Member Since: 4/12/2006
Band Website: devilsjukebox.co.uk
Band Members: Dr Ezekiel Bordello The Doctor once said that being born on the Fourth of July in the back of a taxicab would always make him a special kinda baby. After training at the tender age to be an unlicensed practitioner of various dark arts, the Doctor was to disappoint himself, and thrill literally tens of followers, by becoming Buttefuque Ohio's most charismatic voodoo practitioner. Following a stint in the Swiss navy, which saw him rise rapidly through the rank, he returned to his native land to persue the calling of blues shouter and travelling medi-sin man. Bon vivant, charming rogue and raconteur are all descriptions other people would use to describe someone with a more likeable personality, but fuck 'em, what do they know, eh?
Lotus Dubois Ah, Lotus. Inscrutable. An enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a custom-fitted sparkly gown, high heels and a big-ass head-dress. Born in a hurricane, like most blues ukulele players (three, last count) she is naturally attuned to the beating heart at the centre of the universe. A shady lady with a hazy past, she is as at home twirling tassles with drifters and losers as she is in the hushed halls of academia. Of all the Jukebox she is the most likely to correct your grammar, and your posture. A friend to all the winged and stepping creatures of the earth, shed probably like you better if you were a cuttlefish. Nothing personal, its just shes a dead-eyed freak with an agenda she doesnt care to share. Just make sure she gets paid.
Rev Jim Lodge What can one say about the Reverend Jim Lodge that hasn't already appeared in countless lawsuits? He was the originator, the inventor, the master, the creator, and for a couple of bucks he also made a damn fine pizza pie. You wanna step into his shoes? You better get some feet my friend. Not just any feet, but special feet. The kinda of feet that have walked down every wind blasted, rain lashed stretch of track between here and hellwater, preaching the gospel of unfettered bigamy and licentious hellraising. Some say he was once a trick rider for Barnum and Bailey. some say he was once engaged to Louise Brooks' illegitimate niece. some say he lost the tip of his finger saving a baby from certain death. some say... ah, let 'em talk. I've met him and I'm just not tellin'.
Scarlet Bonansea Miss Scarlett Bonansea was rescued from the Vienna Museum of Automata and Oddities where she had been languishing in a store cupboard since her harpsichord and the mechanism that makes it look like shes breathing had broken down in the late 1920s. The rest of the Jukebox, with their various skills of plumbing, welding and voodoo, feel theyve fixed her up pretty good, considering. She runs on cherry brandy and sachertorte, and has an unfathomable fear of canaries.
Influences: Bessie Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Blind Blake, Wynonie Harris, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Frankie 'half pint' Jackson, Blind Boy Fuller, a cornucopia of jug bands-Missisippi Sheiks, Gus Canon's Jug Stompers etc, Ma Rainey, Tampa Red, Jim and Bob.
Sounds Like: Jon Gomm in Sandman Magazine thought we were "darkly surreal, sinister and bewitching... for those who can't afford LSD the Devil's Jukebox are a great alternative." Some people seem to think we're like Pennies From Heaven remade as a porno!!! Others if Iggy Pop fronted early Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Someone at the BBC website said we were Tom Waits-esque nightmare jazz. Some have said Screamin Jay for the 21st Century, and David Broad thought we are the most authentic Jazz, Blues, Jug Hokum thingy he's heard, but he's a very nice man. We just write the happy tunes for the dancing monkeys...
Type of Label: None