White Ghost Shivers a vaudeville revival (News 8 Austin)
Seen the White Ghost Shivers? If you have, you probably remember. Visually, they're one of Austin's most unmistakable bands.
"You have a seven-foot guy with a ukulele and a short guy with a stand-up bass. And then there's a saucy woman up front. I think it helps,” band member Shorty said.
Live and on record, The White Ghost Shivers play an amalgam inspired by 1920's Hot Jazz, Jugband Blues, Western Swing, gypsy swing and ragtime. Like the Asylum Street Spankers did before them, it's earned them a diverse audience. At their shows, it's not unusual to see old folks and young punks dancing side-by-side.
"I'm a big fan of anything recorded pre-1935. It was all good. There wasn't anything bad back then. It was a higher quality of musicianship and entertainment. It was all feel-good music. So it's hard not to like that kind of music, no matter who you are. I'm not even just talking about us. It's the music, it's hard not to enjoy it. It's infectious," Shorty said.
The White Ghost Shivers aren't exactly new. They've been playing for the better part of seven years. But their efforts seem to be paying off of late, thanks to the oldest promotional tool in the book: word-of-mouth. This is a band that knows what their audiences should be taking with them.
"They should walk away with a smile. And I hope it's a memory. They should say, 'Wow. That was a great show. Maybe I want to come back and bring some friends.' They should want to experience it again and see what we do next. We like to change it up. And if nothing else, come for the outfits,” band member Cella Blue said.
The White Ghost Shivers present their third annual Halloween ball, the “Flim Flam Follies" at The Oaks in Manor on Tuesday.
10/26/2006 4:09 PM
By: Andy Langer
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