It’s inevitable that the ASYLUM STREET SPANKERS’ unclassifiable mixture of blues, vaudeville, jazz, C&W, cabaret, comedy, rock, etc. would hit the (off-)Broadway stage. What? And Give Up Show Biz? documents the Austin ensemble’s NYC stint on two CDs of what makes the Spankers great: catchy songs, instrumental virtuosity, high/low humor, funny and harrowing storytelling (like the chilling tale of the brakes tanking on the bus while barreling down a mountain) and a strong sense of camaraderie and family. Whether performing fan favorite originals (“Winning the War On Drugs,” “My Baby in the CIA,” “Breathin’,” “My Favorite Record,” a “Medley of Burned Out Songs” that includes most of their bluer material) or covers (*MUDDY WATERS*, IVORY JOE HUNTER, HARRY NILLSON and BLACK FLAG plus the group’s classic take on TAMPA RED’s “Tight Like That” interpolated with *JIM CARROLL*’s “People Who Died”), the Spankers balance art and hokum like no else in music.
http://www.asylumstreetspankers.com
http://www.yellowdogrecords.com
