Being the lead singer for a band called the Asylum Street Spankers is an occupation that brings with it certain expectations. Among them, most would not include the descriptors "down-to-earth" or "sane."
Christina Marrs, however, is both.
The seven-member group from Austin, Texas, is currently on the road promoting their latest album, "Mercurial," and will be playing at the Mohawk Place on Oct. 10.
The Spankers take pride in the fact they don't fit into one specific genre, but their sound can best be described as playful ragtime jazz reminiscent of the 1920s and '30s. To win over the crowd, they utilize such musical weapons as a ukulele, dobro, washboard, violin, tenor banjo, mandolin, string bass, clarinet, and a harmonica, along with Marrs's smooth-as-silk vocals.
"We like to brag that we have both kinds of blue hair in our crowds," said Marrs, referring to young prototype punks and the elder ladies.
"There's a lot about the Spankers that can appeal to a wide range of people," Marrs said. "People will stumble into our shows accidentally ... and after a few songs, they're hooked."
In a musical period when most other artists are trying to make a political or philosophical statement, the Asylum Street Spankers are an amusing and enjoyable alternative that doesn't take too much to figure out.
Although they began as strictly an acoustic band, the Asylum Street Spankers has transformed into a semi-electric group after recently celebrating their 10th anniversary. Marrs explained that their fan base has grown, so they've had to accommodate the swelling numbers in larger venues.
"Mercurial" is the Spankers' sixth full-length release and is a collection of what Marrs refers to as "orphan songs." These tunes are all cover songs that they've been performing for a while, but haven't fit on an album. The only exception is a song entitled "Hick Hop," which was composed by Wammo, the lead male vocalist for the Spankers. Some may still consider the song a cover. Wammo typically performs the song in his solo act.
When asked what the Spankers look for in a song they'd like to cover, Marrs said, "We just play songs that we like and know we can have fun with."
It is that kind of vague criteria that gave rise to a repertoire including covers from a full spectrum of musicians such as Black Flag, Ivory Joe Hunter, the Beastie Boys, the B-52's, Taj Mahal, and Billy Mayhew. Each cover is "Spankered" in a different way.
The B-52's cover, "Dance This Mess Around" is nearly word-for-word when compared with the original, but becomes a novelty when an acoustic band performs it. In contrast, the Beastie Boys cover "Paul Revere" is a lighthearted version that easily distinguishable from the hip-hop original. The Spankers make it their own with Wammo's crooner vocal styling and a blues guitar.
In keeping with their mission to remain unique, the Asylum Street Spankers recorded "Mercurial" in Mercury Hall, a rustic church located in Austin, Texas. While experimenting with their sound, the Spankers used antiquated tube and ribbon microphones and sent band members to various locations in the building while recording in order to get it just right.
The result of the Asylum Street Spankers' patience and effort is music that gotten diverse toes a-tapping. The Spankers revive the sounds of the past with their entertaining brand of jazzy blues. Their show in Buffalo is at the Mohawk Place on Oct. 10 and begins at 8 pm.
