Just Plain Folk
Are 12 Shades of Schwilly Silly the next big thing? Sure! Why not?
Posted by: John Chandler on Jun 09, 2009 at 01:00PM
15 Comments
Ah, the joys of communal street life in the summertime. I was just waiting for a couple of tacos at the SW Fifth and Oak food carts when this scruffy little ensemble struck up a merry drinking tune. They’re called 12 Shades of Schwilly Silly (sp?) and they’re a free-range musical collective with members from New York, Eugene, Boston, Louisiana, and wherever else they happen to land. Originally I just wanted to check out the cute girl playing the saw, but the Shades’ spicy camp stew of folk-gypsy-Tom-Waits-Pogues-Weill-pirate shanties proved totally captivating. Sal the guitarist described their music as “that feeling you have when you wake up from a great dream and realize you’ve wet the bed.” They’ll be around for a while, and their plans include a house party on Friday somewhere in Southeast. I assume they’ll be playing at it and not just soaking up the beer.
And someone dug their sound so much that they tipped the band a pair of puppies!
Sigh. Theirs is a path I might have chosen had I not opted for four walls, three dogs, a fiancée, and crippling debt. As a middle-aged desk jockey, am I allowed to envy these rambling ragamuffins and their nomadic lifestyle? How say you, drinking buddies?
Tags: music
If I could do it, (and not care about my mortgage) I would. However if you feel like living the dream for an afternoon, I have a fiddle. How’s your version of Twinkle Twinkle? Mine’s not posh, but it won’t make you wet the bed.
Regrets, I’ve had a few… More odes to the path not taken.
Pshaw! What silly excuses. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood!
Mortgages, debt, and fiancees are personal choices, not punishments to be nobly endured like some kind of puritanical hair shirt. Life is short my fine man, by all means follow your joy!
I say throw aside your worries and hit the road, busking meal to meal. If that is your path to true happiness, don’t wait a minute longer!
P.S. How do you feel about camping? You’re cool with sleeping on the floor, limited access to laundry and showers, and no health insurance, right?
Wait! Please disregard such a foolish question, I forgot momentarily to whom I speak. Forgive me my dear Bar Pilot, of course such petty inconveniences are of no matter to one of your courage, fortitude & joy de vivre.
Keep the dream alive wherever your choices take you.
Yes you’re allowed to envy them, but you’re also allowed to wonder how sustainable their lifestyle is, and where they’ll be in 5-10-15-etc years. Every time I regret not chucking it all and committing myself to a life of rock 15 years ago, I remember all the wonderful things that my steady income has brought me over the years.
Brilliant insights one and all. You’ve given me much to think about. But another question occurs to me: Is the musical saw like an acoustic theramin?
JC – you are exactly right. The musical saw is the acoustic predecessor of the theremin. At the time that Leon Theremin was inventing his instrument, the musical saw was very popular. There was no Vaudeville show without a saw player in it. Leon Theremin was aiming to recreate the sound of the musical saw electronically. He did a good job, didn’t he?
If you happen to be traveling to NYC in July… come to the 7th annual NYC Musical Saw Festival: http://www.MusicalSawFestival.org
As a matter of fact, I wish I knew how to reach the saw player of ‘12 Shades of Schwilly Silly’ – I’d like to invite her to perform at the festival.
Thanks Saw Lady! A musical saw fest? That’s cutting edge. Something I could really sink my teeth into. Will the Log Lady be there?
Seriously, great info. I just had a hunch about the saw/theramin connection.
Dear Marion,
A little media attention in Portland~
See Eli on left, striped shirt, suspenders, and acoustic bass.
Love from your sister, which makes Eli your nephew,
xoxobdd
Alright, this is a message directed to Eric, the man who questioned the sustainability of our lifestyles… please note: we ate all that day like kings and queens at the 5th and oak food carts, and it all came out of the magnificent trash cans surrounding the block—
so then, to answer the question of how sustainable our lifestyle is— as long as you kind folk with steady incomes, mortgages, monogamous relationships and clean hands keep consuming at the excessive rate that you do, we too will be doing just fine trimming off the excess
and to Saw Lady, If you mean it, you certainly do know how to reach the saw player of 12 shades to invite her to play,
just email edwork06@simons-rock.edu
Hi Mar,
This is an easier way to access.
As my grandmother would have said, “OY!”
I say," Be creative, explore the world, and return when you’re ready, wiser and in one piece"
xoxoBdd
Dear Mar,
This is more direct access.
As my grandmother would have said, “OY!”
My mother says,“oy!”
I say," Discover, explore, create. When you’re ready, return to us with vitality,ready to share your wisdom, AND more importantly, in one piece"
xoxoBdd
Hi Cousine~
THis just in~
Check out the guy in the striped top with guitar, on the left.
Please pass on to David-cousine.
Lots of love to you and your beautiful family~
Your cousine!!!!!
To Twelve shades- we were in portland just last weekend u said u had some recordings online but i cant find any and cant travel back to portland to inquire personally. youre great and i hope you are able to respond as i have no way of reaching you. you can email me at rockcreekjugband@gmail.com thanks friends
Just saw Twelve Shades jam at the Rainbow Gathering. They blew my proverbial socks off. But, I can’t find anything about them online…I want more!!! Anyone know how to find ’em?
Sarah, search for “12 Shades of Schwilly Silly” at youtube and you’ll find three songs.