"Everyone jumped for joy to the speed-core melange of klezmer tornadoes, Balkan dances, Celtic reels and bayou-squeezbox war" Rolling Stone
"World music never sounded like so much frantic, frenetic and sweat-soaked fun." Hal Horowitz, Creative Loafing Atlanta
"The Zydepunks are one of New Orleans' most rousing live performers... they surprise with sublime accordion-fiddle fueled playing." Offbeat Magazine
Innovators, rebels, and survivors. Despite the turbulent times in Louisiana's recent history, the Zydepunks have grown from their New Orleans home to be a regional and international phenomenon. Yiddish riddles, Irish ballads, Cajun punk, and vocals in six languages are a small demonstration of why they astound new audiences. Wild folk dances fronted by accordion and fiddle and backed by relentless drums and bass are a testament to the high-energy folk-punk dance craze that is a Zydepunks show.
The Zydepunks' new release FINISTERRE is the culmination of years of musical experience and the honing of their unique folk/punk sound. Massachusetts label Nine Mile Records (NMR) is releasing this highly anticipated album nationally on October 21, 2008.
With FINISTERRE, the Zydepunks are releasing an album featuring original material that draws from their various folk influences and punk rock roots. Slavic rhythms, French melodies, songs in three languages (Spanish, English, French) and punk rock beats combine with often dark lyrics reflecting their experiences from the last few years, while tracks written by drummer Joseph Lilly break the folk boundaries and push the band into an entirely new sound.
Echoes of New Orleans' tumultuous times appear in "Long Story Short" and "Song For Mike", both dedicated to Michael Frey, a friend to the band murdered in 2006. "Dear Molly" was written while the band was evacuated in North Carolina as a song of longing and dispossession. "Por la orilla del mar" combines traditional Ecuadorian song with Slavic melodies in a story about a man being forced to leave his home to search for a new life - a story about immigrants from South of the border and Louisiana's own diaspora.
Produced by the Zydepunks at New Orleans' Piety Street Studios, musicians featured on the album include a who's who of the Louisiana music scene: bassist Alan LaFleur (from the Grammy-nominated Lost Bayou Ramblers), cellist Helen Gillet (Wazozo), violinist Matt Rhody (New Orleans Jazz Vipers/Hot Club of New Orleans), guitarist Stix duh Clown (My Graveyard Jaw), singer Meschiya Lake (Loose Marbles), violinist Frank Scully, and cellist Aubrey Freeman (Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship) all made valuable contributions to the album.
Having just completed a North American and European tour, the Zydepunks are preparing for additional tour dates in 2008 & 2009.
The Zydepunks are:
Denise Bonis: violin, vocals
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Before moving to New Orleans from Los Angeles, Denise performed with Menthol Hill on piano and violin, and toured with Lisa Germano, adding vocals and autoharp to the mix. New Orleans music credits include vocals and violin on Chappy and her own solo project.
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Juan Christian Küffner: accordion, fiddle, lead vocals
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Juan was fortunate to be able to speak four languages by the time he was 12 years old. His first music gig was playing organ at a local church, which he later dropped for playing with punk rock bands in Glasgow, UK. There his old roommate, John Grant, convinced him to try his hand at fiddle (much to the distate of the others living there). His side projects include Malt Liquor Rebellion and the occasional performance with the G-String Orchestra.
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Joe Lilly: drums, vocals
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Joe Lilly is a drumming virtuoso and almost single-handedly provides the driving rhythm section of the band. He is an occasional session musician and former member of "Robots Marching".
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Scott Potts: bass, vocals
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Scott's well known in the New Orleans music scene for running Guerilla Studios and recording a wide array of New Orleans bands. The Zydepunks are forever his debt for learning 15 Zydepunks songs in one night for a performance at the Freret Street Festival.
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Eve: accordion, melodica, vocals
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Eve spent seven years as a street performer in Europe,
earning her living playing accordion music from around the globe. In New Orleans she has also performed with the Loose Marbles and local productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Cabaret".
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Former Zydepunks Members & Occasional Contributors include:
Joe McGinty - our original fiddle player and co-writer of "Die Schwimmbadpiraten", Joe now lives in Amsterdam playing in a fine European folk band called Caspian Hat Dance.
Patrick Keenan - our first bass player and chilhood friend of Joe Lilly, Patrick decided that New Orleans wasn't for him after 2005's hurricane season and now fronts and tours with The Winter Sounds.
Anna Jurgensen - replaced Joe McGinty on fiddle after Katrina. A former fire-fighter in Utah, she played and rambled with the Zydepunks in the hectic months of late 2005.
Paul Edmonds - a long-time member of The Fens, Paul played bass for the Zydepunks from 2006 to 2007.
Sebastian Saint John - A Lafayette Louisiana-born musician who floats around the globe touring and/or recording with bands such as Flogging Molly, Hank III, Beck, Jack White, members of The Band and several others. He currently has a mailing address at his sister's house in Ohio where he spends his days recovering from being on the road with bands like the Zydepunks. He also makes delicious potato soup.
David Sobel - a long-time member of the New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, David filled in for Joe Lilly when he was injured earlier in 2007. David plays with different New Orleans rock, latin and jazz groups and has also performed with Soul Asylum and Les Claypool.
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photo by David Zatarain
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