Rasputina…Powerful, Unusual Cello Rock

I can remember the first time I heard the band Rasputina. I had read about the band in Entertainment Weekly, and then their album Thanks for the Ether arrived via Columbia House (This is also how I found and fell in love with Tori Amos). I asked to be allowed to keep it and thus began a love affair that has spanned two decades. I fell in love with the heavy cello, beautiful melodies and unusual lyrics. The first song to stand out to me was “Transylvanian Concubine” a lovely song about Vampires; Lyrical standout “Transylvanian Concubine, You know what flows here like wine.” I also loved the song “Stumpside” and “My little Shirtwaist Fire.” The band, well Melora Creager the lead singer/cellist, wrote a song about the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire! A tragedy that had long fascinated me.

I eagerly awaited their next album How We Quit the Forest and snatched up the interim release Transylvania Regurgitations which featured songs from Thanks for the Ether remixed and remastered by Marilyn Manson and Twiggy Ramirez. How We Quit The Forest brought more unusual and wonderful music. Songs like “Leechwife” and “The New Zero” caught me and had me singing along. “Rose K” had me looking into the story of Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy’s as well as her lobotomized daughter Rose Marie.

I am ridiculously excited that I get to see them in concert again tomorrow night. I saw them once in 2004 or so when they played at Little Brothers (now closed) in Columbus. Tomorrow they are playing Rumba Cafe which is a lovely and intimate space for a show. I am trying to decide what I want to wear to the show. Rasputina is famous for their Victorian style so it is tempting to break out a corset for the event. I have a gorgeous brown corset from Damsel in This Dress with a layered cream colored cropped bodice that would look good with a skirt or jeans, so I may go with that look. We shall see.