious ways. carl w. Reidle: Interested musicians must be incredibly badass. In fact, unless you have chops to burn, don't bother. Weisberger: Gee, and here I thought that feeling would have to be the number one qualification Reidle: Would you please go find a life. I have a band in crisis here and I certainly don't need every middle-aged mediocrity's two cents. Unlike you and your ilk, these are world-class players and all the "feeling" in the world is not gonna allow a half-assed player to keep up with this band... (blah blah blah ad nauseum).
Re: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
On Tue, 13 Apr 1999 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: JP, you completely misconstrued Weisberger's meaning here He sure did, and managed to insert a pretty big foot in his mouth in the process. I love ya, ya hot-headed cajun, but jesus christ, you might wanna think twice before levelling a stream of personal insults at someone over something that you obviously misunderstood. And speaking to the group in general now, please try to be civil when posting to P2 and refrain from hurling insults at your fellow P2ers. It usually only makes *you* look bad, and not your intended target.--don
Re: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
Hey there, Carl to JP JP, you completely misconstrued Weisberger's meaning here - it was an inside-joking reference to Jon's long, untiring **defence** of the importance of chops in country (and other) music. Well, Weisberger's post looked like an insult to me too. Perhaps Jon W should be sure to add g's and in-jokes going on two years old deserve a bit of explanation, ya think? Later... CK who's been around over two years ___ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
Re: Asylum Street Spankers looking for musicians
In a message dated 4/13/99 9:50:23 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Well, Weisberger's post looked like an insult to me too. Perhaps Jon W should be sure to add g's and in-jokes going on two years old deserve a bit of explanation, ya think? Having been on the receiving (and delivering) end of a few barbs with the bluegrass nazi (no antisemitic offense, it's trendy), it gets old after a while. I can see JP's POV, and while he was legitimately offended at a questionable post he did see the error in his ways. But nevertheless, when more than one person is over it, maybe it's time to lighten up. JP made an honest request for some P2 help, and while I wanted to send him a private message of support, his apology post inspired me to make a more public statement. I guess I will have to practice what I preach. Slim np - Toni Price "Low Down And Up"
Asylum Street Spankers
Hullo hullo folks -- Yes, those Spankers are mighty good, if you ask me. I waitressed during their set at the Hideout last Friday and was blown away by their collective musicianship and the fabulous pipes of Miss Christina. She was also the most incredible saw player I've ever seen. O.K., so I haven't seen too many saw players, but she was articulate and oh so keen on that blade. She was cranky about it being her birthday and all, but about a thousand people bought her bourbon and cokes -- and she loosened up just in time to blow out the candles on the birthday cake that the Hideout provided. Go see 'em if you can -- the all-acoustic Luddite atmosphere is very affecting -- goosepimply -- and they're dirtybirds too. Still trying to visualize nipples as big as thumbs. Hm... My two tiny cents, respectfully submitted -- Hogan PS, re: The Hideout -- 1354 W Wabansia 773-227-4433 All Chicagoans be aware, I am now bartending at "the house of love" every Tuesday from 2PM-8PM. Come play hooky with me and the Hanna Cylinder Factory and Chicago City Garbage Truck Fleet regulars. See you there. KH
Re: Go see the Asylum Street Spankers-in Pittsburgh
Thurs April 15 -Fri April 16 at The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, Liberty Ave Pittsburgh Karl At 08:11 AM 4/9/99 -0400, you wrote: On Fri, 9 Apr 1999, Bob Soron wrote: If I weren't seeing The World's Allegedly Best Living Songwriter Who Was So Bad I Couldn't Wait to Walk Out on Him (hi Deb#s) tomorrow WHo is Bob/Deb referring to here?? This is too intriguing g . . . -jim
Re: Go see the Asylum Street Spankers
I strongly have to agree with Bob. After seeing last nights show, I am just hooked. Chicago Dave- without electricity as God meant him to be. From: Bob Soron [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "passenger side" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Go see the Asylum Street Spankers Date: Fri, 9 Apr 1999 01:58:03 -0500 They are *really* good on this tour. They played Schuba's tonight, the crowd generally respecting the fact that these people were playing without amplification at all, and it was one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. Christina Marrs must have one of the best voices on this green Earth, and I was surprised that they started out with "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie," but damned if she didn't hit all the notes. If I weren't seeing The World's Allegedly Best Living Songwriter Who Was So Bad I Couldn't Wait to Walk Out on Him (hi Deb#s) tomorrow night, I'd be there at the Hideout for that show. (If any Chicagoans go, it's Christina Marrs' birthday, so get her drunk.) JP posted the tour schedule not long ago, and maybe he'll do it again. Too good to miss. PS to Chicagoans: If you see this in time and you can sink low enough to tune in, they're on Mancow in the Morning at 8 AM. Bob ___ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
Re: Go see the Asylum Street Spankers
At 8:11 AM -0400 on 4/9/99, James Gerard Roll wrote: On Fri, 9 Apr 1999, Bob Soron wrote: If I weren't seeing The World's Allegedly Best Living Songwriter Who Was So Bad I Couldn't Wait to Walk Out on Him (hi Deb#s) tomorrow WHo is Bob/Deb referring to here?? This is too intriguing g . . . OK, just a small hint: His first name is Vic and a local paper misspelled his last name as Chestnut. He opened for the Cowboy Junkies a few years ago and in self-defense I lasted a lot longer than most of the crowd. Until then, the Junkies had shown great taste in opening acts, but Vic packed the theater's foyer and restrooms. Bob
Re: Street Spankers
Street Spankers will be live on my radio show on Monday. Guess I'll have to ask them to be sure to not do any of their cussin songs here in the bible belt! Nancy
