Chicago's The Claudettes Release Debut CD, 'Infernal Piano Plot...Hatched!'

From WFUV's Idiot's Delight (hosted by the legendary Vin Scelsa, who has been on the air in NYC for over 35 years) to Sirius XM's The Loft, to WXRT in Chicago to Bay-FM in New South Wales, Australia, DJs have been enthusiastically adding The Claudettes' recently released debut CD, "Infernal Piano Plot...Hatched!" to their playlists. From blues shows to eclectic programs, the piano-drums duo's off-kilter mix of blues, soul, jazz, rockabilly space-echo and punk energy has been received as a breath of fresh air by disc jockeys and music writers. Touchstone digital retailer iTunes agrees, currently featuring the release in their Blues store headline banner and "New and Noteworthy" shelf.

In their hometown, The Claudettes' Johnny Iguana and Michael Caskey have been particularly warmly received by the "Chicago Sun-Times". Less enthusiastic were the staff at Chicago blues institution Buddy Guy's Legends, who were uncomfortable with the band's decidedly unorthodox spin on Chicago blues and fully dismayed at their unusual stage show (which included Russian saleswoman Tatyana Prozorov). The staff not only cut the band's September 13 set short, but also relayed their feelings about the band to St. Louis blues club Beale on Broadway, who subsequently cancelled The Claudettes' scheduled November appearance at the club.

Chicago music blog "Southside on the Town" got wind of the controversy at Buddy Guy's and interviewed "Chicago Sun-Times"music writer Jeff Elbel, who was at the show, about his impressions of the evening.

Read Southside on the Town's post: http://bit.ly/2065_ssott

The band's perspective at Yellow Dog Records: http://bit.ly/legendsriot

Live, The Claudettes have already taken their show from upper Michigan to the East Village in NYC and back, winning over astonished locals with frenzied joy and infectious energy. On October 25, they finally experienced the hometown triumph they were looking for, selling out the venerable Chicago venue the Hideout.

"Infernal Piano Plot...HATCHED!", The Claudettes' debut record, is peppered with time-capsule blues tracks like "Stumblin' Home Satisfied" and their spin on Little Brother Montgomery's classic "Tremblin' Blues" - but also the schizoid trip "Chin-Up Tango," the stomping Crescent City sound of "New Orleans Yard Sale," the dynamic double-shot of creative composition and wicked improvisation that is "Motörhome/Land of Precisely Three Dances" and the positively Schumann-esque "Do You See It Too?" There is something antique and nostalgic about The Claudettes, with shadows of Tin Pan Alley lurking in the chord changes...and yet something altogether fresh, alive, excited and exciting.

You can stream or download the album's title track here: http://snd.sc/14dyhvk

Here's a link to see The Claudettes play live in the studio: http://youtu.be/oRazL_pPnwg

Johnny Iguana and Michael Caskey are both internationally respected musicians. Johnny was in the Junior Wells band for years, toured with Otis Rush, and recorded with Carey Bell and Lil' Ed. He's currently the piano player in the Grammy-nominated "Chicago Blues: A Living History", featuring Billy Boy Arnold, John Primer, Lurrie Bell, Billy Branch and Carlos Johnson. He also co-founded the prog-pop band oh my god, whose organ-bass-drums madness was profiled on MTV and featured at SXSW, CMJ and festivals and clubs all around the U.S. and the UK throughout the 2000s.

Michael, a "Downbeat" magazine award winner and five-time Detroit Music Awards recipient, has played with everyone from Koko Taylor to Chuck Mangione to Marvin Hamlisch to John Sinclair and is a member of Balkan fusion group Eastern Blok. He recently toured Europe with Grammy nominees the Heritage Blues Orchestra.

Live, The Claudettes don't skip a beat, deftly melding blues, jazz, and deep soul with frenzied joy and infectious energy.

You can catch them on the road here as their Fall tour continues:

11/7 Fort Wayne, IN - The Dash-In

11/8 Cincinnati, OH - Blue Wisp

11/9 Dayton, OH - Canal Street Tavern

11/14 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club

11/15 Champaign, IL - Velvet Elvis

11/16 St. Louis, MO - Pop's Blue Moon

Artist websites:
http://theclaudettes.com
http://facebook.com/TheClaudettes
http://yellowdogrecords.com/TheClaudettes

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