Zydepunks' "Finisterre" -- a CD that's like Flogging Molly crossed with the Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band performed in zydeco time

Last week's review of Top Shelf Jazz's new CD "Fast and Louche" sparked a suggestion in the comments from AnoniMouse to check out The Zydepunks, a band that bills itself as "New Orleans' Favorite Cajun Irish Jewish Punk band." The band were kind enough to send along the MP3s of their latest CD, the 2008 release "Finisterre" and it is some deeply kick-ass stuff.

Combining sweet, old-fashioned zydeco with Flogging-Molly-esque Celt-punk and upbeat klezmer is an improbable idea, but goddamn it works. Especially on uptempo tracks like "One More Chance," "Long Story Short" and "Papirossen In Gan Eden," (the last performed in Yiddish with some major Celtic and zydeco flavor) the Zydepunks make me want to get up on my chair and shout and wave my arms in the air. Thanks for the tip, AnoniMouse!

Finisterre (Amazon)

Zydepunks.com

[#1 posted by ADavies, July 20, 2009 4:39 AM]

Highly recommended.

Saw them at the "Battle of the Accordion Titans" when they came through Amsterdam. If you like Cajun punk rock and accordions, you will love this band.

[#2 posted by cosanostradamus, July 20, 2009 5:03 AM]

.
Oh, GAWD, not ANOTHER Cajun Irish Jewish Punk band! They're this year's Tajik-Chilean Delta Blues disco band! As IF!

OI! There ain't no Kosher boudin, boyo.

We'll stick with summer music videos.
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[#3 posted by kahomono, July 20, 2009 5:42 AM]

Idano, I listened to the samples for all of those influences and it all sounded like Klezmer to me.

[#4 posted by Gexx, July 20, 2009 6:46 AM]

I love Zydepunks. I went to their first show about a year ago and now see them when ever they come near town. It was cool to see their cover art stare at me first thing this morning. They had put a break in their tour schedule just recently because two main accordionists are having a baby! Well, one is *having* a baby as she's the mom, the other is the dad. Their live shows are really really fun and energetic! If they're near you, you should check them out!

[#5 posted by Bayou Maharajah, July 20, 2009 8:16 AM]

To take these recommendations for awesome, left-of-center jazz and quasi-jazz and other beautiful amalgams a step further, everybody here interested should take a listen to the New Orleans bands Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship?, Hurray for the Riff-Raff, the Herringbone Orchestra, the Panorama Jazz Band and the Loose Marbles. All of them are doing strange and wonderful things with old musical forms. Gorgeous modern antiquarian jams. It's a scene that's not quite a scene, if you dig what I mean.

[#6 posted by Keneke, July 20, 2009 8:30 AM]

I saw them live in Huntsville, AL last year. Highly recommended live!

[#7 posted by Anonymous, July 20, 2009 3:56 PM]

Side note, Finisterre is a city in Spain.

Peregrinos walking the Camino de Santiago will sometimes continue on from Santiago to this port, which is named "The End of the World" (in a "last bit of earth before the seemingly endless ocean" kinda way). It's beautiful, I highly recommend seeing the sun set over the ocean from the tip (by the lighthouse) if one ever gets the chance to go. Some peregrinos burn the clothes they traveled in at this point at sundown (in order to get good luck for the rest of the year).

[#8 posted by Anonymous, July 20, 2009 5:13 PM]

I loved hearing this band-listen at the CD Baby site for more variety-thanks for turning us on to them-definitely truckin' music! Pogue fans like me will give big props to this band

[#9 posted by AnoniMouse, July 20, 2009 8:18 PM]

My pleasure, Cory!
Lots of :)s
It's great you are able to give the band some good press. Also- super happy to read the positive responses.

[#10 posted by maitrix, July 21, 2009 11:22 AM]

Long live The Zydepunks, Panorama and NOLA!