Comments on: What Ever Happened To Jane Spofford?

What Ever Happened To Jane Spofford?

sluglicker — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:43:48 -0800

"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.

By: spilon

spilon — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:45:50 -0800

1891? Whoa....

By: baklavabaklava

baklavabaklava — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:49:59 -0800

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?!

By: vkxmai

vkxmai — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:52:46 -0800

They gave a good concert at The Wexner Center for the Arts at The Ohio State University a few years ago.

By: black8

black8 — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 14:54:52 -0800

I love Melora, her dry wit and cool tunes (Rose K. is my favorite) send me!

By: elr

elr — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:04:28 -0800

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")

By: It's Raining Florence Henderson

It's Raining Florence Henderson — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:22:03 -0800

I was into them in 1890.

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:24:27 -0800

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.

By: perianwyr

perianwyr — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:29:43 -0800

This is a truly fine band, I always wanted to see it live.

By: sluglicker

sluglicker — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:37:10 -0800

@elr I'm lazy by nature, and I leave it to others to post the really good stuff. Loved Barracuda and Olde Headboard. Thanks!

By: basicchannel

basicchannel — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:39:26 -0800

What in the devil is this?! It makes me feel neat!

By: sportbucket

sportbucket — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:41:22 -0800

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.

By: sluglicker

sluglicker — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:42:09 -0800

@ludwig_van Whoa! That was pretty impressive!

By: Squid Voltaire

Squid Voltaire — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:49:13 -0800

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.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 15:51:10 -0800

Murder By Death (vid) has a cello player.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:04:56 -0800

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).

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:05:45 -0800

Channeling Owen, that is.

By: Clay201

Clay201 — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:17:35 -0800

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."

By: lekvar

lekvar — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:18:27 -0800

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!

By: Decani

Decani — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:25:12 -0800

Been a fan for a long time. Still, nice to see someone else find 'em.

By: milovoo

milovoo — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:30:05 -0800

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!

By: adipocere

adipocere — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:31:24 -0800

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.

By: KirTakat

KirTakat — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:45:47 -0800

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.

By: JZig

JZig — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 16:54:37 -0800

A few more streamable songs. Cellos rock.

By: hifiparasol

hifiparasol — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:19:13 -0800

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.

By: hifiparasol

hifiparasol — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 18:23:23 -0800

Rasputina also does a pretty kick-ass version of "Bad Moon Rising" which you should all try to find while I listen to "Barracuda."

By: Venadium

Venadium — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 19:52:21 -0800

shoepal, this is the second time you've beat me to referencing one of my favorite bands. You bastard.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 23:14:41 -0800

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".

By: redsparkler

redsparkler — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 00:00:18 -0800

They introduced me to the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire.

By: Devils Slide

Devils Slide — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 04:39:02 -0800

What an incredible thread. I'm going to be a shut in today.

By: w0mbat

w0mbat — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 09:04:36 -0800

The Dinner Ladies cellist girl was hot. They were a UK acoustic indie band on Hannibal Records, also featuring Lorraine Bowen.

By: heylight

heylight — Sat, 29 Jul 2006 23:37:35 -0800

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.

By: lastobelus

lastobelus — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 11:37:32 -0800

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.

By: lastobelus

lastobelus — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 11:52:02 -0800

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.

By: gcbv

gcbv — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 07:28:11 -0800

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.