Los Straitjackets

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Monkey Monday Music Video: Dancing Gorillas, Burlesque Girls, Tour Dates

Published May 18th, 2009 by Karen

Above: Gorillas, Mexican wrestler-masked guitarists and retro go-go girl triplets doin’ the twist-sure to brighten up your Monday a little.

Mondays can be kinda tough, so, because we like silly music videos, monkeys and alliteration, we’re revisiting a feature we like to call Monkey Monday. (Ok, so technically we invited a gorilla over for Monkey Monday, but he does the twist, so we think it’s ok.)

Eccentric, instrumental surf-rockers Los Straitjackets hit the road with go-go dancing burlesque triplets and glittery Mexican wrestler masks for a tour with equally entertaining trailer gothic “countrypolitan” moonshine-rock weirdos Southern Culture on the Skids (something like a backwoods B-52s, maybe). Retro surf-rock and wigged-out country music? It makes perfect sense, really.

Fun fact: Southern Culture on the Skids are one of Stephen King’s favorite bands.

Adding to the creepy fun, the band’s new songs “Soulful Garage” and “It’s All Over but the Shoutin’” have been featured on HBO’s new vampire series, True Blood.

After the jump: Find out where to catch Los Straitjackets & Southern Culture on the Skids on tour.
Plus: Flash back to 1995 with a Southern Culture on the Skids classic featuring camels and oat meal pies. (Not to be confused with Wilco (the Album)’s camel and party cake.)

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Cinco de Mayo Music: Mexican Wrestling Masks, Guitars and the Twist with Los Straitjackets

Published May 5th, 2009 by Karen

Above: A surf-rock guitar band with members doing synchronized dance moves and wearing sparkly Mexican wrestler masks? Must be Cinco de Mayo!

Nashville’s Spanish-speaking instrumental surf-rock outift Los Straitjackets may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Mexican music or Cinco de Mayo, but with their upbeat sound and fun live shows, we thought their music was a fine fit for this festive day. (Yes, we know Cinco de Mayo actually marks the Mexican army’s victory over French troops at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, but let’s face it, most of you probably use it as an excuse to drink margaritas after work-and Los Straitjackets are a fine margarita soundtrack. So there.)

The band is known equally well for its oddball costumes (black turtlenecks, over-size medallions and sequined wrestler masks) and its almost mechanically tight guitar antics. (If you want to dress as your favorite Straitjacket-Daddy-O, Angel, Evil Pedro and Teen Hornet-the band sells replicas of their famous masks online, tons of CDs and 7″s, too. Replicas of their wacky guitars are also available.)

Although it formed in 1988, this instrumental outfit didn’t make its proper debut until 1994 with the release of the modestly titled album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets.

Over two decades into its career, the band is still touring constantly with an unusual live revue that often includes a troupe of go-go-dancing burlesque triplets (the World Famous Pontani Sisters) and sometimes Continue reading »