What Ever Happened To Jane Spofford?
July 28, 2006 2:43 PM   Subscribe

"Rasputina is a 'cello-rock' ensemble. Founded by Melora Creager in 1891, they have long held true to their mission of enlightening the common man as to the power and versatility of the mighty cello." Her insightful comments such as, "There are many things that Satan invented that I can really get behind- like spanking", and "Our undergarments may be soiled, but, our hearts remain pure" have been an inspiration to many. Here's their cover of Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" (mp3). Unfortunately, they chose the evil RM format to stream their other songs from their site.
posted by sluglicker (34 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
1891? Whoa....
posted by spilon at 2:45 PM on July 28, 2006


Someone was just asking in AskMeFi why there were never any out-of-place artifacts left behind by time-travellers. But a rock band in Kansas in 1891, coving Zeppelin?!
posted by baklavabaklava at 2:49 PM on July 28, 2006


They gave a good concert at The Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University a few years ago.
posted by vkxmai at 2:52 PM on July 28, 2006


I love Melora, her dry wit and cool tunes (Rose K. is my favorite) send me!
posted by black8 at 2:54 PM on July 28, 2006


I've loved the band since the mid-90's but this post feels a little empty. Throw in some of these (and please, go to page two for a live cover of Heart's "Barracuda")
posted by elr at 3:04 PM on July 28, 2006


I was into them in 1890.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:22 PM on July 28, 2006 [1 favorite]


Whenever I was a child, I wondered what if my name had changed into something more productive, like Roscoe. Been born in 1891, waiting with my aunt Rosaline.
posted by ludwig_van at 3:24 PM on July 28, 2006


This is a truly fine band, I always wanted to see it live.
posted by perianwyr at 3:29 PM on July 28, 2006


@elr
I'm lazy by nature, and I leave it to others to post the really good stuff. Loved Barracuda and Olde Headboard. Thanks!
posted by sluglicker at 3:37 PM on July 28, 2006


What in the devil is this?! It makes me feel neat!
posted by basicchannel at 3:39 PM on July 28, 2006


See also Bright Red Paper for another rock-ish band with prominent cello. [official site currently down, presumably because of Dreamhost's recent power outage.] Disclaimer: The band I'm in has shared bills with these guys. Not sure if that qualifies as a conflict of interest.
posted by sportbucket at 3:41 PM on July 28, 2006


@ludwig_van
Whoa! That was pretty impressive!
posted by sluglicker at 3:42 PM on July 28, 2006 [1 favorite]


I love, love love this band. I can also, now, vouch for the band Therion (that omnidrew and ubersturm recommended to me over in ask.me).

Apparently Therion spent a long time as a very boring death metal band, and then six albums into it they discovered strings, orchestras, opera and glory.
posted by Squid Voltaire at 3:49 PM on July 28, 2006


Murder By Death (vid) has a cello player.
posted by shoepal at 3:51 PM on July 28, 2006


Break of Reality is another cello-rock ensemble that produces some amazing sounds out of their instruments, and writes really interestingly-structured songs.

Channeling Owen uses a single cello in a more conventional rock setting to good effect (check out the howling lead in Spice Line Vision).
posted by Wolfdog at 4:04 PM on July 28, 2006


Channeling Owen, that is.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:05 PM on July 28, 2006


I'm downloading the Zepplin cover now and none of you can stop me.

Seriously. I almost never warm up to a piece of music on first listen, but this one is a keeper.

Oh, and I should also mention the Kronos Quartet, a wild pack of violinists who do a spectacular cover of "Purple Haze."
posted by Clay201 at 4:17 PM on July 28, 2006


C'mon, they play cellos! Of course they're going to party like it's 1899. That said, they played with Les Claypool recently. Postmodern string quartet of the damned!
posted by lekvar at 4:18 PM on July 28, 2006


Been a fan for a long time. Still, nice to see someone else find 'em.
posted by Decani at 4:25 PM on July 28, 2006


or Rachel's Woo! Cello!
I sat next to Rasputina on the subway many years ago, and had a nice conversation with them.

but, Cellos are so 90's, accordians are the new all-girl-band hotness in this town!
posted by milovoo at 4:30 PM on July 28, 2006


I've seen Rasputina live twice. They've had a number of band members in and out. One left and is now in a nice little band called Bela. Zoe Keating has put out a CD on her own. And let's not forget hearing "Transylvanian Concubine" on Buffy.

Also, if you like Rasputina, be sure to check out Matson Jones. Less with the underwear fetish, a bit more punky, and the drumming reminds me quite a bit of The Police.
posted by adipocere at 4:31 PM on July 28, 2006


I actually had one of their cds for years, and was never a big fan of it (I had picked it up in a used cd shop one day). Then I saw them live, and they are just WAY better live.

Also, there's just something hot about two women playing cello's in goth outfits.
posted by KirTakat at 4:45 PM on July 28, 2006


A few more streamable songs.

Cellos rock.
posted by JZig at 4:54 PM on July 28, 2006


elr: THANK YOU for the Barracuda cover! I've been looking for it since they opened for Belle and Sebastian in Boston a few years back.
posted by hifiparasol at 6:19 PM on July 28, 2006


Rasputina also does a pretty kick-ass version of "Bad Moon Rising" which you should all try to find while I listen to "Barracuda."
posted by hifiparasol at 6:23 PM on July 28, 2006


shoepal, this is the second time you've beat me to referencing one of my favorite bands. You bastard.
posted by Venadium at 7:52 PM on July 28, 2006


Damien Rice's cellist Vyvienne Long has covered some rock songs; I like "Seven Nation Army" better than "Purple Haze", haven't listened to "Come Together".
posted by dhartung at 11:14 PM on July 28, 2006


They introduced me to the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.
posted by redsparkler at 12:00 AM on July 29, 2006


What an incredible thread. I'm going to be a shut in today.
posted by Devils Slide at 4:39 AM on July 29, 2006


The Dinner Ladies cellist girl was hot. They were a UK acoustic indie band on Hannibal Records, also featuring Lorraine Bowen.
posted by w0mbat at 9:04 AM on July 29, 2006


Rasputina are pretty good. I like their cover of "Wish You Were Here".

Check out Cello Submarine, a unit of 12 Cellists (of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) and their rendition of twelve famous Beatles songs. The cover of "Norweigan Wood" is especially good.
posted by heylight at 11:37 PM on July 29, 2006


That cover of Rock & Roll was fucking HOT. Although she whiffs on the last "time", I think.

Definitely going to be checking out more music from these guys. Thanks very much for posting this.
posted by lastobelus at 11:37 AM on July 30, 2006


I'll second for Kronos Quartet. I remember first hearing their versions of Vivaldi's Spring and Pärt's Fratres as roughly comparable to being Born Again.
posted by lastobelus at 11:52 AM on July 30, 2006


I will break ranks, not out of need to balance the equation, but to admit that someone at my work plays this band intermittently, and good lord it's a one trick pony, and not a very good one at that.
posted by gcbv at 7:28 AM on July 31, 2006


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