Tag: Philadelphia

15 Days to Dragon*Con: Band Profile, This Way to the Egress

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First off–what a great band name.  This Way to the Egress, I can get behind that name.  This is another Steampunk band–or, according to their Dragon*Con profile, “an Ole Tymey Gypsypunk- Cabaret.”  The band is Philadelphia-based and is composed primarily of ‘Tyrant” Taylor Galassi, “Saddle Sarah Shown,” and Mischief M@ Verderosa.  The band also includes a rotating number of guest performers to supplement the main trio.

Here’s a little clip from their website bio:  “This Way to the Egress is an Ole Tymey – Gypsypunk- Cabaret. With a valiant effort to “bring the show back to the people” they are a revolving door of musical mayhem, sideshow, burlesque, and comedy leaving a modern twist on the good old days of Vaudeville. Like a renegade theater of sorts, they weave visual antics with eclectic sounds creating an experience unlike any other in their genre.”

So many Steampunk bands guys!  How on earth are we ever going to tell them apart?!  Oh well, let us listen to some music:

So that’s a video that shows lots of clips from their performances–yep, it looks like they have lots of live, circus-y act components to their shows, specifically components including attractive ladies during shimmy-ish things.

This video has a nine-year old kid in it!  Not entirely sure why.

Ack!  A Steampunk band in the daylight!

Oh hey, they played this one in Chapel Hill! Funsies.

Talking points:

–Steampunk band from Philadelphia

–Three main members

–Lots of circus-y components and shimmy-shimmy ladies.

Two thumbs up, because they sort of sound like aspects of the Decemberists that I like, and also like Beirut, and also who doesn’t love a fire-breather?

 

46 Days to Dragon*Con: Band Profile, Calabrese

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A blog commenter had the FANTASTIC recommendation of profiling some of the musicians and performances which will be happening at Dragon*Con.  This is a great idea, right?  I mean I have no idea who any of the bands are at Dragon*Con (minus, like, the Cruxshadows or Voltaire) and also they change lots, and also what if maybe I’d really like one of those bands but I don’t check them out because there are so many other things to do at Con?  Anyways, over the next 46 days I’ll be blogging about some of the live acts who will be at Dragon*Con.  I’ll do a mini-profile and drop some identifying features and also maybe some music clips.  This is way more interesting than photos of dragons, amirite (sorry guys, I had to get the countdown rolling with something!)

I first need to state that I am in no way, shape, or form a music connoisseur.  I like what I like and try not to focus on the popular trends and I’m not too discerning.  I’ll listen to pretty much anything except for country music, which is terrible, and yes I will listen to opera, which is great.  Also, “Call Me, Maybe” is pretty great too (shut up), so there you go.  So, these are not the opinions of a music critic, just someone who enjoys what she enjoys and is going to pass some pretty quick judgments on some bands based on a bit of internet searching.  Okay?  Okay.

So I’m going to go in order via the Dragon*Con guest page, and the first band on the list is Calabrese.  Calabrese (great name, btw), describes itself as the world’s greatest horror punk band.  The band consists of Jimmy, Davey, and Bobby Calabrese, brothers with an awesome last name.  The Dragon*Con website describes Calabrese as catering those who are not down with popular music nowadays (love it).  They have song titles like “Voices of the Dead” and “Backseat of my Hearse.”  The video for “Voices of the Dead” features some lucha libres.  Check it:

And here is “Backseat of My Hearse”

So the more I listen to this stuff guys, the more I legit like it.  It might not be the most original music, but it is fun, and these gentlemen seem to have a good sense of humor.  Also, leather jackets?! Also, it seems like they could have a good live show.  Also, it seems like my boyfriend would like Calabrese’s music too (plus!)  Also, they have webisodes!

This might not be the funniest of the webisodes but I like it because they go to Italy and they take their dad with them and they all eat gelato and it is sort of adorable.  I don’t like that they say their name with an American accent, and not the appropriate Calabray-seh.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

So here are the talking points for Calabrese (pronounced like an American would say it, sigh):

-Composed of three brothers with a penchant for leather jackets.

-Punkish-style band that sings about horror tropes.

-Webisodes with antics.

I’ll also score these bands on the very scientific two thumbs up (I’d totally see them at Dragon*Con!), one thumb up (Maybe I’d see them if my feet hurt and I needed somewhere to relax for a bit but I wouldn’t go out of my way to see them), no thumbs up (which band is this again?) and two thumbs down (ABSOLUTELY NOT).

Let’s give Calabrese a two thumbs up!  I can dig it.

OH ALSO: Their website has an ouija board.  It isn’t currently functional but still, an ouija board!  Rock on.