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What's This?

The Imperial Rooster

Rank #3 Espanola, NM Country / Gonzo Roots Music / Alt. Country

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About

Sounds Like: Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Captain Beefheart, Violent Femmes

Label: Comidas Rapidos

Bio: The Imperial Rooster play an out there mix of folk, blues, country, & rock and roll that can only be described as GONZO ROOTS MUSIC. Influenced by Beer, Sterno, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Beer, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart.

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Status

: I improvised an Angry Birds cake decoration for Dez. http://t.co/SnhvrwL4

Press

"the Roosters are unabashedly, irreverently original, dredging chords, rhythms and words to squeeze out the best of muse-inspired music... Clever and crass, harmonizing and (purposely) off-key in turn, these skilled musicians are qualified to take you on a bona fide Española-style joyride. Buckle your seats, and bring your own luck charms for the rearview."

— Ariana Kramer, Taos News

“i have been listening to their recently released decent people non-stop for the better part of 3 days, and all i can say its a trip. here’s what i love about the record, or better yet them, the most; they have heart and passion for their music. they arent the best singers, maybe not the best players, but ill be goddamned if the piece aka the album is greater than the sum of its parts... on first listen you may think to yourself wtf is this? their songs are kinda goofy, kinda serious, kinda tongue-in-cheek, etc, but again, the gang of imperial rooster blend it all wonderfully together. there’s sea chantey’s, irish drunken sing-a-logs, heart felt ballads, and stories of what kinda shit goes down at a “typical” imperial rooster show. the latter of which, even if half true, i need to witness for myself. short review, even shorter, i love it decent people and if ya give it enough time, me thinks you hop on this train. def a best of 2011 release… ”

— Greg Van Dyke, Captains Dead

“Decent People is the sophomore effort from this ragtag gaggle of Española wackos. But it’s no slump. In fact, without losing the zany appeal and inspired slop of the first album, Decent People displays more depth in writing and performance than its predecessor. It’s bluegrass-informed, jug-band-influenced, and punk-rock in spirit. One huge surprise here. I already knew The Imperial Rooster could do raucous. I knew the group can do “rootin’ tootin’, low-falutin’, and salad-shootin’.” But the song “McGinty’s” shows that the band can also do pretty. It’s a slow, sad waltz with a bittersweet melody and strange but beautiful vocal harmonies that remind me of a folk ballad that I can’t put my finger on.”

— Steve Terrell, The Santa Fe New Mexican

“The few things I know about this album for sure is that it is very original, very energetic, and at times, very funny. My guess is to fully appreciate The Rooster experience, one must see them live. But seeing them the first time, or on your first trip through this album, you may feel like the square sitting at the re-airing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show in some downtown art house. While dressed-up freaks scream and yell at the screen, aping scenes in animated movie pews, you watch appreciating that something entertaining is going down, but understanding much of the entertainment is going whizzing right over your head. Yes, it may take some time to calibrate your music brain around their approach, but without question The Imperial Rooster and Decent People is worth a sniff or two.”

— The Triggerman, Saving Country Music

“You should know I love roots music...and when I say roots music...I'm talking about the kind of music that's rooted in sea shanties, Appalachia, and work songs. Everyman's music. The kind of music you sing under the stars around a campfire. Timeless songs that build friendships as everybody joins in for a rousing sing-a-long. (Try doing that with 90% of the music found on pop radio). Imperial Rooster often sounds like the wheels could come off any moment. Mix in sly (often dark) humor with musical twists and you're in for an exhilarating ride right up to the canyon edge. ”

— Randy Combs (Titty Bingo), Testimonial

“On Decent People, the Imperial Rooster once again mixes the sublime with the absurd to create the perfect soundtrack to your damnation. ”

— April Fecca, Now This Sound Is Brave

“Equal parts Pogues, Tom Waits and Cramps. Inside of their rough exterior they reveal lazy melodies and crazy tales of debauchery. But the best things about Rooster is still their tendency towards lots and lots of vocal parts, something that is missing from art school neu-folk in abundance.”

— AJ Morocco, The Big Takeover

“Charming is a blanket term for a band so well versed in so many styles, but keep their hearts pinned to one of the founding souls of American music, folk inspired country. But, they write a folksy country hybrid with a sense of macabre, a sound that’s clear, abusive and dipped in gasoline, and fused with a side of napalm...By mixing everything from moments of pure horny chaos ala Mike Patton, or Tom Waits, The Imperial Rooster can swoon straight back into it’s old timey country groove so hard that Waylon or Cash would smile down upon these Southwestern Boys, from whatever astral plain they might be on...The music is heavy, it’s fun, and it’s steeped in risk. ”

— Robert Dean, The Truth About Music: Play It Loud

“In short, this (Decent People) is a record that offers something for everybody. Whether you're partying with a few dozen other people or sitting alone and depressed, this is the album you need to be playing. If there is any justice in the world, these guys (and gal) will be the next big thing.”

— Adam Sheets, No Depression

“Raucous, crude and, above all, fun, The Imperial Rooster’s OLD GOOD POOR CRAZY DEAD is a brutally original, defiantly uncategorizable album that, upon first listen, will leave you confounded, but still intrigued, forcing you to listen over and over again until you finally “get it”. Just like pork and Sterno.”

— Louis Fowler, Sonic Reducer Fanzine

“Old Good Crazy Poor Dead, spans the spectrum from raucous novelty songs (“Pigfork”) to heart-tearing, Southern gothic ballad (“Uranium Mole”). Rooster music is loose and full of heart, and we heartell they put on a mean live show.”

— April Fecca, Now This Sound Is Brave

“Old Good Poor Crazy Dead has a punk-rock sloppiness... The eight songs touch on the more memorable aspects of folk and country through the ages. Imperial Rooster pulls the very best parts from a bazillion years of tradition and inserts these time-honored melodies, themes and instruments into each song.”

— Alex De Vore, Santa Fe Reporter

“This is good, rootsy hillbilly slop. I don’t hear a jug in the mix, but The Imperial Rooster has a real jug-band spirit — on top of a punk-rock soul. The band members’ funny monikers — such as “Nat King Kong,” “Cootie LeRoux,” and “Dusty Vinyl” — create a mythological musical world somewhere along an astral plane between Dogpatch and Española.”

— Steven Terrell, Santa Fe New Mexican/Pasatiempo

“ I should mention that this isn’t your average bearded folk band of art school dropouts, Espanola is the low rider capital of America, you don’t grow up there with any kind of delusions about your station in life. And lyrically, this band is a reflection of that city. Rooster uses banjo, mandolin and slide guitar to create unique and catchy tunes that will get stuck in your head for days.”

— A.J. Morocco, The Big Takeover

“Using the SUN's patented 'Music CD Fun-O-Meter',which operates on a scale of one to ten (metric), The Imperial Rooster's new CD, 'Old Good Poor Crazy Dead', rates a ten point five- it's that fun!”

— Robert Eckert, Rio Grande Sun

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Recent Blogs

the big takeover by A.J. Mo...
Nov 28, 2010
http://www.bigtakeover.com/top-ten/AJ-Morocco-100926

[more]

pasatiempo Review by Steve ...
Nov 27, 2010
http://steveterrell.blogspot.com/2010/11/terrells-tuneup-cockadoodle-doo.html

[more]

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Songs

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Play "Pig Fork Jamboree (from Old Good Poor Crazy Dead)"
Pig Fork Jamboree (from…
Pig Fork Jamboree (…
529 plays
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Play "Anything Goes At A Rooster Show (ROOSTER ANTHEM) (From Decent People)"
Anything Goes At A Roos…
Anything Goes At A …
361 plays
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Play "The Vintage (From Decent People)"
The Vintage (From Decen…
The Vintage (From D…
111 plays
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Play "DWI Marijuana Blues (From Decent People)"
DWI Marijuana Blues (Fr…
DWI Marijuana Blues…
261 plays
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Play "Santa Cruz (Live)"
Santa Cruz (Live)
Santa Cruz (Live)
88 plays
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Videos

The Imperial Rooster - Suzie Anna Riverstone

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Shows

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Wed
May 23

The Underground
Santa Fe, NM, US | 9:00pm
The Underground
Santa Fe, NM, US
Wed May 23 9:00pm
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Comments

Add Comment

City of Squares
Hi, Thanks for the add! Hope you like the tunes! -City of Squares Jenna, Jon, and Bill
Apr 5
Whyte Panther
Happy Spring! Sending a little Tucson sun & fun your way, hope you like the demo tracks at http://www.reverbnation.com/whytepanther Enjoy
Mar 22
!!The!!Bang!!Gang!!
ROOSTERS!! -stop- ARE YOU THERE?! - stop- YOUR BAND IS THE BEST IN EL NORTE! I JUST SENT YOU WORD OF A GIG 4 U POSSIBLY -start- PLEASE REPLY - start- LOV...
Sep 25
Dave Guillemot
Well, what can I say, except I'm really enjoying listening to you Guys.....Dave.
Sep 23
Peewee Moore
Sounds like a bunch of fun fellers! -Peewee
Jun 2
Anthony Leon & The Chain
Can't Wait until July 15th!!
May 26