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Studios’ Jason
Meagher at Seizure's Palace in Gowanus, Brooklyn, the songs on this album are dark, sardonic looks inside Ray's own world and obsessions, augmented by the musical styling of her Happy Hookers – Nick Hundley on bass, Andrew Bailey on guitar and John Adamski on drums and percussion, and featuring Greg Lewis on organ, Jonathan Lam on pedal steel and Andrew Hoepfner on vocals and keys. The record in turn led to Shilpa supporting a number of
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Shilpa Ray and her Happy
Hookers play grinding blues, sleazy jazz, and bracing rock with punk immediacy and pop appeal. The result? Something like a vulgar Ella Fitzgerald, channeling Nick Cave and PJ Harvey, and singing her songs before a wall of distortion and thunderous, pounding rhythms. The band
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burlesque but with music which deals with the "contradictory pressures women face" such as being "cosmetically perfect but authentic". Another Times critic, Ben
Sisario, summed up Ray's act in four words: "that scream is primal!" Critic Jacob Brown described Ray's voice as a "honey-toned wail" along
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both refines and expands upon the arresting qualities of their first release. The result "isn't as thrown together as the first one", says Ray. "The first record was like a series of thoughts, this is one big thought. You'll slip into a different world when you hear this." Recorded with Black Dirt
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in 2011. They also performed at the SXSW festival that year in Austin, Texas and were invited to the
Billboard event at the Buffalo Billiards venue. She offered advice to struggling artists: "The hardship of being an artist in this country is gender neutral. Own yourself, what you do, how you live
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from an immigrant family as contributing to her having a "scrappy" demeanor. As a youth, she claims she was mistaken for an Iraqi during the
Persian Gulf War and was "pelted with beer cans" by racist hooligans at the age of 5. She dealt with restrictive parents who banned Western-themed music and
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As the principal songwriter and band leader, Ray described her role in her band as being similar to a "democracy under a dictatorship". In an interview, she commented about being a female artist: "I think
Feminism in America went through a huge backlash during the W. Bush years. We are now going
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with a "big-voiced blues-rock howler" vocal approach and has been known to sing in styles ranging from metal to the balladry of
Leonard Cohen. Rob Harvilla of the Village Voice once stated in 2006 that her vocal range could put the entire lineup of Ozzfest to shame.
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reads like a who's who of recent NYC rock luminaries including members of Creaky Boards, Soft Black, Kapow!, and cult rock producers The
Negatones. Live shows are already a notorious commodity – and audiences have been screaming as loud as the band does.
801:... Since escaping her conservative parents (her father banned Western music in their home) and moving to New York about nine years ago, she has hauled the unusual instrument to gigs to accompany her honey-toned wail of a voice. ...
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Her second release with Her Happy
Hookers, and also the first release on Knitting Factory Records, this 7" limited pressing of 500 copies included a track from her second release on Knitting Factory Records,
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SXSW 2011 hit ... But if you were a fan of indie rock, there was no better place to be than
Billboard's sold-out event at Buffalo Billiards. ... bluesy New Jersey ensemble Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers
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Starting as a solo performer in 2003, Ray later put together the band Beat the Devil in 2005. After the dissolution of Beat the Devil, Ray formed another band, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers, which
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through a cool Renaissance. There are tons of amazing female musicians and artists on the scene with something to contribute and it's not cheesy, kitschy, or female centric. It's universal."
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in a new format. Beat The Devil was released in the latter half of 2006. The group disbanded soon after releasing their first and only album. Beat the Devil's cover of
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After dissolving Beat The Devil, Ray went solo with backing band members to form Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers. Produced by Jay Braun and Shilpa Ray,
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described the music as "grinding blues, sleazy jazz, and bracing rock with punk immediacy and pop appeal." Shilpa Ray was "like a vulgar
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After splitting with Her Happy Hookers in 2011, Shilpa continued under the moniker Shilpa Ray, touring Europe and North America with
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763:... There's a lot of shtick in Shilpa Ray's act, much of it borrowed from a couple of CBGB-era bands, Blondie and the Cramps. ...
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Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers put out their second full-length record, and first full length on KFR, on January 18, 2011.
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1081:"Shilpa Ray: 'I get to run around and lie down more cause the stages are bigger.' (4/15 at The Foundry w/ July Talk)"
409:" with Shilpa Ray on keys and vocals, Jon Delorme on pedal steel, Alistair Paxton on bass, and Russ Lemkim on drums.
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critic Jonathan Perry described as the "best-named band" in a lineup of numerous indie bands in July 2010.
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Four-word reviews, Wednesday night. Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers: That scream is primal!
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message in Ray's lyrics and videos, and described her as "proud to own her discontent."
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have focused on Ray's lyrics and voice. Jon Pareles described Ray's act as combining
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at first and later accompanying herself on the harmonium, which also happened to be
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856:"CD reviews: The Decemberists, Shilpa Ray, The Multi-Purpose Solution, Carl Orff"
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as a backup singer and also as their supporting act. She recorded a version of "
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After disbanding Her Happy Hookers and touring Europe and North America with
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363:, in 2013 Shilpa Ray released her first EP on Cave's Bad Seed Ltd. label,
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995:"Shilpa Ray, "Pop Song for Euthanasia" – New Music – Impose Magazine"
942:"Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers : A Fish Hook An Open Eye"
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Ray's first project under the moniker of Beat the Devil, combining
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542:'s instrument of choice to suit her distinct voice and delivery.
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tours in addition to an EP released on his label, Bad Seed Ltd.
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Son of Rogues Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs & Chanteys
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Blues-punk outfit Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers will open.
367:. As well as performing with Cave, Ray's band performed with
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was also her first full-length solo record as Shilpa Ray.
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1031:"East meets west with harmonium-playing Shilpa Ray"
486:and piano beginning at age six. While a student at
393:Shilpa's first EP release on Northern Spy in 2015,
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Shilpa Ray - vocals, harmonium, piano, organ, synth
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718:"Billboard's Friday SXSW Show Ruled By Indie Rock"
155:and her singing has been compared to the style of
494:and listened to music by punk rock bands such as
274:Alan Vega 70th Birthday Limited Edition EP Series
1216:West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South alumni
1241:Indie rock musical groups from New York (state)
819:"Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers at SXSW 2011"
1059:"Shilpa Ray, Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers"
1133:"Shilpa Ray: Last Year's Savage Album Review"
8:
397:, included two covers, "Make Up" written by
1009:"Last Year's Savage – Northern Spy Records"
871:Big-voiced blues-rock howler Shilpa Ray ...
271:song "Mr. Ray" was released as part of the
1236:Hardcore punk groups from New York (state)
1226:American women musicians of Indian descent
633:
514:. She has also cited influences including
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488:West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South
167:. Ray is notable for combining an Indian
908:Shilpa Ray, in an interview in NPR, 2011
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195:and don't worry about the end results."
139:) is an American singer-songwriter from
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1251:Punk rock groups from New York (state)
748:"Falling in Love, Longing and Leering"
534:and worked as a solo artist, singing
530:(OMD). In her twenties, she moved to
7:
1221:American musicians of Indian descent
384:Make Up/What a Diffr'nce A Day Makes
977:"Shilpa Ray – Northern Spy Records"
1211:Singer-songwriters from New Jersey
956:"Store – Knitting Factory Records"
349:It's All Self Fellatio, Shilpa Ray
238:(2022) with Northern Spy Records.
14:
1108:"The Misunderstood Voice of Nico"
784:JACOB BROWN (February 23, 2011).
528:Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
186:The band toured extensively with
1261:Knitting Factory Records artists
883:Perry, Jonathan (July 2, 2010).
746:Jon Pareles (January 27, 2011).
550:Shilpa Ray currently resides in
1106:Dillon, Brian (April 8, 2022).
960:shop.knittingfactoryrecords.com
716:M. Tye Comer (March 19, 2011).
1152:"SXSW: More Four-Word Reviews"
1150:Ben Sisario (March 19, 2009).
302:Venus Shaver/Natural Selection
297:was released on July 6, 2009.
1:
786:"Shilpa Ray – Good Time Girl"
407:What A Diff'rence A Day Makes
133:
1266:Northern Spy Records artists
1256:Musical groups from Brooklyn
573:band shtick with a touch of
465:Musical style and influences
223:, released by Anti/Epitaph.
1231:21st-century American women
1029:Tom Lanham (May 11, 2011).
423:Ray's first full length on
373:Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
357:Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
200:Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
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16:American singer-songwriter
1246:Punk blues musical groups
325:Knitting Factory Records
306:Knitting Factory Records
19:Not to be confused with
490:, she became a stealth
457:is her second album on
295:A Fish Hook An Open Eye
287:A Fish Hook An Open Eye
1035:San Francisco Examiner
512:the Velvet Underground
471:San Francisco Examiner
365:It's All Self Fellatio
31:
685:"Happening Wednesday"
153:Screamin' Jay Hawkins
29:
885:"Indie-pendence day"
854:(January 14, 2011).
482:learned to play the
459:Northern Spy Records
449:Northern Spy Records
440:Northern Spy Records
425:Northern Spy Records
418:Northern Spy Records
388:Northern Spy Records
351:, 2013, Bad Seed LTD
289:2009, Kepler Records
1061:. NPR. May 19, 2011
1013:northernspyrecs.com
981:northernspyrecs.com
658:"All Out of Blood"
563:Music critics from
332:Teenage and Torture
321:Teenage and Torture
192:Acid Mothers Temple
1156:The New York Times
752:The New York Times
648:"Liquidation Sale"
598:Newark Star-Ledger
566:The New York Times
429:Last Year's Savage
414:Last Year's Savage
263:music with Indian
236:Portrait Of A Lady
228:Last Year's Savage
32:
930:. April 16, 2007.
689:Los Angeles Times
662:
661:
630:Television series
477:upbringing as an
281:Her Happy Hookers
216:compilation album
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1184:Official website
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997:. March 3, 2015.
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691:. March 23, 2011
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653:Being Human (US)
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473:describes Ray's
469:A report in the
403:Dinah Washington
369:Sharon Van Etten
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88:, Bad Seed LTD,
86:Knitting Factory
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1159:. Retrieved
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1091:December 24,
1089:. Retrieved
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825:. March 2011
823:The Guardian
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793:. Retrieved
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755:. Retrieved
751:
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722:. Retrieved
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693:. Retrieved
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613:The Guardian
611:
596:
582:merged with
564:
554:, New York.
549:
504:Joy Division
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234:(2017), and
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212:Warren Ellis
206:" featuring
204:Pirate Jenny
197:
185:
181:
177:Boston Globe
176:
174:
129:
128:
90:Northern Spy
77:2004–present
73:Years active
33:
1085:Philthy Mag
894:January 18,
852:Tris McCall
610:Critics in
593:Tris McCall
580:Patti Smith
524:Pat Benatar
500:the Stooges
438:, 7" 2016,
157:Patti Smith
137: 1980
58:garage rock
1200:Categories
1191:Shilpa Ray
889:Boston.com
665:References
640:Show title
536:a cappella
520:Billy Idol
496:the Cramps
475:New Jersey
445:Door Girl,
361:Grinderman
343:Shilpa Ray
304:7", 2010,
149:The Cramps
130:Shilpa Ray
119:.shilparay
66:punk blues
62:indie rock
40:Shilpa Ray
30:Shilpa Ray
21:Shilpa Rao
584:Nick Cave
571:punk rock
484:harmonium
455:Door Girl
337:Nick Cave
269:Suicide's
261:punk rock
232:Door Girl
208:Nick Cave
169:harmonium
161:Nick Cave
50:Punk rock
603:feminist
601:found a
552:Brooklyn
516:Ministry
416:, 2015,
399:Lou Reed
386:, 2015,
323:, 2011,
230:(2015),
141:Brooklyn
1161:May 19,
1065:May 19,
1040:May 19,
865:May 19,
829:May 19,
795:May 19,
757:May 19,
724:May 19,
695:May 19,
595:in the
558:Reviews
508:Bauhaus
436:Paisley
395:Make Up
188:Man Man
145:Blondie
112:Website
100:Members
1117:May 9,
510:, and
447:2017,
401:, and
375:, and
255:, 2006
242:Career
163:, and
151:, and
132:(born
82:Labels
46:Genres
54:blues
1163:2011
1119:2022
1093:2022
1067:2011
1042:2011
896:2019
867:2011
831:2011
797:2011
759:2011
726:2011
697:2011
637:Song
575:goth
540:Nico
526:and
492:goth
405:'s "
359:and
210:and
190:and
121:.net
731:...
379:.
117:www
1202::
1165:.
1154:.
1135:.
1110:.
1083:.
1044:.
1033:.
1021:^
1011:.
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