Member Since: 12/11/2006
Band Members: The Frenetic Cabaret of REALLYSHOOO is Billy Really Makuta - writer and arranger, vocals extrodinaire, keys, piano, accordions, concertina, penny whistle, melodica, harmonica, auto harp, mauiphone, vibes, percussion and Ellen Shooo Brenner - writer, arranger, vocals-torchy, gutsy, sometimes sweet, flute, frottoir(rub board), steel drum, antics and percussion. The Zydeco N' JaZZ is aided by a passing parade of top notch players.
Influences: The ZYDECO greats - Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque, Terrence Simien, Keith Frank,The Mighty Sparrow -Ska, Souka, Cape Town sound, Country Swing - Asleep at The Wheel, Bob Wills, Appalachain songs, The Country duo greats - Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner, Lorretta Lynn & Conway Twitty, George Jones & Tammy Wynette. Musical loves of our lives - KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS, PAPA'S CULTURE, BRAVE COMBO, TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, the kids in THE LITTLE RASCLES, DEVO and BRECHT. Ellen Shooo's favs are the great ladies of JAZZ & film - HER MAJESTY-BETTY CARTER, Ella, Sarah, Ella Mae Morse, Virginnia Mayo, Anita O'Day, the singer/song writers of the 60's & 70's - Laura Nyro, the GREAT Linda Lewis, Arthur Lee & LOVE, Bonnie Raitt. The good and not the bad musical songs - BYE BYE BIRDIE, FINNIAN'S RAINBOW, CAROUSEL. The 60's girls groups, just say yes to Phill spector. The Saxophone wizards - Charles Lloyd, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan. Can't leave out the southen gal greats - Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, the gals from Antones in Austin, TX. Billy Really loves - In the beginning - Polkas and Hillbilly songs on the car radio from my trips to see relatives in the Coal district of Pennsylvania, Russian singing in church and the Red Army Chorus. Mahler. Peter, Paul & Mary,Yardbirds, Kinks, B.Dylan, Paul Butterfield, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Doors, Mothers, Bach big time, the other big B's, The Russian big 5, Keyboardists besides classical- Groove Holms, Jimmy Smith, Brian Auger, Kieth Emerson. All the Cajun and Zydeco accordionsists I have heard. Klezmer! These are just some of who we love and we thank you for all the knowledge and inspiration.
Click here to buy REALLYSHOOO'z CD.
Sounds Like: NOBODY! REALLY! Click here to buy REALLYSHOOO'z CD.BUT, We've been told we have the funkiness and energy of a ZYDECO dance hall, the cabaret nature of Brecht, the smokey yet uptempo quaility of a JAZZ club and "Annie Lenox meets Bob Dylan"? "Peter, Paul and Mary (as a duo) on acid", "reminescent of PEARL HARBOR". In the past we've heard mention of THE DOORS and DEVO -wow! AND "Frank Zappa says hello to Gracie Allen". Hello.READ our influences and if you know who they are then YOU may know where we are coming from, but WE'RE not sure where we are going.We talk to the audience and we make you get up and dance and our motto is "we think entertainment should be entertaining" - What a concept!Something for everyone and we mean it!
Record Label: REALLYSHOOO RECORDS
Type of Label: Indie