Scott Weigel - Vocals, Guitar, etc.
Bill Weigel - Bass, Keyboards, Mandolin, Accordeon, Glockenspiel
Ledbetter - drums, guitar, vocals, harmonica, drunken sailor voices.
Other Musicians: Julie B. Bonnie - violin, guitar, vocals
Steve Sparapani - cello, vocals
Ruth Maurice - cello, Tom Risse - guitar
Influences
Beatles, Julie B. Bonnie, Jolie Holland, Kid Loco, Manu Chao, Andrew James Baldwin, Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, SuperLow, Tarmac, Seb Martel, Phillip Glass etc.
Sounds Like
"The trans-Atlantic mix of sounds from the Absinthe Glow will make your head spin as if you've just taken a shot of the group's namesake. Once you've eased into the trip, the shoegazing acoustic indie-pop of Americans Scott and Bill Weigel mingle with the distinctly French vocals and violin of Julie B. Bonnie like a flaming sugarcube dripping into a green glass of Van Gogh's favorite drink." - The Santa Cruz Sentinel August 3, 2006
The Absinthe Glow started as a mellow side project from Scott Weigel, the bass player of the punk band the Fairlanes. He recruited his brother Bill (who taught him his first chords on the guitar 15 years earlier) to play bass. With the help of craigslist, Scott hooked up with Matthew Black to record and produce the debut record, which was released in 2005 on Wynona Records. Tracks from that record can be heard at http://www.purevolume.com/absintheglow
In support of the record, Scott and Bill assembled a full band comprised of Mr. Black ..boards and Andrew James Baldwin (also from the Fairlanes, currently a member of the puget sound duo, I Coyote) on drums. The band toured Italy.
La Guitarra, the Absinthe Glow's second full length will be released on Grass Fed Records on May 13, 2008.
Absinthe Glow recorded La Guitarra at their Santa Cruz Mountain studio using the most basic, yet time-tested, techniques to create the rich musical textures found within this ambitious concept album. It’s not often that such grandiose musical efforts are launched from such humble and elemental means, but the rawness of their approach only accentuates the sophisticated lyrics and arrangements of this bold new record. Acoustic guitars and complex harmonies combine with the sounds of running water, farm animals and bullfrogs in the night to lay the foundation for the songs. Electric instruments, percussion and the electronic wizardry of producer Alex Bonnie (Kid Loco, Cornu, Julie Bonnie, Jarvis Cocker) give the music an angry edge tempered by accordions, violin and cello.
La Guitarra represents a thematic and musical departure from their 2004 debut album while retaining its essentially acoustic guitar based roots. The album tells a tale of love, life, friendship, loyalty, corruption and greed. The story, sung in both English and Spanish, details the interweaving lives of 6 friends, a guitar and the songs of a troubadour and their lifetime in a mythological town on a hill. Songwriters Scott and Bill Weigel created this musical allegory while holed up in their studio over the course of the darkest days in recent history. The brothers were able to draw upon such diverse influences as the Machiavellian methods ever present in current politics, Joseph Campbell’s Meta Myth and the poetry of Federico García Lorca to create a timeless tale of political intrigue. Musical influences are equally diverse. One can hear elements of Elliott Smith, Brian Wilson, Kid Loco, Air, REM, and Tarmac.
The record was mixed at Holy Roch Records, producer Alex Bonnie’s cave/studio dug deep into cliffs that line the banks of the Loire River. Alex’s obsession with detail and nuance create a multilayered listening experience that continually surprises and challenges - every trip through these fourteen songs will present the listener with a new, unique musical journey.
Summer 2006 the Absinthe Glow was joined by chanteuse française julie b. bonnie for a number of dates around the bay area. The set was comprised of half Absinthe Glow tunes/half julie b. bonnie tunes. Mlle Bonnie will once again be joining the absinthe glow for summer 2008 shows. Shows will be posted on this sight as they are confirmed.
In the meantime, the Absinthe Glow, which now includes drummer, poet and facial hair stylist, Ledbetter, will re-enter the studio. Show dates around the bay area will be posted here as they are confirmed.
Thanks to everyone that was there for the show with seb martel. We were fortunate to have both Ruth and Steve playing their celli. Here are a few clips from the show:
Hangover
Hi honey...sorry I missed your gig but thanks to the power of the Net I'm seeing some of it, aye? VOTE FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL in November and it's $110 round-trip from Burbank to Gilroy in 2014!! I would have been hiding in the back smoking "sage" out of a water-pipe anyway. I LOVE that stuff even if it is a bit pricey...two nights ago I hallucinated a hand coming out of my computer screen a la "Videodrome"...fucking fantastic.
Heya The Absinthe Glow our album was just released on Bondarev records and through Itunes. Check it out if you get the chance to have a looksee. Bondarev will release the CD version soon with a new EP due in the new year.
Hello! Thanks very much for finding us, we've heard about you before.. and we got few friends in common! We love that sensitive mood. Hope to have your impressions about our music soon! Love Clémence Léauté & Frédéric D. Oberland
Urban-Addict sort un nouvel album autoproduit sous forme d'un Maxi Collector intitulé "The City's Noise". A cette occasion, un concert unique et gratuit aura lieu le jeudi 3 mai au Zèbre de Belleville avec deux nouveaux musiciens : Yoann Schmidt (batterie) et Jérémy Morice (guitare).
L'entrée est libre mais la réservation fortement conseillée à geraldine@urban-addict.com
hey you french lovers--got some great french freakbeat from the 60's to listen to--check out this page and search for 'frog music' or 'french' and they like to call it...it's rad! can't wait to be down on the commune soon--give a shout out to my homegirl Ruth! and please post pictures of whatever Sweetie drags in.
Hey!!!!
I wish I could have been there. Sounds good. Looks good. I miss you.
I am working with Kid Loco. The guy is a crazy genius.
I cross my finger . To see you in France.
KISSES.
JULIE
Many, many heartfelt thanks for adding me, I love your music and your profile. Hope you're doing great, wish I was in the city. I miss it so! Be well~
Best!~justin
"The trans-Atlantic mix of sounds from the Absinthe Glow will make your head spin as if you've just taken a shot of the group's namesake. Once you've eased into the trip, the shoegazing acoustic indie-pop of Americans Scott and Bill Weigel mingle with the distinctly French vocals and violin of Julie B. Bonnie like a flaming sugarcube dripping into a green glass of Van Gogh's favorite drink." - The Santa Cruz Sentinel August 3, 2006
Absinthe Glow recorded La Guitarra at their Santa Cruz Mountain studio using the most basic, yet time-tested, techniques to create the rich musical textures found within this ambitious concept album. It’s not often that such grandiose musical efforts are launched from such humble and elemental means, but the rawness of their approach only accentuates the sophisticated lyrics and arrangements of this bold new record. Acoustic guitars and complex harmonies combine with the sounds of running water, farm animals and bullfrogs in the night to lay the foundation for the songs. Electric instruments, percussion and the electronic wizardry of producer Alex Bonnie (Kid Loco, Cornu, Julie Bonnie, Jarvis Cocker) give the music an angry edge tempered by accordions, violin and cello.
La Guitarra represents a thematic and musical departure from their 2004 debut album while retaining its essentially acoustic guitar based roots. The album tells a tale of love, life, friendship, loyalty, corruption and greed. The story, sung in both English and Spanish, details the interweaving lives of 6 friends, a guitar and the songs of a troubadour and their lifetime in a mythological town on a hill. Songwriters Scott and Bill Weigel created this musical allegory while holed up in their studio over the course of the darkest days in recent history. The brothers were able to draw upon such diverse influences as the Machiavellian methods ever present in current politics, Joseph Campbell’s Meta Myth and the poetry of Federico García Lorca to create a timeless tale of political intrigue. Musical influences are equally diverse. One can hear elements of Elliott Smith, Brian Wilson, Kid Loco, Air, REM, and Tarmac.
The record was mixed at Holy Roch Records, producer Alex Bonnie’s cave/studio dug deep into cliffs that line the banks of the Loire River. Alex’s obsession with detail and nuance create a multilayered listening experience that continually surprises and challenges - every trip through these fourteen songs will present the listener with a new, unique musical journey.
Summer 2006 the Absinthe Glow was joined by chanteuse française julie b. bonnie for a number of dates around the bay area. The set was comprised of half Absinthe Glow tunes/half julie b. bonnie tunes. Mlle Bonnie will once again be joining the absinthe glow for summer 2008 shows. Shows will be posted on this sight as they are confirmed.
In the meantime, the Absinthe Glow, which now includes drummer, poet and facial hair stylist, Ledbetter, will re-enter the studio. Show dates around the bay area will be posted here as they are confirmed.
Thanks to everyone that was there for the show with seb martel. We were fortunate to have both Ruth and Steve playing their celli. Here are a few clips from the show:
