Tuesday Double Feature: The Wolfgangs "Cannibal Family" & The Silver Shine "Angels To Some"

This weeks Tuesday Double feature I dedicate to my friend Aaron and his love of Psychobilly bands.

The Wolfgangs - "Cannibal Family"



The six cylinder speed of France's The Wolfgangs is the sultry psychobilly of graveyard rendezvous and late night drag races. Lead by the smoky sirens call of Cha' von Wolfgangs, this band has the hypnotic power of dancing cobras. Check out 2012's Shout With the Devil album on the Longneck Records label.  

The Silver Shine - "Angels To Some"



The Bubapest based The Silver Shines have been very prolific since forming in 2004, having  put out an album almost every year.  Their 7th and latest album In the Middle of Nowhere, just saw release on the Wolverine Records label  this last spring. No strangers to the Northwest,the band came through this past June as part of their short US tour, so here's hoping they'll comeback soon.

Strumophile: Darren Brown Custom Cigar Box Guitars

Believed to have had their hayday in depression era America the cigar box guitar's (CBGs) origins can be traced back as far as slave culture of the 1700's. Developed out of lack of resources cigar box guitars have a prominent place in blues and folk music. With the recent resurgence of hand made instruments CBGs have made a comeback.
Darren Brown, the owner and creator of D.B. Custom Cigar Box Guitars has taken these basic instruments and turned them into pieces of art. Making sure that each instrument he builds has amazing handcrafted details; from hand wound pickups that provide the perfect tone, to beautifully built hard wood necks that he fashions from driftwood collected from the Bay of Fundy near his home in Canning, Nova Scotia Canada. Truly unique these guitars are amazing tools to make wonderful music. Darren Brown was kind enough to talk to us about his company and instruments. 

BLS: In your spare time, you have been fixing guitars over 30 years and have been building cigar box guitars (CBGs) since 2009. How did you get into building CBGs?

DB: I think I was 12 or 13 working on a farm in the summers. I saved up $ 74.00 for an electric Silvertone. I learned to tune by ear and had to fix that old guitar all the time. Then kids from school would bring me their beat up ones to get fixed. I’d seen Cigar Box Guitars(CBGs) years ago but never thought more about them until 2008, when I saw a rough one go by on the net. I thought I could build a little nicer one. It was rough too, but now 300 CBGs laterI’m still learning and hope I always will.

BLS: You make your career as a finishing carpenter. What advantages do you feel your experience provides when building your instruments?

DB: I do framing as well, but as I got older I found that the younger guys on the construction jobs liked to frame and do all the rough construction. So I got into doing any of the exterior and interior finish work. So over the years I learned how to slow down and think way ahead on what can happen and figure out the best way of getting to that point and of course checking twice and cutting once.

BLS: On your website you have emphasize three different styles of CBGs that you build: The Main Line, Resonators, and the Vintage Series. Can you briefly explain the differences between these styles of instruments?

DB: The web site is run by a friend and I don’t go there as much as I should.

The Main Line series CBGs are built from cigar boxes that I can get a good supply of: Cohiba, Arturo Fuente, and La Gloria Cubana boxes.

For the Resonators I make the boxes myself because cigar boxes are too narrow for the 6 inch resonator cones that go into the wood well.

As for my Vintage series, they’re mostly built with a Cohiba wood box. I have a process where I age and crack the finish and add ware makes on the body and the fret board.

BLS: From hand wound pickups to hardwood that you collected as driftwood and kiln dried; you take a very personal and hands on approach to your instruments? What inspired you to take each of these unique steps as a craftsman?

DB: There’s not a lot around where I live (Canning, Nova Scotia Canada), so I find things that I can use. The driftwood is off the Bay of Fundy and is from all over. I find cherry, ash, oak, walnut, black locust and maples of all kinds. Some of which I’ve never seen before.

As for the pickups, that I got into because of tone; for three strings I build 3 poles and and 4 strings 4 poles wound to certain ohms. They also look nicer than a big, over wound 6 string pickup slapped into one.

BLS: In building your instruments, have you found a favorite brand of cigar box you like to use when building your guitars?

DB: Yes, the boxes I like most are: Cohiba; after I thickness-plane the top thinner. Padron,Las Cobbelas, Dark Sumatras, Arturo Fuente, and the boxes I make myself.


(Manatoba Hal playing one of Darren Brown's License Plate Guitars)

BLS: Besides cigar boxes, you have built instruments out of license plates, Cheese boxes and oil cans. What is the most interesting thing you’ve built an instrument from? Is there anything you would like to build an instrument out of but haven’t yet?

DB: The oil can was tough going. I’ve been eyeing old apple crates that show up here now and then. I’d like to take the label side and build some tele of strat tops out of them. I’d also like to try old wood beer crates.

BLS: In some of your instruments you incorporate both piezo transducers and your db coil pickups that have separate outputs. How does this diversify the playability of the instrument? How does this affect the voice of the instrument?

DB: It allows you a way to run it through one or two amps or I can build blend pots into them and mix the sound that way. It’s endless what you can do with electronics in CBG’s.

BLS: If someone is interested in obtaining one of your instruments how would they go about doing so? What is your typical price point?

DB: They can reach me by e-mail:(darwood at live.com) or phone.

Prices start at $240.00 cap for basic 3 string CBG with piezo pickups.

$350.00 with coil pickups, volume and tone controls.

$525.00 for resonators.

All guitars are tax free, but shipping is extra.

BLS: What artists are currently playing your instruments?

DB:

Olds Sleeper

Manitoba Hal

Myles Goodwin of April Wine

Colin Linden of Blakie and the Radio Kings

Morgan Davies

Doc McLean

Terry Whalen

Jim Roberts

Shane Speal

BLS: It might sound like a weird question, but do you play guitar yourself? Of your instruments do you have a favorite?

DB: Yes I do play a bit. I have a 3 string and a 4 string resonator that I play with more though, through an bunch of tube amps that include a ’64 Fender Bandmaster, 38 Gibson 5 watt and ‘69 Traynor YGM 3 to name a few.

Tuesday Double Feature: Bleached "Love Spells" & Best Coast "I Don't Know How"

As the gray cold of late fall descends upon us, we all cling tightly to the fading dreams of summers. So this week's installment of the Tuesday Double Feature has videos by two bands whose sound embodies California's endless summer. So put on your earphones and let their warm musical zephyrs wash over you.

Bleached - "Love Spells"



With punkins rotting away on porches and the kids just beginning to crash from their candy sugar-highs this video from LA based sister act Bleached, is perfect. Finishing up a short European tour in support of their latest album Ride Your Heart, these girls have a little R and R ahead of them before setting sail with the Weezer cruise in February 2014.

Best Coast - "I Don't Know How"



The sun-kissed California band Best Coast have been bustling with activity. Having recently released their mini-album Fade Away on their own Jewel City Label this band isn't slowing down one bit. Currently writing material for their next album with a goal of a spring release and gearing up for a short winter tour with The Pixies, this band is taking every advantage of the wave of momentum they're currently riding. Make sure you catch them at the Schnitzer Auditorium when they play with The Pixies Wednesday, February 19th.

Cure for the Mondays: Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - "Big Blue Chevy '72"

Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - "Big Blue Chevy '72"

What car do you love the most? Me: '74 Chevy Blazer named Sherman.


The energetically fun hill blues of Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band will get you dancing and craving the sweet moonshine. Made with the most basic of instrumentation, but yielding a boldly dynamic presence this trio takes jug band elements to new modern heights. Touring in support of their latest album Between the Ditches and known for their unforgettable stage presence, you'll want to make sure to catch their show this Saturday at Dante's.

Here are the details:
Saturday, November 16th
Dante's
350 West Burnside
Doors: 8PM / Show: 9PM
Cover: $10
21 & Over

Living Room Perfomance:Alejandro Escovedo - "Man of the World"

Alejandro Escovedo - "Man of the World"

Austin, Texas

2012


One of the most amazing American song writes alive today, Alejandro Escovedo is truly an American treasure.With a musical history that spans both time and geography and has produced amazing records in multiple genres, he is considered by many musicians to be a defining influence.Even Bruce Springsteen has praised his greatness. Lucky for us he is playing a show this Thursday evening at the intimate Doug Fir Lounge. Amazing live, this concert should not be missed.

Here are the details:
Thursday, November 14th
Doug Fir Lounge
830 E Burnside
Doors: 7PM /Show: 8PM
Tickets: $20
21 & Over

Tuesday Double Feature: The Hellfreaks "Godless Girl Fun" & The Nearly Deads "Never Look Back"

I thought it fitting with Halloween on Thursday that this weeks Double Feature be filled with Psycho-killers and zombies. So guard yourself because the sun is falling and the witching hour will be upon us way too soon.

The Hellfreaks - "Godless Girl Fun"



Uniquely unhinged, the Hungarian psychobilly band The Hellfreaks have a driving rock 'n' roll sound that plays a perfect vehicle to the siren's call of the sexy Shaky Sue. Constantly playing festivals and touring most of Europe, it's any wonder that they can find time to sleep. Their 2012 Circus of Shame is a playfully great rock 'n' roll album.

The Nearly Deads - "Never Look Back"



Nashville based grunge-pop outfit The Nearly Deads have made their name through several conquests and adulation from the likes of Billboard Magazine. Their latest E.P. Survival Guide is ripe with thick rock power and the polished pop sensibility to singer Theresa Jeane's vocals. Now if they can just survive the Apocalypse.

Cure for the Mondays: Nekromantix - "Horny In A Hearse"

Nekromantix - "Horny In A Hearse"

Here's something to get you in the holiday mood.


With Halloween just around the corner, who better to get you in the spirit but the Nekromantix.This Danish pychobilly band has been raising the dead with their bone chattering horror themed rock 'n' roll since 1989. The band will be doing a short US tour in late winter that will include a night at our own Wonder Ballroom and a few select shows with Reverend Horton Heat and the amazing Wanda Jackson.