Introducing Esmerelda Strange
Song List
Que Viva La Chava
This Ain't No Fucking Polka
Ballad of Flight 901
Cunning Linguist
The Moon and The Sea
Track #7
Angel De Mi Guardia
Te Quiero Mucho
San Francisco has
been the fermentation grounds of many a strange and wonderful
bands. I don't know if anyone comes close to Esmerelda Strange
these days. She's a singer, songwriter, and one person band.
She plays--accordion, drums -- and sings -- she combines
ethnic Latin and Eastern European and gypsy sounds with an
urban punk estethetic with a little rockabilly and early rock
thrown in--and alternates between singing in English and
Spanish.
My favorite song
on the album that just came out is "Ballad of Flight 901," an
homage to the rockers hwo have died in plane crashs. Compare
with "People Who Died," by Jim Carroll. Carroll was
reciting his friends who died mostly of drugs. As someone
who used to have to be coaxed onto an airplane with huge
amounts of alcohol, I found this song especially charming.
You may listen to some of the tracks from her CD below--
Esmerelda cites
some of her musical influences as Celso Pina, Queen Ida,
Boozoo Chavis, Clifton Chenier,Those Darn Accordions, The
Tiger Lillies, The Pogues, Calexico, Mano Negra, El Gran
Silencio, Astor Piazzolla, Lou Reed and The Clash. What about
Judy Tenuta?!
http://www.esmereldastrange.com
http://ia300234.us.archive.org/1/items/schlomorabinowitzEsmerelda/esmerelda.strange.mov
