In the words of Bambouche of the Vanguard Squad...
"Judith and Holofernes is a band from San Francisco who play an American variation of traditional Portuguese fado music ("fado" translates as "fate"). Like fado, Judith and Holofernes' music is sad and melancholic, evoking feelings of sorrow, futility and longing - what the Portuguese refer to as saudade. The three members of the band come from indie/punk roots and started playing fado music after a pilgrimage to Lisbon, where they were acquainted with the mixture of wine, tragedy and Catholic guilt that the time-honored fadistas had perfected.
The band owes as much to its collective conviviality as it does to its despair. The sleepy town the band members called home suffered a rash of suicides; Judith and Holofernes lost three friends to the noose. Each member dealt with their guilt differently: drink, escape, sex, isolation. Collectively, they set it all against a backdrop of old-world melody, making them stronger together than they are individually. The music is as much about sadness as it as about survival, as much about the suicides as it is about the everyday life-the afterward. The music of Judith and Holofernes is not lighthearted--it is sincere--and that sincerity, that genuine quality, is what makes their music so engaging.
The name of the band references a biblical story of a beautiful Jewess, Judith, who seduces one of Nebuchadnezzar's invading generals, Holofernes. After getting him drunk, Judith beheaded and de-balled Holofernes, then marched into the city with the severed head, empowering the Jews to defeat their enemy. This narrative of sex, betrayal, revenge and death--similar to the fado music of Lisbon--is echoed by the band..."
"...equal parts acoustic 12-string, droning electric guitar, wavering male/female vocals, and sad sack lyrics--not so melancholy that you want to throw yourself off the Williamsburg Bridge but dark enough to really get into it on the walk over, y'know?" -
The Fader, 43
"From the “giving you what you never knew you’d wanted” department comes Judith and Holofernes..." - West Coast Performer
"...excellent hangover music. With their mellow, acoustic strumming, [Judith and Holofernes] provide the perfect, slightly repentant, slightly miserable mood music for any post-binge recovery."
- Splendid review
"This album is a definite keeper, a certain repeat listen. If you like music with drama, atmosphere and honest emotion you should reward yourself with this album." - South of Mainstream
"...it crosses fine lines of sarcastic depression and upbeat horror. The songs are deeply serious underneath..."
- SHzine
Thanks for the well wishes, Dos. You guys are amazing and always a pleasure. Let's work out a show in the New Year, I really can't get enough of your songs!
all is well thank you. im going to a pretty cool deva show on December 19th, should be a pretty cool line up. you should come, i think i still owe you a glass of wine. :)
hey dos, i really wanted to make it to your sacramento show, but alas, family was in town for thanksgiving. how are things? coming to modesto anytime soon?
so if your in the area this weekend.. my friend and i will be at an off the air show in modesto where you played, at deva.. it should be a good set friend. :) beer ehe? haha.
so get this... going through my music collection and what vision beholds my sight?
a worn out copy of Fairweather.. by Pal... nostalgia at it's finest..good thoughts.. bad thoughts...a fledgling high school band that totally rocked :) how goes it senor Dos?
Hey Dos, Dude you need to upload some different tracks. Not that I don't love all of them I just want to put a new song on my page. I'm going to try to come watch a black light in sept. but that day is also my wedding anniversary so we'll see what happens. Take care my friend. Jay
