Searching For The New Sound

I'm going to post one or two questions at a time. Yeah, fair enough, this game is somewhat consuming my blog, but I'm enjoying your questions just as much as any other topic, and this way, I can dedicate just the right length not to fatigue you all. So, with wonderful pictures from the great Abdul Nusrat, an answer for Dave:

1. You're the key creative force behind a great band. Describe your sound.

I've gotta thank you for this opportunity, I really think the world is ready for the tuneful stylings of Cracker Honky's Shindig Collective. 

Described as 'an utterly bewildering revision of folk-punk with a nod to jazz and a wink to soul' (The Guardian), the band are instantly recogniseable thanks to a concoction of several ingredients. Firstly, there is the deep, warm sound of double bass and the labyrinthine piano stylings (provided by Just Five Fingers Lawson and Davus 'FUCK POP' Heitler respectively). Together, the listener is swept up in a strange vision of New Orleans where steampunk has taken over. The steampunk aesthetic is wonderfully illustrated by Sound-smith, occasional vocalist and bongo-master Cracker Honky Strachan by a clear embrace of pioneering sound technology (to the extent that one wonders whether Strachan harbours a fetish for such equipment). If you've ever wondered how the music of The Wild West might have sounded if they only had a decent synthesizer, Cracker Honkey is your best bet of finding your answer. On guitar (acoustic or electric, depending on how he feels on the night) is Corndog 'Mo' Guacamole' McStay, his sound being the pillar of the punk aspect of the outfit. Though Corndog's roots lie mainly in the prog genre, having already cemented his place in history alongside 'Yes' and 'Mike Oldfield', his desires to race into 'Prog Archives' history are negotiated by a contractual deal that the band only perform gigs on evenings of no wind. This gives Cracker Honky's Shindig Collective's concerts an entirely unusual tone (and to an extent, an unusual following) as fans famously bring kites with them to gigs in the event that the wind picks up, so that they can join Corndog in flight each time he dashes from the stage.

 

Also with the band is lead vocalist Mu-c, who's stunning range and engaging tone lends to the band's sound a versatility that could see an album, such as 2009's upcoming release Party With Patsy, ranging from Marvin Gaye-esque smoothness to the theatrical boldness of Nick Cave. Cracker Honkey tends to step in with Jeff Mangum, of Neutral Milk Hotel, style vocals. Incidentally, Neutral Milk Hotel will be reforming especially to support the band on their next tour. 

Regular collaborative artists are Chloe 'Citrus Killer' Belcher (massive recorder) and Papa Collins (trumpet), who appear on each album, particularly on the epic tracks, where the band feel the sound is just too epic for them to carry alone.