The end of the week often can often find one exhausted and recovering for the next week. Last night I was reluctantly urged out of my cave by friends saying" If you haven't seen Asylum Street Spankers, you HAVE to see this band!" Their enthusiasm won me over and I was introduced to a new realm of music and performance.

The Asylum Street Spankers are a seven-piece acoustic theatrical performance band hailing from Austin, Texas. When I was told they were acoustic, I was expecting the standard under-plugged set, but a Spanker's performance is totally acoustic...no mics. The audience is urged to refrain from talking, dancing, or making noise. The performance reminded me of what vaudeville performances from the 1920's might be like. They perform theatrics, comedy, and amazing musicianship on a variety of musical instruments (clarinet, washboard, saw, dobro, and lots of various percussion and strings).

My Favorite Record, the title of their last CD, has 12 tracks that display the amazing talent that pours from every Spanker's member (heh). More than half of the CD are songs I remember from last evenings performance, capturing their witty humor, quirkiness, and lyrics. These plus their live show stage antics had me laughing to the point of tears throughout most of their performance. My Favorite Record is a must have for someone wanting to get a taste of the Spanker experience.

Now that I've been 'spanked', I'll be working toward an in-depth feature with them. In short, if you consider yourself a true music lover, The Asylum Street Spankers are the real deal. Trust me...one show, and you'll be a convert!

Thanks to Ben, Matt & Julie (sorry you were sick Liz, but thanks for your ticket) for getting me out of the house last night. To quote them, "If you haven't seen Asylum Street Spankers, you HAVE to see this band!"

For more information on The Asylum Street Spankers, CLICK HERE

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