Los Straitjackets
Encyclopedia
Los Straitjackets is an American instrumental rock
band that formed in Nashville
, Tennessee
in 1988. Originally comprising guitarists Danny Amis (formerly of Raybeats
) and Eddie Angel and drummer L. J. "Jimmy" Lester under the name The Straitjackets, the band split up soon after forming and reunited as Los Straitjackets in 1994 with the addition of bassist E. Scott Esbeck. Esbeck left the band in 1998 and was replaced by Pete Curry; drummer Jason "Teen Beat" Smay replaced co-founding member Lester in 2005. Danny Amis is currently undergoing cancer treatment and has been temporarily replaced by Gregorio el Grande as co-lead guitarist.
The band has released eleven studio album
s, two collaboration albums and three live album
s.
guitarist, having moved to Nashville in the early 1980s to record and perform with the Planet Rockers. Danny Amis recorded and performed with the Raybeats, then worked as a sound engineer in Nashville. The two formed The Straitjackets in 1988 with Jimmy Lester, a Nashville session player who had worked and toured with Robert Gordon
. They played several gigs during the summer of that year, but soon broke up.
In 1994, they reformed as Los Straitjackets, adding bass player Scott Esbeck. Their first album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets, was released the following year on Upstart Records. In the post-Pulp Fiction
surf revival, the group began attracting a following, though their music is not entirely surf-oriented.
Over the next few years, the band developed a cult following through its tight instrumentation and gimmicky stage shows. When performing live, band members dress identically, wearing black clothing, gold Aztec medallions, and personalized Mexican wrestling masks
. Amis (aka "Daddy-O Grande") is the only member who speaks, introducing songs in fast, badly accented Spanish.
In 1998, Esbeck left the band during the recording of The Velvet Touch of Los Straitjackets and was replaced by Pete Curry, formerly of the Halibuts, a 1980s surf-revival group. In 2005, Lester left and was replaced by Jason Smay (aka "Teen Beat").
They've become known as frequent collaborators, recording Sing Along With Los Straitjackets with a number of different artists. They were nominated for a Grammy Award
for their collaboration with blues singer Eddy Clearwater
, Rock 'N' Roll City.
As time goes on, their stage shows have become more elaborate. Shows frequently feature choreography, guest vocalists such as Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Kaiser George of the Scottish band the Kaisers, Big Sandy
, and burlesque
dancing troupe The World Famous Pontani Sisters
. In recent years, they have staged festive Christmas Shows during the holiday season.
, and appeared briefly in the film. They also recorded two albums of music specifically for television and commercial use, and their work is often heard as filler or background music on radio and television shows.
In the late 1990s, Conan O'Brien
had the band perform Christmas music each holiday season on his late-night television program.
Former members
Timeline
Collaboration albums
Live albums
Sources
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
band that formed in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
in 1988. Originally comprising guitarists Danny Amis (formerly of Raybeats
Raybeats
The Raybeats were an instrumental neo-surf rock combo from New York City that arose from the No Wave musical scene. The original line-up consisted of Don Christensen , Jody Harris , Pat Irwin , and George Scott III .- History :The Raybeats formed in 1979, brought together by George Scott...
) and Eddie Angel and drummer L. J. "Jimmy" Lester under the name The Straitjackets, the band split up soon after forming and reunited as Los Straitjackets in 1994 with the addition of bassist E. Scott Esbeck. Esbeck left the band in 1998 and was replaced by Pete Curry; drummer Jason "Teen Beat" Smay replaced co-founding member Lester in 2005. Danny Amis is currently undergoing cancer treatment and has been temporarily replaced by Gregorio el Grande as co-lead guitarist.
The band has released eleven studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
s, two collaboration albums and three live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
s.
History
Eddie Angel was a noted rockabillyRockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
guitarist, having moved to Nashville in the early 1980s to record and perform with the Planet Rockers. Danny Amis recorded and performed with the Raybeats, then worked as a sound engineer in Nashville. The two formed The Straitjackets in 1988 with Jimmy Lester, a Nashville session player who had worked and toured with Robert Gordon
Robert Gordon (musician)
Robert Gordon is an American rockabilly musician. Gordon rose to fame performing in several genres including alternative rock, punk rock, and rock and roll.- Early days:...
. They played several gigs during the summer of that year, but soon broke up.
In 1994, they reformed as Los Straitjackets, adding bass player Scott Esbeck. Their first album, The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets, was released the following year on Upstart Records. In the post-Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
surf revival, the group began attracting a following, though their music is not entirely surf-oriented.
Over the next few years, the band developed a cult following through its tight instrumentation and gimmicky stage shows. When performing live, band members dress identically, wearing black clothing, gold Aztec medallions, and personalized Mexican wrestling masks
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
. Amis (aka "Daddy-O Grande") is the only member who speaks, introducing songs in fast, badly accented Spanish.
In 1998, Esbeck left the band during the recording of The Velvet Touch of Los Straitjackets and was replaced by Pete Curry, formerly of the Halibuts, a 1980s surf-revival group. In 2005, Lester left and was replaced by Jason Smay (aka "Teen Beat").
They've become known as frequent collaborators, recording Sing Along With Los Straitjackets with a number of different artists. They were nominated for a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
for their collaboration with blues singer Eddy Clearwater
Eddy Clearwater
Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater is the stage name of Edward Harrington ,) an American Chicago blues musician. Blues Revue said Eddy plays “joyous rave-ups…he testifies with stunning soul fervor and powerful guitar. One of the blues’ finest songwriters.” -Early life:He was born in Macon, Mississippi,...
, Rock 'N' Roll City.
As time goes on, their stage shows have become more elaborate. Shows frequently feature choreography, guest vocalists such as Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Kaiser George of the Scottish band the Kaisers, Big Sandy
Big Sandy
There are six communities in the United States named Big Sandy*Big Sandy, Montana in Chouteau County*Big Sandy, Nebraska in Thayer County, Nebraska*Big Sandy, Tennessee in Benton County*Big Sandy, Texas in Upshur County...
, and burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
dancing troupe The World Famous Pontani Sisters
The World Famous Pontani Sisters
The World Famous Pontani Sisters are a dance act and burlesque revue based in New York City, consisting of three sisters- Angie Pontani, Tara Pontani, and Helen Pontani...
. In recent years, they have staged festive Christmas Shows during the holiday season.
Film and television
Los Straitjackets provided some of the music for the independent film Psycho Beach PartyPsycho Beach Party
Psycho Beach Party is a 2000 Comedy horror film based on the off-Broadway play of the same name, directed by Robert Lee King. Charles Busch wrote both the original play and the screenplay...
, and appeared briefly in the film. They also recorded two albums of music specifically for television and commercial use, and their work is often heard as filler or background music on radio and television shows.
In the late 1990s, Conan O'Brien
Conan O'Brien
Conan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
had the band perform Christmas music each holiday season on his late-night television program.
Band members
Current members- Danny Amis – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(1988, 1994–present) - Eddie Angel – guitar (1988, 1994–present)
- Pete Curry – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(1998–present) - Jason "Teen Beat" Smay – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2005–present)
Former members
- E. Scott Esbeck – bass (1994–1998)
- Jimmy "L. J." Lester – drums (1988, 1994–2005)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums- The Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los StraitjacketsThe Utterly Fantastic and Totally Unbelievable Sound of Los Straitjackets-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar*Eddie Angel – guitar*Scott Esbeck – bass*Jimmy Lester – drumsAdditional personnel*Ben Vaughn – production*Brad Jones – engineering-References:...
(1995) - ¡Viva! Los Straitjackets¡Viva! Los Straitjackets-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar*Eddie Angel – guitar*Scott Esbeck – bass*Jimmy Lester – drums, triangleAdditional personnel*Ben Vaughn – production, guitar*Mark Linett – engineering...
(1996) - The Velvet Touch of Los StraitjacketsThe Velvet Touch of Los Straitjackets-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar*Eddie Angel – guitar*Pete Curry – bass*Scott Esbeck – bassGuest musicians*Jeff Sudakin – keyboards, orchestration, sound design*Jay Mason – clarinet, saxophone...
(1999) - Sing Along with Los StraitjacketsSing Along with Los Straitjackets-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar, production*Eddie Angel – guitar, production*Pete Curry – bass, production*Jimmy Lester – drums, percussion, productionGuest musicians*Nick Lowe – bass on "Shake That Rat"...
(2001) - Encyclopedia of SoundEncyclopedia of SoundEncyclopedia of Sound is the fifth studio album by American instrumental rock band Los Straitjackets, released in 2001 by LoveCat Music.-Track listing:All music was composed by Danny Amis, Eddie Angel, Pete Curry and Jimmy Lester....
(2001) - 'Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets!'Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets!-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar*Eddie Angel – guitar*Pete Curry – bass, engineering, mixing*Jimmy Lester – drums*Scott Esbeck – bassAdditional personnel*Mark Linnett – production, engineering...
(2002) - Supersonic Guitars in 3-DSupersonic Guitars in 3-D-Personnel:Los Straitjackets*Danny Amis – guitar*Eddie Angel – guitar, bass*Pete Curry – bass, guitar*Jimmy Lester – drumsGuest musicians*Anja Dixon – vocals*Stax – vocals*Billy Zoom – flute, saxophone...
(2003) - Play Favorites (2004)
- Encyclopedia of Sound, Vol. 2 (2005)
- Rock en Español, Vol. 1Rock en Español, Vol. 1Rock en Español, Vol. 1 is an album by instrumental rock band Los Straitjackets consisting of Spanish language covers of classic 1950s and 1960s English language rock songs. The band at the time of recording was Danny Amis on guitar, Eddie Angel on guitar and bass, Pete Curry on bass and guitar,...
(2007) - The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets (2009)
Collaboration albums
- Rock 'N' Roll City (2003)
- With Eddy ClearwaterEddy ClearwaterEddy "The Chief" Clearwater is the stage name of Edward Harrington ,) an American Chicago blues musician. Blues Revue said Eddy plays “joyous rave-ups…he testifies with stunning soul fervor and powerful guitar. One of the blues’ finest songwriters.” -Early life:He was born in Macon, Mississippi,...
- With Eddy Clearwater
- Twist Party!!! (2007)
- With The World Famous Pontani SistersThe World Famous Pontani SistersThe World Famous Pontani Sisters are a dance act and burlesque revue based in New York City, consisting of three sisters- Angie Pontani, Tara Pontani, and Helen Pontani...
- With The World Famous Pontani Sisters
Live albums
- Damas y Caballeros! (2001)
- Los Vivos y Los Raros (2003)
- Released in Spain only
- In Concert (2008)
- Also released as a DVD
External links
Sources