Klezmer and selling out

January 21, 2009 9:03 AM

David Goo and the Variety Band have been gigging in London for a few years, but a recent appearance as a soundtrack to an advert could be what propels them to the big time. Merging ska, punk, indie and klezmer influences, read an interview with them here as they speculate on the concept of 'selling out'
posted by muggsy1079 (9 comments total)

So something kind of like Gogol Bordello or Mischief Brew?
posted by dunkadunc at 9:17 AM on January 21, 2009

He also runs the best open mic / cabaret in London at Cross Kings on a Sunday (full disclosure - I have played there a good few times) and is an all round top bloke.
posted by motty at 9:20 AM on January 21, 2009

Last week we have two posts that used intranslated Yiddish, this week we have to explain what klezmer is? Iz a shandeh fay der goyim.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:59 AM on January 21, 2009

far der goyim, rather.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:59 AM on January 21, 2009

Shandy? No, full-strength beer for this goy.

I've seen Mr Goo a few times at Virtually Acoustic Club nights. Very funny, extraordinary lyrics that seem to come out of deep left field. I hope he got lots of money for the ad.

He encouraged me to go to the Sunday night thing, too - what time is sign-up (I've been meaning to go for several years now, so one day I might, probably the week before he quits).
posted by Grangousier at 11:13 AM on January 21, 2009

It's very laid back, Grangousier, but to be sure of playing you want to be there by 7.30 or so, and also to check in advance to make sure that it isn't one of the odd nights where there is no sign up / 'open' bit at all, which does happen from time to time. Being as it also happens to be a superbly lovely pub, showing a bit early is usually no great hardship. Oh, and there's a piano too.
posted by motty at 12:36 PM on January 21, 2009

For the sake of anyone just looking at the thread, here is the exchange concerning selling out from the relevant link:

Some bands and fans have issues with providing music for advertising, but it has also served very well for many groups out there…
(David and Greg get very passionate)
DAVID: I tell you what, lots of people I admire have done ads: Frank Zappa, Martin Scorsese, David Lynch…
GREG:Phil Collins!
DAVID:Fuck Phil Collins! I don’t care about him!
(Laughs) The only issue I’d have with advertising would be for a big brand like MacDonald’s, but we’ve done it for a small company. If I’d said no to this opportunity because of being “too principled”, the band would have left me.
In my opinion selling out means changing who you are. We haven’t changed anything. We didn’t even re-record Keep on Wishing for the ad. They used the original live recording. It even has bum notes in it! If people want it they can have it, but we won’t change anything.
GREG: People who worry about selling out are just amateurs. I’m a musician, (doing music) is my job.
DAVID: Nobody I know has had a problem with it. It’s not like 10 years ago, when musicians had power. Musicians are powerless nowadays. Everybody wants as much exposure as possible. This is the only way to get some financial gain, doing this kind of stuff. I don’t give a shit (about people having a problem with commercials) because I want the public to hear my songs.
GREG: This ad has been a blessing for us. This is what is going to allow us to play in front of 10,000 people at the 2009 festivals, whilst last year we played on a small stage in front of 200 people at Glastonbury. Some people talk about selling out and idealism and then they end up working in Tesco’s. What’s worse?
posted by stinkycheese at 1:08 PM on January 21, 2009

Meh. Not nearly as infectious and enjoyable as Shantel, with a rather muddy sound quality.

And if you want more ska, well... you can't beat this... with very 'Special' guests.
posted by markkraft at 10:59 PM on January 21, 2009

where can I find more of their music?
posted by ericbop at 10:43 AM on January 23, 2009