Andy Senior: Music, Lyrics, Guitar, Piano, Banjo-Guitar, Uke, Vocals (?)
Influences
I love old jazz and pop from the 20s and 30s. What probably shaped (some would say warped) my musical taste at an early age was an old Disney LP featuring Cliff Edwards singing the Charleston. Another album--selections from Gilbert and Sullivan--I listened to constantly. I learned to play guitar listening to Eddie Lang, and I have always admired the way Bing Crosby handled a song--especially in his pre-Decca days. I love Fats Waller, and Louis Armstrong--both men of great humor combined with genius. My admiration is boundless for Cole Porter, Dorothy Fields, Larry Hart, Ira Gershwin, and that old master lyricist W.S.Gilbert. A guy who bought my disc said that I sound "like an insane Nick Lucas raised on Mad magazine." That's about right.
Sounds Like
My stuff may appeal to those who enjoy Tom Lehrer, Allan Sherman, Nick Lucas, Cliff Edwards, George Formby, Flanders & Swann, Tiny Tim, Moxy Fruvous, Weird Al Yankovic, and/or Monty Python. I don't sound quite like any of them.
I have been writing and performing songs since around 1977--composing most of my material in the mid-1990s. The wholly inadequate genre pigeonhole I could be crammed into with some difficulty is "novelty"--but my stuff ranges from the surrealistic to the darkly satirical to the just plain silly. I stick to 32-bar pop styles as a rule, but I have dabbled in blues, calypso, and other forms. My music sounds as if it were created from the 1920s through the 1950s in a parallel universe--the effect is entirely intentional. I try to wake up the mind and make it smile. If I must occasionally offend in the process, so be it.
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians
Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
