They call it Gypsybilly. I call it awesome.
Okay, here’s all I want before I die: Somebody get New York City’s Butcher Knives and the UK’s Flipron on a co-headlining bill, then leave me alone while I do my spastic white boy dance because that lineup would include more genre-defying awesome than I could handle. Fire up this cut from the Butcher Knives’ upcoming album Misery, then we’ll talk more on the other side of the jump.
How much do you love that? Aren’t you just damned glad your buddy James is looking out for you? You’re welcome. Here’s how their website describes them:
With influences ranging from Mano Negra, The Clash, Johnny Cash, Gogol Bordello and Bob Marley to bluegrass, flamenco, traditional Eastern European music, rockabilly, and psychobilly, “Tell Me Why” is the perfect introduction to Butcher Knives’ self-defined “gypsybilly” genre. Interlacing a diverse array of musical and cultural backgrounds, rock instrumentation, and traditional folk instruments, Nacho Segura (Colombia/vocals/percussion), Nikko Matiz (Colombia/vocals/guitar), Melissa Elledge (New Orleans/accordion), Tal Galfsky (Israel/keyboards/sampler), Ethan Cohen (New York City/banjo/guitar/vocals), Yoni Benshlomo (Israel/bass/vocals), and Mohamed Amine Smires (Morocco/drums/vocals) represent a bridging of cultural gaps through music.
That about sums it up. Misery isn’t out until sometime early 2014, but I picked up an advance copy and it’s been in my power rotation for days. The album includes ten cuts, each one as tasty as “Tell Me Why.” My favorite? Probably the title cut, which has a great ska beat in the verses. Add The Specials to their official list of influences.
If you’re in the New York area and you happen to catch a Butcher Knives show, let me know. I can only imagine how much more fun these guys are in person. Now will somebody please get that Flipron/Butcher Knives bill set up?
photo Ana Pinto