World Racketeering Squad News

Happy New Year!

Greetings, Racketeers!

We hope everybody had an eventful or relaxing holiday season, depending on your preference.  We have been hard at work writing new songs, recording older songs and booking plenty of gigs in the new year!

New gigs

First up, we are playing at the Carousel Lounge on January 21 from 9pm to midnight.  Admission is free, as always.  We hope to see you there!  If you're on Facebook, you can RSVP for the event.

The Squad is taking a bit of a break in January because drummer extraordinaire Bruce Chandler is working with banjoist and chanteuse Alexa Woodward on recording and producing her upcoming album.  Alexa is in town for just a few weeks from New York and we're all excited to hear what she's working on!

Looking forward into February, we'll be playing at The Parlor on North Loop on February 4 and at Trophy's on S. Congress on February 10.  Those are both fun venues to play at, and we'll let you know more about those shows in the coming weeks.

New demo videos

Just because Bruce is busy doesn't mean the creative juices aren't flowing, though!  We've been pretty productive the last few weeks, with two brand new demo videos up on the website right now.  The first is a smooth Americana-type tune called "Wine Into Water", and the second's a catchy pop ditty known as "Looking for Lorelei".  We'll be working both of those into our set at some point soon, so please let us know what you think!

Vote for us in the Music Poll

The Austin Chronicle's 2008-2009 Music Poll is out and accepting votes right now.  We encourage you to write in "World Racketeering Squad" for categories like Best New Austin Band, Rock Band, and anything else you think might fit.  Probably not "Traditional Latin Band", but you never know--it's hard to keep us pinned down to one style!

Wednesday Jan 21

  • Post-Inauguration Party
  • Carousel Lounge
  • 1110 E. 52nd St
  • Austin, TX 78752
  • 10:00pm - 12:00am FREE
  • RSVP on Facebook

World Racketeering Squad Blog

New lyric: Looking for Lorelei

reed has posted a new lyric, for the song "Looking for Lorelei". Check it out here.

Were you Looking for Lorelei?

Isaac and I were hanging out tonight, and wouldn't you know it, another snippet from my pocket recorder (yes Megan, I still appreciate it) turned into a song with Isaac's tender machinations, chock full of nautical references and vocal interweavings.

Hope you enjoy "Looking for Lorelei"

Bush is Back, and there was much rejoicing!

A few months ago, I posted this video of Luna Tart performing her "Pro-Bush Song."

Well, according to this article in Salon, it looks like Luna is not the only pro-bush lady making waves.

New demo video: Wine Into Water

Hey everyone, this is a brand new video of a new song that we just worked out the arrangement for within the last few days. It's kind of an Americana/gospel sort of thing. We hope you like it!

Thoughts on the new Lily Allen

For me, "Smile" was THE song of 2007.  I have the feeling this could be THE song of 2009.

I love the way she looks in the video. She looks very healthy. She's got her black hair (she dallied with blonde for a while), a sharp Sixties look with thick black eyeliner and a Mary Quant-type dress.  The whole "woman walking confidently and happily through a dynamic environment" thing is killer.  Especially in contrast with the meaning of the actual lyrics.

Speaking of which, I think the lyrics here are quite a bit more mature than most of the words on "Alright, Still", but they still have a very Lily Allen attitude.  She has learned a lot in the time since she became famous, and here is her commentary on it so far, as in "Extras", Ricky Gervais has given us his own commentary on fame and celebrity since becoming one himself.  "The Fear" could almost be a theme song for "Extras".