„I’m tired of American bands that sound like they’ve listened to more New Order than Howlin’ Wolf or Hank Williams.”  – John Schooley

The harmonica player Walter Daniels and guitarist John Schooley have been shadowy figures in the rock n’ roll underground for a combined forty years. Daniels was mixing blues with punk rock as far back as 1992 with Austin, Texas combo Jack O’ Fire, alongside the Big Boys’ Tim Kerr. He recorded with the Oblivians the Melissa’s Garage Revisited LP (1999), but recorded and performed live with everyone from James Williamson to Eugene Chadbourne, most recently lending his harp to the OBN III’s for their latest album. John Schooley is known as a root rock’n’roll one man band (but he is also member in The Revelators). His first single was among Goner’s first records, and another cult label, Voodoo Rhythm also released his records. It’s a meaningful fact that he toured with blues legend R.L. Burnside as his guitarist.

Now the two together on one, exclusively acoustic album, titled Dead Mall Blues. It’s mainly a selection from the American songbook. 8 from the 10 songs

We Got To Meet Death One Day by Blind Willie McTell (1898-59)

Poor Willie lost his eyesight in his childhood. Soon after lost his father, then his mother, so went whither he could. Wandered in Georgia with his 12 strings guitar. His records were frequently released between 1927 and 35, but under different names because he signed exclusive contracts with concurrent labels… It was a generally established custom at that time. After his record of 1949 he became itinerant musician again. In 1956 a record shop owner recognized him at a corner in Atlanta. The man lured him to his shop with a bottle of corn whiskey. During some shows his last tracks were recorded there.

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Aretha Franklin in Punk, Sometimes with Nick Cave

Shilpa Ray is an Indian American singer-songwriter. She got Indian classical music education, and learnt to play harmonium and piano. In her childhood it had been forbidden her to listen to pop music. Her first pop experience was Oliver Stone’s film The Doors. Then she has taken to music of Velvet Underground, Cramps, Stooges and Joy Division. After her bands „Beat The Devil” and „Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers” were split, she toured with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as a backup singer and supporting act. Then she recorded a version of Pirate Jenny featuring Nick Cave and Warren Ellis for compilation album „Son of Rogue Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys.” (It was co-produced by Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes’ bandmate in the band „P”, Johnny Depp.) Her latest EP It’s All Self Fellatio was released by Nick Cave’s own label in 2013.

Shilpa Ray in Palisades, Brooklyn

It’s back home that Shilpa Ray closed her 6 weeks US tour. And the gig was as stunning as the character herself. She plays harmonium (a kind of beautiful piano/accordeon instrument) that fits perfectly with her style. Wavy hair and open mouth, her cat voice hiss and miaows through the sound system sitting in front of me and I let my body speak with the alive machine.

Shilpa, I’d like to say that you’re a sort of hero. You possessed your public by spreading your healthy, angry, frustrated feeling of shame. Your natural talent is an inspiration to all the unloved ones. So what else do we need? You transform your own emotions into a real touchable and touching music. The tribality of it all, sustained by heavy beats proves that you can deal with being rough and powerful. The female fans say it surely, you inspire and transpire feminity.

John, the professional pedal steel guitar/keyboard player melts with her. He says, when playing he tries to inverse the melody making his music complementary to other’s, and that’s the magic trick of being a professional artist. This 6 weeks tour has been tough for the band, but finishing it at home just makes it seem all so smooth. Indeed, John lost himself on stage and that’s how he knows it’s been a good night!

Oooo crap, Shilpa has to fly away and there are so many things I will never know about the artist, though, after having heard what I heard I ‘ll always remember her melodic inside.

People! Do yourself a pleasurable favor and listen to It’s all self fellatio, you’ll see, it’s all so goooood.

Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers