We always kind of scratch our heads when asked for our influences. If you listen to music, you are influenced by it. Period. Good or bad. Here's some stuff we enjoy:
8 1/2 Souvenirs, Art Tatum, Astor Piazzolla, The Avengers, The B-52's, The Beatles, Beck, Ben Charest, Benny Goodman, Betty Carter, Bill Monroe, Billie Holiday, Blind Willie Johnson, Bob Brozman, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Boomtown Rats, Boswell Sisters, Brave Combo, Buck Owens, Butthole Surfers, Buzzcocks, Cake, Cab Calloway, Carole King, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Clara Rockmore, The Clash, Cliff Edwards, John Coltrane, The Cramps, The Cure, Dave Biller, David Bowie, The Derailers, Devo, Dinah Washington, Dixie Hummingbirds, Dizzy Gillespie, Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Dusty Springfield, Dwight Yoakam, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley, Erik Hokkanen, Etta James, Fats Waller, The Flaming Lips, Flatt and Scruggs, Fletcher Henderson, Frank Sinatra, George Jones, Glenn Miller, Golden Gate Gospel Quartet, The Gourds, Bela Fleck, Pink Floyd, Joe Pass, David Grisman, Stephan Grappelli, Gram Parsons, Pat Metheney, Phish, Frank Zappa, Nickel Creek, South Austin Jug Band, Charlie Christian, Tony Trishka, Hot Rize, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, David Grier, Guy Forsyth, Hank Williams, Harry Nilsson, Helen Humes, Helen Kane, Henry Mancini, Sol Hoopii, Howlin' Wolf, Ike & Tina Turner, Jack Teagarden, Jazz Butcher, Jeff Buckley, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Jimmie Rodgers, Joe Jackson, John Lee Hooker, John Lennon, Johnny Cash, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Lavern Baker, Leadbelly, Ledward Kaapana, Lefty Frizzell, Leonard Cohen, Lightnin' Hopkins, The Cheap Suit Serenaders, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jellyroll Morton, Lil Green, Loretta Lynn, Los Lobos, Louie Armstrong, Louvin Brothers, Lucinda Williams, Lyle Lovett, Ma Rainey, Mahalia Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Maxine Sullivan, Meat Puppets, Memphis Minnie, Mercedes Simone, Mercedes Sosa, Miles Davis, Mills Brothers, Modest Mouse, Muddy Waters, Nat King Cole, Neil Young, Neville Brothers, New York Dolls, Nina Simone, Nirvana, Otis Redding, Patsy Cline, Patti Smith, Pixies, The Pogues, The Police, Porter Wagoner, The Pretenders, Public Enemy, Radiohead, The Ramones, Ray Charles, Ray Price, Rebirth Brass Band, Rickie Lee Jones, Roy Smeck, Sam & Dave, Sam Cooke, Scrappy Hamilton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, The Skatalites, Sly & the Family Stone, Smokey Robinson, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Sophie Tucker, The Southern Sons, Spike Jones, Split Lip Rayfield, The Stanley Brothers, Stanley Smith, Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Talking Heads, Tammy Wynette, Thelonious Monk, They Might Be Giants, Tom Petty, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Violent Femmes, Willie Nelson, Wilco, X.
The new video, directed by Morgan Higby Night is done! The Spankers would like to send a big thanks out to Morgan, and all of the wonderful people he assembled who worked with us on this project. We had a lot of fun making it, and we hope you enjoy it too. Click here to watch the video! Be sure to rate the video and leave a comment.
Biography
Founded fourteen years ago at a booze and hallucinogen-fueled party at the Dabbs Hotel along the river in Llano, Texas, the Asylum Street Spankers stand as one of America's most distinctive groups. Defiantly acoustic, fiercely independent and absurdly good, the Spankers have been led by founders Christina Marrs and Wammo from being a country-blues revival act playing happy hours in Austin, through nearly 40 musicians, endless touring and constant evolution to being an internationally reknowned underground institution. Fueled by an ethos born of their punk roots, Marrs and Wammo have built their lives around making unique music that surprises and entertains.
"The decade-old band is a roots-rock riddle, nestled in a satirical Vaudeville enigma, packaged in an old-timey radio-show puzzle and slathered with hippie-fied mystery sauce." - Tampa Weekly Planet
"...inspired, lunatic brilliance.!" - Richard Skanse, Rolling Stone
"...positively awe inspiring.!" - Chris Davis, The Memphis Flyer
"...musically inventive, terrific and simply brilliant!" - The Berkshire Eagle
We're gonna miss you guys at Riverhawk in Dade City Florida this weekend. I MC'd for you last year on one of the stages that you performed and what a hoot that was!!! Sad that I will not see you again this year.
We all won last night! Jeff would have been thrilled. Kathryn and I certainly are. Party on, friends. The songs on our profile and the videos we have up here on MySpace just might help...
I listened to you guys on bob and tom once when i was like 13 but i only barely comprehended your splendor. my dad just reintroduced me to you. big fan. keep it up.
Hey! when you came to Blacksburg, VA a while ago I told Newman I would send you a picture of our class Superfrog. My preschoolers love that song! Superfrog is very much a part of our classroom. Here he is! Thanks and come to Floyd again!!!! Rebbecca Jackson- preschool teacher
Please come to Louisiana! We're so close... look you can see us if you go to the top of the Texas Cyclone in Astroworld. I've gotten all my friends hooked on your music and they would love a chance to see you live! Ta, T