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Cool hand uke
With a new album on the streets, the quintet Songs from a Random House unleashes something called the mandolanjo and not one but two ukuleles on the Living Room.
By DAWN EDEN
Offoffoff.com
After 15 years as the quirkiest, most uncategorizable band on the
downtown NYC scene, Songs From a Random House is now poised to baffle the
world with its first full-length CD, appropriately titled "Random
Numbers."
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| SONGS FROM A RANDOM HOUSE |
Alan Drogin (soprano ukelele, chord organ, lap steel guitar, mandolanjo)
Gregor Kitzis (viola, lap steel guitar, mandolin)
Steven Swartz (voice, baritone ukulele)
Jason DiMatteo (acoustic bass)
John Bollinger (drums & percussion).
Related links:
Official site
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Really, what can one say about a band that the New York Times
called "humorously surreal" and the New York Press, "alarmingly literate"?
Perhaps the group itself says it best on its Website, where it describes
"Random Numbers," released on the British label Sargasso, as "the avant-folk world's
longest-awaited ukelele/chord organ/viola/upright bass/drums & voice album
ever!" Hard to argue with that.
Up to now, Songs From a Random House's closest brush in fame came all
the way back in 1986, when their performance of "Raising Ukuleles" graced
the soundtrack of "Raising Arizona." Recent months have brought them a
renaissance of sorts, including high-profile gigs at venues such as Fez
and a feature on NPR's "Weekend Edition."
Those who would like to hear the
group's two ukuleles (baritone and soprano, thank you) and other
instruments in a more intimate setting are advised to attend Thursday's
show, part of the "Best of the Living Room" series.
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SEPTEMBER 19, 2000
OFFOFFOFF.COM • THE GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE NEW YORK
Reader comments on Songs from a Random House:
my name from Dan Scanlan, Jan 5, 2005
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