John Spaw & Dave Craig, original members of San Francisco punk rock band The Lowdowns (JUNK RECORDS, SIDE ONE DUMMY, DISASTER, IFA, and FLT RECORDS), have founded their latest project; a five piece band based in San Francisco California known as Stella Royale (named after a vintage blues guitar and the world’s most beautiful midget).
The line up includes: John Spaw - acoustic/electric guitar, vocals David Craig – baritone/bass guitar, keys, vocals
Rom Kuras – drums/percussion
Kat Cornelius – trumpet/French horn, vocals, percussion
Eva Piontkowski - Violin
Stella Royale's sound consists of haunting melodies using a bizarre combination of acoustic folk-Americana, New Orleans style jazz, including undertones of shoe-gazer and gypsy/circus music with influences such as Tom Waits, Devotchka, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Pixies, Yo La Tengo, The Shins, and more.
The guitar and trumpet/French horn melodies add an emotional and refreshing twist in places that are both surprising and unexpectedly pleasing to the ear while the violin creates subtle flavors of Euro-folk, Django and Gypsy.
Recorded in 2008, ‘Cockroach Ensemble’, the latest album from Stella Royale (Randy Girl Records), sounds like a combo plate of garage rock n’ roll, Punk Rock-Jazz and Folk Americana.
“This latest CD release is all new music since the band reformed with Rom Kuras on drums & Kat Cornelius on Trumpet & French horn. There is definitely a fresh dynamic with the horns in Cockroach Ensemble, a must hear for music enthusiasts".
"Stella Royale conjures a sound that is both original and referential of many preceding things. A dash of punk - though hardly how you imagine it - a hint of shoegazer - again, quit imagining and just go listen - indie rock, psychadelic, blues, good old rock n roll and a heady dose of non-conformity". -Corazine
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ALL BETTER NOW video - by Dianne H.
