ellen bunch - vocals, keyboard
areif sless-kitain- drums
pete croke - bass
past members/contributors:
annie coleman - basson, flute, melodica, vocals, et al.
theo katsaounis - drums
katie young - bassoon
Influences
cling, clangs, and bangs. talking heads, satie, can, african psych, old timey blues, king crimson, beatles to name a few
Sounds Like
Chicagoist: "Openers Reds and Blue are fairly new to the Chicago scene in their current formation, but they have been taking many a stage by storm. The woman-fronted, bassoon-and-flute heavy band may at times be abrasive on the ears, but they're not without heart. Their noir-esque sound wouldn't be out of place in a black-and-white horror movie or a haunted house at a carnival in the middle of Oklahoma. It's no surprise they've opened for similar eyebrow-furrow-inducing outfits such as Don Caballero and Mucca Pazza."
Cashbox: "Local Chicago quartet Reds and Blue started the line-up off with their swirling mixture of melodic female vocals set adrift in a sea of crashing rhythms. With their sound ranging from Eastern themed atmospheres to traditional European influences, Reds and Blue created a sound quite similar in its calming effects to mid-era Serge Gainsbourg and Scotland?s the High Llamas. Swapping instruments throughout, Reds and Blue drew the audience in with their array of woodwind instruments featuring not only an oddly irreplaceable bassoon, but also two melodicas and a brief appearance of a flute. As the inspired set drew on, one could only imagine the detail that will go into their upcoming debut album. It is something to look forward to. "
Ohmyrockness: "Chicago's Reds and Blue are a female-fronted band that's down with the psych-rock-prog. They play dissonant, druggy melodies that would make Janis J. look down in approval. Besides keys, the band incorporates several woodwind instruments to help further transport the listener back in time.
Reds and Blue may be new to the scene, but their members have long been part of the music making machine. Keyboardist/vocalist Ellen Bunch was formerly of the Polyvinyl band ZZZZ, and drummer Areif Sless-Kitain was in D.C.'s punk outfit, Bluetip. This is hazy, spooky music."
Radio Free Chicago:
"Beginning the night with a great start, four-piece Reds and Blue delivered their songs with beauty and femininity that adds to the instrumentation of the flute, bassoon, and keyboard playing to accompany the guitar and percussion. Their sound is most similar to local band Pit er Pat .The alternating vocals of Ellen Bunch and Annie Coleman have just the right amount of intensity and the stage presence of the two was definitely felt. Their songs are full of an unusual sort of catchiness that make me really wish they would record some of them as an album or at least an EP. Let's hope there is a long bright future ahead of them!"
Flavorpill: "Local experimental outfit Reds and Blue play and sing so gosh-darned
hard, it sounds like their quirky little hearts would burst if not for
their cathartic compositions and odd timing. With staggering bassoon
lines tripping over disjointed flute melodies, dainty keyboard
filigrees, and bursts of percussion barely holding things together,
the inventive quartet's art-damaged pop is as exhilarating to hear as
it is to try and follow."
Painting a picture of Reds and Blue, the band dances between cacophony and calm, chanting around progesque keys, heavy drums, and drony bass. The band was formed by Ellen (of ZZZZ) in the spring of 2006. Fuzzy on reality, the noir sound moves from the cabaret, to the open road, to the far ends of the imagination. Ju Ju Pow Wow!
1. Intro 2. Pro Nails Forever (Kid Sister vs Walter Meego) 3. Frog Minutes (Shawnna vs LMNOP) 4. Cakeicide (Hollywood Holt vs Prairie Cartel) 5. Juke And Pop (Mic Terror vs Green Velvet) 6. Superbowl Jesus (Kanye West + 1985 Bears vs Wilco) 7. Trenchache (Juice vs Liz Phair) 8. 80s Problems (Tha Basix vs Mahjongg) 9. When Baby Mamas Collide (Qualo vs Chin Up Chin Up) 10. Simple X-plosion (Diverse vs Andrew Bird) 11. Your Love Iz What It Iz (The Cool Kids vs Frankie Knuckles) 12. Sisters Of Chicago-Rillas (Rhymefest vs The Changes) 13. I Ain't That Bowie (Twista vs The Sea And Cake) 14. Hay Electric (Crucial Conflict vs Reds and Blue) 15. Watch My Big Feet Jump (Dude N Nem + Twista vs Office) 16. Ten-Day High (Do Or Die + Kanye West vs Tortoise) 17. Eatchyo Stigmata (Yea Big + Kid Static vs Ministry) 18. Smash That There (Yung Berg vs The Smashing Pumpkins) 19. Stages Of Standby (Psalm One vs Kleenex Girl Wonder) 20. Can You Eat Some More Heavy Fists Of Love? (Kanye West + GLC vs Bumps + Terminal 4 + Big Black) 21. I Used To Love The Blue Line (Common vs Bang! Bang!) 22. I Gotcha Trees (Lupe Fiasco vs May Or May Not) 23. What Chu Like, Old Mare? (Da Brat vs Sleep Out) 24. Kells-Tone For The Painfully In Love (R. Kelly vs Casiotone For The Painfully Alone)
Reds and Blue! You are true blue, and baby we love you. We cannot wait to have you play at our January 19th benefit concierto. Thank you thank you thank you!
In observance of the winter tradition on the Planet Xyzzyx where we celebrate the festival of the fertile, slightly constipated goat, we here at Shmanbot have a holiday present for everyone. We've put a new song in the MySpace player for everyone to hear.
The song is called "Unnecessary Side Quest," and it's on the new full-length CD "Shmanbot Versus the Slime Demon," which is on iTunes now.
yeha! ... that melody with the something something "fascination" is sticking in my head. Your songs feel very woodsy/grassy, do you know what I mean,because im not sure how to explain. Ellen has a real great voice too. glad we met. now lets get naked and scrub eachothers backs!
Better than drugs. Marlena Dietrich, Siouxie Sioux and the Melvins have a 1968 mod love child. Even our cats like them. Playing with you guys is like magic. Get it? "Magic" Thanks for the swag.
Be seeing you...
...just wanted to let you know that we're featured in Buzz Magazine in connection with their Gender Blender Competition. If you think we're best represented, Please Vote for Khupera Tum at Buzz...
