Get excited, people! Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers (band name– we’re not getting that excited) have two shows in the next few days, tonight at Rehab and Saturday at Pianos. This gal, Brooklynite Shilpa Ray, is the next Janis Joplin. If Janis Joplin had a love child with Ella Fitzgerald. Her aptly-named band Beat the Devil broke up, but she’s the part that counts: that voice roars through the air, exorcised from her body with impossible grace. A harmonium serves as an extension of her spellbinding vocals.
Back in 2006 when Ms. Ray earned The Village Voice’s “Best Of” title, “Best Lead Singer Who Doubles As An Air Raid Siren,” the paper had this to say of Beat the Devil:
You wanna get there right as a [Beat the Devil] set begins, because half the fun in seeing this volatile NYC jazz-folk-blues-punk outfit lies in watching the unfamiliar react the first time lead singer Shilpa Ray opens her mouth. Typical reaction: shock and awe.
The Saturday concert will double as a drive to register voters.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Paige // Sep 18, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I saw Shilpa for the first time in Austin at a SXSW show. Amazing Amazing Amazing.
2 Peter // Sep 18, 2008 at 4:38 pm
very cool….i am lucky to walk and talk at the same time much less sing, play piano, and accordion…i bet her arm is ripped
3 Alan // Sep 18, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I hope she comes to Boston, soon, where I happen to be temporarily! Anyone know? I guess I should check her myspace, hey?
4 veloraptr // Sep 18, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I’ve only seen her on youtube, but she has an astonishing set of pipes. Shilpa is a human incarnation of a pack of howling wolves and Janis combined. What is the contraption she plays called?
5 owch // Sep 19, 2008 at 9:45 am
A harmonium! But I didn’t know that til I just read the post.
And by the way your analogy is freaking brilliant: Janis Joplin plus Ella Fitzgerald? Love it!
Anyway, woohoo! I’m excited.
6 Martin // Oct 21, 2008 at 11:00 am
Afraid I haven’t got to see her yet – and afraid I wont anytime soon – seeing that I’m purely danish and still live in my country of origin. I do plan to move to NYC in 2½ year though, but not sure where Shilpa and the hookers will be by then… Hopefully not far off 🙂
7 Starmusicmoe // Feb 9, 2009 at 1:20 pm
She has a great voice.. Im glad she broke up wid her band.lol
I think listening to her music and her wonderful voice is way better than listening to her into a band.. she is da best.
I found out couple of her video’s in here http://www.mtviggy.com
check it out guysssssss
This one is my favorite;)
http://www.mtviggy.com/video/iggy-music-shilpa-ray-beating-st-louis
Enjoy