One of the few Irish punk/Klezmer/E. Euro punk bands I’ve been listening to longer than your music! On the record this song as listed as “Yiddish Wedding Song”.
Yeah man, they’re crazy good, though pretty religious at the time. The guitarist/second singer started another punk band called Beat-Up a few years ago that is stellar. I highly recommend them.
Guys. I have it. Golden Brown by the Stranglers. put your spin on a 70's "pre-punk" punk song. Weird 60's psychedelic vibe and all please. There's some real inspo here.
While you shoot for a song that gets everyone up and drunkenly yelling portentous exhortations that change the world and shift the the axis of reality, don't ignore the delightful-cacophony-barely-organized-frumious-nonsense of something like Twankadillo. Is that a compliment? I said 'something like'.
There's a couple songs that are interesting to me. "John Ryan's Polka" is fun, but no words. Somehow the best version I've come across is from a band called "The Cherry Coke$" and they're from Japan I believe. One of my personal favorite songs is "Wayfaring Stranger" specifically the version sung by Jos Slovick in the war film "1917." That version is, somber to say the least. Empty, and yet full of emotion. There's a band that I've listened to a couple different times called "The Crane Wives" and they're a country/folk/rock(?) band. They've got an interesting style going on to say the least. Cheers.
Music has to be a voice, not background noise. I'd point out your songs where this works well, but that would be a compliment. SB's "Baba Yaga" and crunchy opening guitar riffs on Greenman Rising's "Bedlam Boys" come quickly to mind. Gypsophilia for a bit of something different in musical voice, album "When we Remembered You".
Oh! And what about some music hall or vaudeville inspired stuff? I also would like to hear your interpretation of Godiva’s Hymn (aka The Engineer’s Drinking Song -- cool history there).
In my experience, it's a dangerous sign in any artist when they go "I dunno, am I original enough? Cool enough? Interesting enough?" because invariably they end up switching to left-brain analysis and anxious overthought hamfisted bashing, and sever whatever connection they had to The Great Creative Potentia from which they drew the stuff that really sang. I understand; it gets boring to do the same thing over and over again. But a) if it ain't broke, and b) let it grow organically and be open to what the art wants, vs imposing what you want upon it. Everyone evolves over time, but forcing it tends to break it.
You wrote in your next post about how your music is sorta joining the canon – is that not the ultimate reward? Things don't become classic just because they do something novel; they have to touch something in the soul that people widely respond to, and want to come back to, and share. In storytelling, there's absolutely a pattern that Works and a lot of people trying to break it who Don't; why should it be any different for a song? To you the refrain of Dusty Ground may be words, words, words, but evidently it hits a nerve for a lot of people. That ought to count for something, even if you personally think they're full of crap! Maybe you just can't see what they see because you're too close to it.
Right, I think I managed to get through this without any actual compliments, but if they have sneaked in, please accept them as having jumped into the boat unbidden rather than having taken the bait ...
A few more ideas, in an effort to avoid too much retreading of familiar ground:
- Dip into Scottish folk a bit. In my experience, nowhere near as prevalent in the Celtic Rock circuit. Green Hills of Tyrol by the Real McKenzies is a good example.
- Skew a little more Alpine and less Eastern European in terms of folk music. For instance, there's a distinct tonal difference between stuff you'd hear played at an Oktoberfest celebration and Klezmer.
- If you want a REAL deep cut, poke your nose into the American Civil War (this suggestion brought to you in part by Foreign Skies, which is a god-damned treasure of an album). For example, "Just Before the Battle, Mother" has a similar tone to "The Best of 'Em," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (a/k/a Grapes of Wrath a/k/a Glory Glory Hallelujah) is sufficiently jaunty but suffused with enough meaning and historical significance to warrant a folksy punk cover.
I'm aware the third suggestion is uniquely American and thus limited in scope, and it also might be a tad...fractious in the modern political landscape. Arguably, however, that makes it even more punk.
Wellll, since you’re asking... I’m always on the lookout for more energetic versions of classical music. I like Uli Jon Roth playing Vivaldi, Procol Harum’s “Blue Danube”, and Radiohead’s “Exit Music (for a film)”, to name a few. Put a punky Klezmer spin on some Brandenburg Concertos or Swan Lake and wow! Just make sure there’s a lot of growling and whooping and yelling. Or maybe make up some lyrics to sing along... There’s an old Irish band that did a neat interpretation of Pachelbel’s Canon that cleverly morphed into Hava Nagila, which was really great only there wasn’t quite enough yelling in it. Apologies for the word “yelling”, but I don’t quite know the right word for those joyful vocalizations.
Wow! Great ideas, have been thinking about this as well. What classical piece is "Exit Music" based off? Also, fun fact, that version of Canon in D was my band. (Not sure if you knew that?)
One of the few Irish punk/Klezmer/E. Euro punk bands I’ve been listening to longer than your music! On the record this song as listed as “Yiddish Wedding Song”.
https://youtu.be/yCFfvWQ2G2c?si=jbcNVXHu7k8XKXVr
Album downloaded and listening right now! Great stuff.
Yeah man, they’re crazy good, though pretty religious at the time. The guitarist/second singer started another punk band called Beat-Up a few years ago that is stellar. I highly recommend them.
nice. The religious thing somehow makes it even more punk.
Guys. I have it. Golden Brown by the Stranglers. put your spin on a 70's "pre-punk" punk song. Weird 60's psychedelic vibe and all please. There's some real inspo here.
Also, This song was featured in Guy Ritchie's seminal film "Snatch". Which is a perfect film in my eyes.
We are coming to the Cleveland show--stoked to see y’all again!
Yussssssssss
While you shoot for a song that gets everyone up and drunkenly yelling portentous exhortations that change the world and shift the the axis of reality, don't ignore the delightful-cacophony-barely-organized-frumious-nonsense of something like Twankadillo. Is that a compliment? I said 'something like'.
Sure! But that's not an original song, so we accept the compliment. :D
Frumious nonsense and drunken waltzing. Seasoned with a howl at the moon, whiskey, and cider. You have my opinion. It's all I got.
Drunken waltzing is dangerously underrated
Reread the article. There was an off note. Found it: "...any bands or artists or songs we should be emulating more." No.
There's a couple songs that are interesting to me. "John Ryan's Polka" is fun, but no words. Somehow the best version I've come across is from a band called "The Cherry Coke$" and they're from Japan I believe. One of my personal favorite songs is "Wayfaring Stranger" specifically the version sung by Jos Slovick in the war film "1917." That version is, somber to say the least. Empty, and yet full of emotion. There's a band that I've listened to a couple different times called "The Crane Wives" and they're a country/folk/rock(?) band. They've got an interesting style going on to say the least. Cheers.
The Cherry Coke$ blew my mind many times in the past with their skill and creativity for sure!
Music has to be a voice, not background noise. I'd point out your songs where this works well, but that would be a compliment. SB's "Baba Yaga" and crunchy opening guitar riffs on Greenman Rising's "Bedlam Boys" come quickly to mind. Gypsophilia for a bit of something different in musical voice, album "When we Remembered You".
Oh! And what about some music hall or vaudeville inspired stuff? I also would like to hear your interpretation of Godiva’s Hymn (aka The Engineer’s Drinking Song -- cool history there).
In my experience, it's a dangerous sign in any artist when they go "I dunno, am I original enough? Cool enough? Interesting enough?" because invariably they end up switching to left-brain analysis and anxious overthought hamfisted bashing, and sever whatever connection they had to The Great Creative Potentia from which they drew the stuff that really sang. I understand; it gets boring to do the same thing over and over again. But a) if it ain't broke, and b) let it grow organically and be open to what the art wants, vs imposing what you want upon it. Everyone evolves over time, but forcing it tends to break it.
You wrote in your next post about how your music is sorta joining the canon – is that not the ultimate reward? Things don't become classic just because they do something novel; they have to touch something in the soul that people widely respond to, and want to come back to, and share. In storytelling, there's absolutely a pattern that Works and a lot of people trying to break it who Don't; why should it be any different for a song? To you the refrain of Dusty Ground may be words, words, words, but evidently it hits a nerve for a lot of people. That ought to count for something, even if you personally think they're full of crap! Maybe you just can't see what they see because you're too close to it.
Right, I think I managed to get through this without any actual compliments, but if they have sneaked in, please accept them as having jumped into the boat unbidden rather than having taken the bait ...
A few more ideas, in an effort to avoid too much retreading of familiar ground:
- Dip into Scottish folk a bit. In my experience, nowhere near as prevalent in the Celtic Rock circuit. Green Hills of Tyrol by the Real McKenzies is a good example.
- Skew a little more Alpine and less Eastern European in terms of folk music. For instance, there's a distinct tonal difference between stuff you'd hear played at an Oktoberfest celebration and Klezmer.
- If you want a REAL deep cut, poke your nose into the American Civil War (this suggestion brought to you in part by Foreign Skies, which is a god-damned treasure of an album). For example, "Just Before the Battle, Mother" has a similar tone to "The Best of 'Em," and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (a/k/a Grapes of Wrath a/k/a Glory Glory Hallelujah) is sufficiently jaunty but suffused with enough meaning and historical significance to warrant a folksy punk cover.
I'm aware the third suggestion is uniquely American and thus limited in scope, and it also might be a tad...fractious in the modern political landscape. Arguably, however, that makes it even more punk.
I know the answer.
And if you are looking for some goose bumps:
https://youtu.be/gZWZRafCFJw?si=sD_U8hfNmzhjbdQQ
There is so much fun and beauty on Figli die Madre Ignota‘s great album Tamboo Tamboo, give it a listen:
https://music.apple.com/de/album/tamboo-tamboo/115259929
Unfortunately, they made just one good record after that one and then startet to suck.
Wellll, since you’re asking... I’m always on the lookout for more energetic versions of classical music. I like Uli Jon Roth playing Vivaldi, Procol Harum’s “Blue Danube”, and Radiohead’s “Exit Music (for a film)”, to name a few. Put a punky Klezmer spin on some Brandenburg Concertos or Swan Lake and wow! Just make sure there’s a lot of growling and whooping and yelling. Or maybe make up some lyrics to sing along... There’s an old Irish band that did a neat interpretation of Pachelbel’s Canon that cleverly morphed into Hava Nagila, which was really great only there wasn’t quite enough yelling in it. Apologies for the word “yelling”, but I don’t quite know the right word for those joyful vocalizations.
Wow! Great ideas, have been thinking about this as well. What classical piece is "Exit Music" based off? Also, fun fact, that version of Canon in D was my band. (Not sure if you knew that?)
I was hoping you’d recognize yourself! Exit Music is based on a Chopin Prelude. I had to double check -- Op. 28 No. 4.
As long as we're discussing classics, anyone else feel like "In the Hall of the Mountain King" was made for the Dreadnoughts to blow the f**k up?
Heck yeah! And how about Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5? That one would blow up nicely too.
Okay now that's a premium suggestion!
I'd love to hear that version of Canon. Where can I find it?
Look for McGravy’s Iron Liver EP by Siobhan. Good stuff! https://music.apple.com/us/album/mcgravys-iron-liver-ep/384177711
Wow, thanks for the quick reply!
For sure! Always happy to share the music!