Shipla Ray & Her Happy Hookers CMJ
A few years ago I went to see Stellastar at the opening of the Gramercy Theater. The first time I saw them was in Dallas and they had two unknown bands open for them; the first opener was a band called The Killers and the second was Ambulance LTD. All three bands killed it that night. So, when going to see them at Gramercy I was definitely excited to hear the openers as well. That brings me to today’s featured band(s) Beat The Devil and Shipla Ray and Her Happy Hooker.
Both bands are the the brainchild of Indian American singer, songwriter, writer, artist, satirist Shipla Ray. Beat The Devil was the band that played Gramercy that night but they have since broken up and she’s gone on to form Shipla Ray & The Happy Hookers. The reason I thought about Shipla and bands is that my recent Dark Dark Dark post reminded me of Beat The Devil a little. Both Shipla’s voice and her use of the harmonium are similar to Nona Marie Invie’s vocals and some of Dark Dark Dark’s accordion parts. Beat the Devil is definitely on the darker side of Dark Dark Dark with undertones of Jim Morrison and The Doors.
While looking for recent news on Shipla and her bands, I realized that Shipla grew up in New Jersey, linking this post to both my earlier posts this week, From The Boss To The Situation and The Gaslight Anthem.
Shipla Ray & Her Happy Hookers just released a 7″ single of “Venus Shaver”, an advance track from their upcoming full length Teenage and Torture (set for release January 18th, 2011 on Knitting Factory Records).
Shilpa Ray And Her Happy Hookers will be playing dates showcasing the new material found on Teenage and Torture, including performances at CMJ.
CMJ DATES
10/22 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory (CMJ Distiller Showcase)
10/23 – Arlene’s Grocery (CMJ Windish Showcase) – New York, NY November
11/3 – New York, NY – Pianos w/ Hooray for Earth, Arpline, Zambri
Shine In Exile]
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[audio:https://thenewlofi.com/wp-content/audio/2010/10/BeatTheDevilPleaBargain.mp3|titles=Plea Bargain]
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[audio:https://thenewlofi.com/wp-content/audio/2010/10/ShilpaRayandherHappyHookersVenusShaver.mp3|titles=Venus Shaver]
Shipla Ray & Her Happy Hookers Venus Shaver
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[audio:https://thenewlofi.com/wp-content/audio/2010/10/ShilpaRayandherHappyHookerBeatingStLouis.mp3|titles=Beating St. Louis]
Shipla Ray & Her Happy Hookers Beating St. Louis
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