Life Is a Cabaret in a Blender

Bernadette Quigley is press agent to some of the most unique rock musicians performing these days. You want to have fun, experience something different and diverting, have your minds blown? Check out the fantastic bands this woman represents.

Tonight, it was back to the now-trendy lower east side and to The Living Room, on Ludlow Street. I love those rooms (bar in front, rock cabaret behind the curtains) with their inspired sense of streamlined, somewhat retro decor (they even installed a photo booth) and the performance space's acoustics that are to die for. The last time I was invited to a show by Bernadette, it was to see Spottiswoode and His Enemies (previously blogged about here). This time, it was to see the band, Life in a Blender.

Bernadette confided that she couldn't represent talent she didn't believe in or wasn't personally impressed with. Her taste couldn't be more discerning from what I've seen and heard so far. (Bernadette also represents Pinataland, which I have yet to sample). I joined her and her husband (songwriter, producer, musician Don Rosler) for tonight's performance.

Life in a Blender has been together for 25 years and their songs, largely written by frontman and lead singer, Don Ralph, are both funny and poetic. Ralph, who appeared in thick-lensed eyeglasses (and a grey wig) reminded me of Steve Allen, not just physically, or in the way he grins and has an easy laugh, frequently self-amused; but in terms of being a clever songwriter and funny man rolled into one and successful in being both.

Highlights of the evening included the songs "Tell Me I'm Pretty" (the opener) and "Mobile Wash Unit," a sing-along that was used in the documentary film, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox. Ralph has co-written song with members of other notable rock groups like They Might Be Giants and The Waitresses.

The numbers frequently have a very raw, punk energy, somewhere in the vicinity of Talking Heads and Devo, perhaps mixed with a little rock jug-band a'la Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks. Strings (Rebecca Weiner Tompkins on violin, Dave Moody on cello) add an ethereal touch (even when Don is screaming over them with fever-pitched rock'n'roll vitality). Al Houghton on guitar, and Mark Lerner on bass, give good back-up vocals as required. Mark's son, Lukas, replaced Ken Meyer for this performance (as if he knew each number by heart).

Highly recommended, Life in a Blender's music can be downloaded at Amazon's Life in a Blender store, and you can buy their cds or download from CD Baby.

Meet Spottiswoode & His Enemies

Disco dj Buddy Beaverhausen eschewed his West Village/Chelsea haunts to go down, down, down to the refreshed, regenerated Lower East Side on Sunday, Halloween eve, for a little bit of live, raw rock'n'roll. New York-based rock band, Spottiswoode & His Enemies, performed at the chic, little, crunchy space, The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street. I sat with my friends, Bernadette Quigley (the hardest working press agent a band can have); her husband, Don Rosler of Rosler's Recording Booth (Don Rosler music available on CD Baby, check it out) and cabaret critic for Edge New York and Bistro Awards, Kevin Scott Hall (who interviewed Jonathan Spottiswoode recently in Edge).

The 7-member rock band astounded (three of whom are openly gay (psst, it's Tony, Kevin and Candace)). The band is composed of: Jonathan Spottiswoode on vocals, guitar; John Young on bass; Tim Vaill - drums; Candace DeBartolo - saxophone, clarinet, flute, vocals; Kevin Cordt - trumpet, violin, vocals; Riley McMahon - guitars, mandolin, lap steel guitar, banjo, glockenspiel, percussion; Tony Lauria - piano, organ, accordion; wonderful together. Their sound is a unique, sometimes redefining, catchy, intelligently written, frequently brilliant style of pop that I settled in to listen to and enjoyed fully right from the opener.

"His voice is especially gravelly tonight," Bernadette whispered gleefully about front man Jonathan Spottiswoode, who also writes most of the band's music. Think kind of in the same ballpark as Tom Waits on the gravelometer. But I loved when Jonathan let out his magnificently atonal howls. My God, no wonder he's gravelly! I don't know if he has nodules on his vocal cords yet, but they're otherwise on their way.

The Brit-born American singer, dressed in a suave Bohemian jacket and scarf motif, moves like Jagger but sometimes does the Joe Cocker spazz as well. Very kinetic-asstastic! Song styles range all over the place. Rock, jazz, blues, bosa nova, folk ballad and any combination of the above plus more. And the lyrics are clever and just a joy to listen to. The New Yorker wrote, "Jonathan Spottiswoode... writes astringent ballads and groovy pop songs with equal aplomb." So there.

Last night's show was the last for their residency at The Living Room and, not surprisingly, it was packed. Ms Quigley assured me Spottiswoode with frienemies are now going on hiatus (hopefully brief) with future dates to be announced. The band has been together for 13 years and their recently released album is Wild Goosechase Expedition. (Love that name!) That title song opened the night's set, full of fun sound & visual effects, not to mention silly, macabre limericks for Halloween. Their number, "Chelsea Boys" (not part of that set) is already a gay Christmas fave. You can listen, download, play and stream the song, "Chelsea Boys," on demand on MySpace. Buy the music, catch the act, I swear they're poised for a breakthrough. Don't miss out!