Jun/13/09
16comments

Saturday UkeTube

In a rare occurrence, the best video I came across this week doesn’t have a uke in – although I’ve read the band has a uke song. Despite that, Katzenjammer’s skiffle-tastic Ain’t No Thang is probably the best thing that has ever happened to my ears and eyes simultaneously. There are a million things I love about it and I’m very tempted to list them all. The song includes a bass balalaika solo. But that wouldn’t even top the list. I have to make it the featured video even if it is ukeless. I just wish their whole album was that raw.

Once you’ve watched that a few dozen times, this week’s UkeTube includes Izumi (who I’m 100% sure I subscribed to but somehow missed her stuff and had to be reminded by KDUS – to make up for it I included her twice), one of Jake Wildwood’s finest songs, Krouk blasting out the Smeckisms and plenty more.


Jake Wildwood – Brought My Mountain Down

IZUMI – Ke Ala Ka u i honi

Krouk – Smeck Ukulele Medley

Hello Jodi – Cruisin’

Sebi – Let’s Get Retarded

Ukulelezo – Cheetara’s Lament

imaybemeesh – Waltz of the Fireflies

Ricky Rod – I Wouldn’t Call It Love

Steven Strauss – Coppelia Waltz

IZUMI – O’ahu

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16 Comments

  1. Byjimini June 13th, 2009 5:38 pm

    Well it has to be said, I expect to see a tab of Ain’t No Thang in the near future! :D

  2. Ross June 13th, 2009 5:55 pm

    hey..this is probably not the place to ask..but love the site..just bought a Uke yesterday, just a cheapp Mahalo one, maybe upgrade later if it goes well! But i was wondering, would it be worth it to get new strings, or anything else to upgrade this one a bit? all these videos are crazy haha, the first ones cool cause of the setting too..
    Thanks!

  3. Tamster June 13th, 2009 8:35 pm

    That Katzenjammer video was great. I liked the artwork on that bass balalaika (I never knew there was a bass balalaika).
    I enjoyed Krouk’s Smeck medley, Izumi’s voice , and Jodi’s Cruisin.

  4. Byjimini June 13th, 2009 8:38 pm

    After buying their album, have to say “Play My Darling, Play” is another smasher. Brilliant.

  5. Braden June 13th, 2009 8:54 pm

    Hey Al,

    RE: Katzenjammer

    They’ve got a mandolin, which is like an eight-string uke! Um, if you squint…and plug your ears…then pretty much the same thing!

  6. Woodshed June 13th, 2009 9:28 pm

    Byjimini: I don’t think anything else on the album quite matches Ain’t No Thang. But the new single that is up on their MySpace sounds like a definite winner.

    Ross: Good strings would help improve it until you can afford a new uke.

    Tamster: I think, technically, it’s a contrabass balalaika. But I’m not entirely sure what the difference is. Either way, I want one.

    Braden: I did wonder if the instrument on the right in this video was a uke. But I think it’s a domra.

  7. cardboardfrog June 13th, 2009 10:01 pm

    do we count tiples as ukes?
    i do love that wildwood song though and really want a timple now,
    liked sebi and ukulelezo’s videos too

  8. Jake June 13th, 2009 11:13 pm

    Ooh, thanks for the post!

    Also: the Izumi tracks are great! And there’s nothing like playing on a boat… though how cozy that balalaikabass player is… is up for discussion. :)

    And like CBF said: it seems like I snuck under the radar with the tiple!

    And for anyone who hasn’t played one: they’re the greatest instrument I’ve ever played (for singing with). Comfortable, smallish, lush sound, and completely different from anything anyone else will take to a session.

  9. todd June 13th, 2009 11:33 pm

    KatzenJammer…..my oh my…..Skiffle-tastic for sure!…..

    I think that is one of Jake’s best songs….I love it….

    Ricky Rod…..classic…..a man after my own heart with that kazoo and all…..

    will have to come back to Izumi’s stuff later this weekend :)

    cheers,

    Todd

  10. Woodshed June 14th, 2009 2:03 pm

    cbf: Tiples definitely count. Particularly when the song is that good.

    Jake: Thanks for your contribution.

    todd: Don’t get me started on kazoos after what happened in the Katzenjammer video.

  11. pam June 14th, 2009 4:22 pm

    Even to this straight uke playin’ female, those skiffle gals are smokin’ hot. Yowza. Please pass the skiffle!

  12. Woodshed June 14th, 2009 4:52 pm

    pam: No kidding. I have such a crush on that singer. If anyone wants me, I’ll be on the next plane to Norway.

  13. Woodshed June 14th, 2009 5:34 pm

    Proof that Katzenjammer play the uke. I hope that justifies my going crazy over them.

  14. Byjimini June 14th, 2009 6:35 pm

    There’s a 6 minute interview somewhere on Youtube with them, can’t find it now but I downloaded it last night and watched it this morning. The same old questions of “how did you meet, what are your inspirations” etc but great to see what they’re like away from the stage, albeit briefly.

    Trying to keep away from the “cor blimey I’d give her one” crowd myself, it would be great for them to be appreciated for their style of music, at least until the militant feminists catch wind of an all-female band and they get marketed as Girl Power, as most girl bands seem to these days.

  15. Woodshed June 14th, 2009 9:35 pm

    Byjimini: The woman wails like Janis Joplin and keeps a kazoo in her bra. How could I not be in that crowd?

  16. Hello Jodi June 16th, 2009 7:28 pm

    I learned about Izumi from you. Love that girl. I would do lots of soul-sucking things to yodel like her.

    And wow, thanks for the promo! And Zoe too! I’m going to visit her in July, we will be promoting the hell out of you.

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