Ethan Schaffner (banjo),
Elisabeth King (accordion)
Influences
Abba, AC/DC, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, Amit Lissack, Burt Bacharach, Angelo Badalamenti, John Barry, Beck, The Bee Gees, Bjork, Brett Boutwell, Boogie Nights, Debby Boone, David Bowie, Kate Bush, Jesse Canterbury, The Carpenters, Johnny Cash, Eugene Chadbourne, Ray Charles, circus music, Coconut Monkeyrocket, Patsy Cline, Ornette Coleman, The Cure, Enrico Curreri, Hal David, Lenny Dee, Devo, Neil Diamond, Don Ho, Donovan, Duran Duran, Danny Elfman, Duke Ellington, fake space travel, Falco, Foreigner, Serge Gainsbourg, Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, Heart, Billie Holiday, William Hung, Iron Maiden, Michael Jackson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Tom Jones, Journey, Kiss, Klezmer Conservatory Band, Guy Klucevsek, Korn, Madonna, Henry Mancini, Barry Manilow, Dean Martin, Charles Mingus, Ennio Morricone, New World Ensemble, Randy Newman, Nilsson, Edith Piaf, Astor Piazzolla, Mike Post, Elvis Presley, Judas Priest, Prince, Don Q, Queen, Ratt, Django Reinhardt, Marc Ribot, Nino Rota, Raymond Scott, Sherlock Bing, Sisqó, Britney Spears, The Smiths, Styx, Talking Heads, Leon Theremin, Tiny Tim, Tom Waits, Dionne Warwick, Waterworks, Kurt Weill, Barry White, Hank Williams, Stevie Wonder, Yes
"If you've never experienced a Friday night Songband performance at Waterworks, you're missing one of the most engaging, entertaining and amusing musical experiences in town. Elisabeth King (accordion) and Ethan Schaffner (banjo) are serious musicians with a playful streak a mile wide. The duo has amassed a stupefyingly eclectic songlist that includes classic cabaret fare, post-modern standards and the hits of today."
-Mark Hinson, Tallahassee Democrat
Here's what Kati Schardl of the Tallahassee Democrat wrote last fall when we came back to Tallahassee for a visit:
"Ethan & Lis' departure left a gaping void in the music scene. As accordion-banjo duo Songband, they spent seven years delighting, soothing, amusing and generally entertaining the heck out of Friday night Happy Hour regulars at Waterworks. On a given night, they'd roam the genres with great skill and sly humor, serving up everything from heavy-metal hits to the cafe standards of Paris to Kurt Weill's art songs to the cheesiest classic rock hits.
Ah, how we loved the double-E aesthetic! And, oh, how they were mourned upon moving!"
Named the "Band Most Likely to Play at Tom Waits' Wedding" in the Break Magazine Mr. Cheeez band awards.
Sign up for our mailing list! Send an email to yoursongband@gmail.com and we'll let you know when we're playing!
SOIRÈE fantastique (Der Wicked Weihnachtsmarkt sagt Dankeschön)
am Sonntag den 07.12.08 von 17 bis 22 Uhr im APPARTEMENT Prenzlauer Allee 242
Anstatt zu einem Weihnachstmarkt laden wir dieses Jahr zu einem einmaligen gemütlichem Beisammensein mit unseren liebsten Bands, Freundinnen und Freunden ein:
ellenschneider - Psychedelic Zitherpop (live) Songband - Coverversionen a go go (live) DJs Helmi Muukalainen - Iskelmä & finnischer Tango (minimatika / ZR) Peer Gregorius - Tropicalia Soul (freak out) Christin & Ultraviolett - Asian Traditional on Abstractpop und Chez Mieke - the world is not enough (romantik)
Hey Elisabeth, I always wondered if you managed to put this thing together that we talked about. Did you? Songband, however, seems pretty cool. Regards, Hannes
That would have been fun. I miss Ethan on the radio here!
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Available Now!
It is in my hand and already on the shelf at selected Tallahassee retail outlets. At this moment it is available at: Gordon's String Music, Music Masters, Vinyl Fever, and Word Traffic Books!
Available within mere hours at CDBaby.com and popular digital sites.
SCHWERVON + CRAZY FOR JANE
Yes, it's too good to be true!
The two sexiest duos from the two sexiest cities on the planet are teaming up.
Prepare to be turned on.
Bring some people you'd like to get turned on around, and come down to WEST GERMANY...
SATURDAY DECEMBER 8 -- 10pm! skalitzer 133, berlin
Hope to see you there!
Hello E & E! Thanks for attending the shows with Em and Ed, and in case of the last one - thanks, Elisabeth for singing along during the last song. Good to know you! I hope we can play some music together soon. Love, KK
the members of songband made an awesome appearance in my dreams last night. The whole Great Garden Birthday Party Orchestra was giving a concert while seated around a huge dinner table. the microphones were in the butter.
and when most of the group forgot how to play the songs, the banjo and accordion carried us through. hurrah for songband!
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