The Anywhere Organ is growing. You can help it on its way to huge, impossible, interactive magic. Check out the Kickstarter.

This weekend was Maker Wold's Faire. Maker Faires are always like Christmas, but I was especially excited to go to this one. One of the reasons was SpaceCamp, but that's another thing entirely and not at all Steampunk. The other big reason was finally being able to see The Anywhere Organ in action.

. . .

I was sorely dissapointed that I was not able to spend  time with the lovely Professor Elemental at the Steampunk World's Fair this year. I only got the briefest of "Hellos!" in as we passed in the hallway heading to our events. It's nice to see that the Professor is doing well, in fact, everything seems SPLENDID!!

My friend and fellow citizen of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Len Solomon demostrates his Oomphalapompatronium! 

Previously blogged band the Bodice Rippers have a new EP out, and it is wonderful. Vocalist Megan Fenske  throws herself full-on into her vocals- singing their sinister, strange, poetic lyrics with rich and gritty passion.  I last compared them with Decemberists/Tom Waits, and while that still holds true, they've matured and added jazzy/swing sound that I find totally irresistible. I want to dance-flail around, swinging arms and stomping feet when it's on. EP Volume II is on Itunes for a meager six bucks, and it's worth every penny. Link to their Itunes store, and their Facebook page.

Update: It's even better because I just found out that Unwoman (Erica Mulkey) is playing 3 songs with Blackbird Orchestra at SteamCon!
OMG! Squee! her Casualties and The Keys albums have been in my rotation since she issued them.

Oh Cool! I've just discovered that Blackbird Orchestra is playing SteamCom II next week (Sunday 1-2 PM in the Cabaret) so I will be able to see them live! I am really enjoying their latest Fables and Fields Green . You should probably buy a copy now lest they sellout at SteamKaaahn!.

Our favorite Professor is calling out Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer in true Chap Hop fashion! It. Is. On! I was most fortunate to met the Professor in person at the Steampunk World's Fair last year and it seems that we will both be in attendance again this May. Huzzah! 

The Cog is Dead is a time traveling band with a bit of a musical identity crisis. Formed in Grimsby, England in 1893, the Cog is Dead have traveled to various points of time in an effort to save clockwork mechanics and steam power! Along the way they have discovered several types of marvelous music which has helped to inspire their own.

Think The Squirrel Nut Zippers meet Abney Park. This is some damn fine Steampunk music! I particularly like "The Copper War" and the title track "The Cog is Dead" is sure to become a Steampunk classic!

Click through to their site or listen on MySpace!

Thanks Geof!

I've been waiting anxiously, a-biting on my finger-nails for the Boddice Rippers first EP to come out. It has, and now I can finally share with you my new favorite local bay area band. I would describe them as Tom Waits meets Decemberists meeets bluesy-night-night-club if they had a rockin' female vocalist instead of their respectively scratchy/croony male ones.

They are so new they don't even have a website yet (how quaint!) but you can find them on Facebook, iTunes, and LastFm among others.

They are quite a handsome band as well, dontcha think?

One of my most common rants about steampunk style involves long-winded kvetching about the forgotten Eastern influences on the genre. I'll spare you the snarky details, but it comes to this: I want to know why I practically never see steampunks tapping into the deliciously decadent culture of India. I want to know to where Captain Nemo disappeared. Considering the rule of the British Raj in India from 1858 to 1957, Victoria's title of "Empress of India", and the 200-year force in the country of the British East India Trading Company (who dealt in tea, silk, cotton, indigo, and opium as well as political oppression), I am rather surprised that very few steampunks reflect this in their garb and choice of music.

However, a band called Sunday Driver was brought to my attention¹ this week, and let me tell you--these folks are definitely doin' it right. Their music is a careful and delicate fusion of Indian chant and English folk, laden with formidable female vocals and subtly morbid and mad lyrics (their band name supposedly came from a gene commonly found in mice!). The sound is energetic, crisply recorded, and each song is entirely different, keeping Sunday Driver on rotation over my speakers all week.

My good friends HUMANWINE are playing tomorrow, June 27th, 2009 at The Paradise in Boston.  Alas, I will not be able to attend but if you'd like to go for free all you need do is find a hidden Golden Ticket!

There's just over twenty-four hours left to find the hidden tickets for HUMANWINE's show tomorrow. Here are some links to get started...

http://www.humanwine.org/TheGoldenTicketHunt
http://vinland.ning.com/
http://www.humanwine.org/POBox/postcard2.png

Longtime visitors will recall meeting HUMANWINE in Make:TV Episode 103 - just skip ahead to 8:10 to see Holly and Matt and the band, no need to sit through that other guy.