RHUBARB WHISKEY – SAME SAD END
2013 – Self Released
Like many people who write about music I’m always on the lookout for something original and if it happens to be very good as well that’s an added bonus! The problem is that finding albums that comply with both criteria is something that is, whilst not impossible, an event that happens a little too
infrequently. It’s heartwarming to report that ‘Rhubarb Whiskey,’ a San Francisco domiciled trio, on this their second album achieve both, and with interest! I’ve listened to the album dozens of times over the last week or two and am still not sure how to describe it [although I will try!]other than to say
I love this refreshing blend of punk, country, old timey, a smattering of bluegrass, a little blues, gypsy, even some ‘cowboy’ music and probably more that I’m struggling to discern! The playing is great, the blend of instruments unusual but perfect and never overdone and the vocals, whether of the feminine variety from Emchy or male from Boylamayka (work it out!) are always atmospheric, getting the best out of every song.
The band is made up of Emchy (her surname is Emch but people found it easier to pronounce with the addition of the ‘y’ and it stuck!) who as well as providing vocals also plays accordion, with Boylamayka Sazerac also taking some lead and harmony vocals plus upright bass, mandolin and guitar and Sizzle La Fey on violin, mandolin, banjo and piano. They even have the lovely Carolyn Mark helping out on vocals on a couple of songs.
All three band members have a musical background with Emchy also being a published essayist / poet who plays accordion in a number of other bands. Boylamayka, who has been friends with Emchy for about fifteen
years, was formerly the guitarist for the punk band Subincision whilst Sizzle, the newest (about three years) addition to the band also works as a composer for films and as violin player for the band The Sweet Trade. So, a mixed musical background and it is probably that mixture that brings the diverse but perfect blend to this album that is made up of three covers, with the remainder being band originals. Emchy or Boylamayka usually take
lyrics, melody or chord structure to band practice and the three of them work the songs until satisfied, with some going through up to half a dozen rewrites, although on occasions one or the other will come up with something that is just about complete.
Murder ballads, love songs and drinking songs probably sums up the general content of this incredibly
entertaining listen that contains a freshness I can’t ever see wearing off. Whilst they are often used themes this album stands out for it’s lack of remorse or seeking of justification for deeds carried out, or even for sympathy for the characters that inhabit these quite believable tales. In many ways there is no start or end point to the stories, just a recording of events that take place during the lives of the protagonists. The fact that amongst all of the darkness there are a number of melodies that stick in the brain does no harm either!
There are ten songs listed on the album but there are a couple of bonus tracks, the first of which Cowboy
The F..K Up is a raw nerved hard driving piece of punk rock that reprises Boylamayka’s previous punk band incarnation, whilst the second of them starts out as an iphone recording that segues into an excellent mandolin driven instrumental Digging Up Bottles. Album opener Same Sad End with its hard driving atmospheric fiddle dominating the mid tempo song hasEmchy’s lead vocal backed up by Carolyn Mark on harmony, on a lovely idyllic love story that despite the loving feeling gives the impression of slightly dangerous lives lived on the edge, making the listener wonder what the outcome might have been with the addition of further verses, although not having them to call on helps increase the tension. Saint of Nothing is another lovely haunting, fiddle propelled song, but slower this time with Emchy on lead vocal and Boylamayka and Whitney Moses providing deep bass harmony on a
tale of lost love. It is by no means a self pitying story, despite being full of bitterness and there is an acceptance of the end of a love affair followed by the determination to move on. Grave Digger is driven by thelovely
accordion with banjo and nice heavy bass for support on a slow moody song with Boylamakya producing an intense lead vocal full of feeling, with Emchy joining in on the backing vocals of this incredibly sinister multi murder ballad! Cindy gets a terrific dark treatment on this version of a Johnny Cash song that he would have loved. The droning
accordion and ambient feel of the fiddle creates a powerful atmosphere but when you add Boylamakya’s deep dark vocals the eeriness is upped a notch. If that is not enough darkness further tension is added with the inclusion of Emchy’s hauntingly mournful tones in the background ensuring it becomes quite sinister! This is how the album progresses, with a lot of darkness, but also a little light. There is the incredibly sad murder ballad of Ella, with Emchy on lead vocal and just an acoustic guitar for backing before eventually being supported by a piano. There is some lightness in the form of My Rifle, My Pony, and Me,a terrific duet that evokes the cowboy ballads of old, on this song picked up from Dean Martin in ‘Rio Bravo,’ with the lovely accordion and fiddle dominating the
background, plus a tremendous version of the often recorded but rarely bettered St James Infirmary Blues,with a
haunting lead vocal from Emchy, supported by Lulu Darling on harmonies and chorus.
The punk element in their music is not so much down to the usual punk ferocity (with the possible exception of the first bonus track!) but almost entirely due to their musical attitude and original style, and yet there is a fieriness to even the ballads, with many of the lyrics being deep and poetic. In many ways the album echoes the untutored style of the old time ‘hillbillies,’many of whom had, what many think of as a modern day invention,
‘punk attitude.’ Long may this tremendous trio continue to turn out albums of this quality and individuality that is so full of passion and drive without anything extraneous added as colouration. Something that would have been totally unnecessary on this tremendous album anyway!
www.rhubarbwhiskey.com
www.facebook.com/rhubarbwhiskey.
www.emchy.com
Like many people who write about music I’m always on the lookout for something original and if it happens to be very good as well that’s an added bonus! The problem is that finding albums that comply with both criteria is something that is, whilst not impossible, an event that happens a little too
infrequently. It’s heartwarming to report that ‘Rhubarb Whiskey,’ a San Francisco domiciled trio, on this their second album achieve both, and with interest! I’ve listened to the album dozens of times over the last week or two and am still not sure how to describe it [although I will try!]other than to say
I love this refreshing blend of punk, country, old timey, a smattering of bluegrass, a little blues, gypsy, even some ‘cowboy’ music and probably more that I’m struggling to discern! The playing is great, the blend of instruments unusual but perfect and never overdone and the vocals, whether of the feminine variety from Emchy or male from Boylamayka (work it out!) are always atmospheric, getting the best out of every song.
The band is made up of Emchy (her surname is Emch but people found it easier to pronounce with the addition of the ‘y’ and it stuck!) who as well as providing vocals also plays accordion, with Boylamayka Sazerac also taking some lead and harmony vocals plus upright bass, mandolin and guitar and Sizzle La Fey on violin, mandolin, banjo and piano. They even have the lovely Carolyn Mark helping out on vocals on a couple of songs.
All three band members have a musical background with Emchy also being a published essayist / poet who plays accordion in a number of other bands. Boylamayka, who has been friends with Emchy for about fifteen
years, was formerly the guitarist for the punk band Subincision whilst Sizzle, the newest (about three years) addition to the band also works as a composer for films and as violin player for the band The Sweet Trade. So, a mixed musical background and it is probably that mixture that brings the diverse but perfect blend to this album that is made up of three covers, with the remainder being band originals. Emchy or Boylamayka usually take
lyrics, melody or chord structure to band practice and the three of them work the songs until satisfied, with some going through up to half a dozen rewrites, although on occasions one or the other will come up with something that is just about complete.
Murder ballads, love songs and drinking songs probably sums up the general content of this incredibly
entertaining listen that contains a freshness I can’t ever see wearing off. Whilst they are often used themes this album stands out for it’s lack of remorse or seeking of justification for deeds carried out, or even for sympathy for the characters that inhabit these quite believable tales. In many ways there is no start or end point to the stories, just a recording of events that take place during the lives of the protagonists. The fact that amongst all of the darkness there are a number of melodies that stick in the brain does no harm either!
There are ten songs listed on the album but there are a couple of bonus tracks, the first of which Cowboy
The F..K Up is a raw nerved hard driving piece of punk rock that reprises Boylamayka’s previous punk band incarnation, whilst the second of them starts out as an iphone recording that segues into an excellent mandolin driven instrumental Digging Up Bottles. Album opener Same Sad End with its hard driving atmospheric fiddle dominating the mid tempo song hasEmchy’s lead vocal backed up by Carolyn Mark on harmony, on a lovely idyllic love story that despite the loving feeling gives the impression of slightly dangerous lives lived on the edge, making the listener wonder what the outcome might have been with the addition of further verses, although not having them to call on helps increase the tension. Saint of Nothing is another lovely haunting, fiddle propelled song, but slower this time with Emchy on lead vocal and Boylamayka and Whitney Moses providing deep bass harmony on a
tale of lost love. It is by no means a self pitying story, despite being full of bitterness and there is an acceptance of the end of a love affair followed by the determination to move on. Grave Digger is driven by thelovely
accordion with banjo and nice heavy bass for support on a slow moody song with Boylamakya producing an intense lead vocal full of feeling, with Emchy joining in on the backing vocals of this incredibly sinister multi murder ballad! Cindy gets a terrific dark treatment on this version of a Johnny Cash song that he would have loved. The droning
accordion and ambient feel of the fiddle creates a powerful atmosphere but when you add Boylamakya’s deep dark vocals the eeriness is upped a notch. If that is not enough darkness further tension is added with the inclusion of Emchy’s hauntingly mournful tones in the background ensuring it becomes quite sinister! This is how the album progresses, with a lot of darkness, but also a little light. There is the incredibly sad murder ballad of Ella, with Emchy on lead vocal and just an acoustic guitar for backing before eventually being supported by a piano. There is some lightness in the form of My Rifle, My Pony, and Me,a terrific duet that evokes the cowboy ballads of old, on this song picked up from Dean Martin in ‘Rio Bravo,’ with the lovely accordion and fiddle dominating the
background, plus a tremendous version of the often recorded but rarely bettered St James Infirmary Blues,with a
haunting lead vocal from Emchy, supported by Lulu Darling on harmonies and chorus.
The punk element in their music is not so much down to the usual punk ferocity (with the possible exception of the first bonus track!) but almost entirely due to their musical attitude and original style, and yet there is a fieriness to even the ballads, with many of the lyrics being deep and poetic. In many ways the album echoes the untutored style of the old time ‘hillbillies,’many of whom had, what many think of as a modern day invention,
‘punk attitude.’ Long may this tremendous trio continue to turn out albums of this quality and individuality that is so full of passion and drive without anything extraneous added as colouration. Something that would have been totally unnecessary on this tremendous album anyway!
www.rhubarbwhiskey.com
www.facebook.com/rhubarbwhiskey.
www.emchy.com