Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

Infobox musical artist
Name = Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams

---

Img_capt = Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams at Roots on the River Festival, Bellows Falls, VT. June 9, 2007
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Sleepy Hollow, NY
Instrument = Guitar, harmonica, mandolin, accordion, flute, piccolo, theremin, cello, bass, percussion
Genre = folk-rock
Occupation =
Years_active = 1998 - present
Label = High Noon Records (Independent)
Associated_acts =
URL = www.slambovia.com
Current_members = Joziah Longo, Sharkey McEwen, Tink Lloyd, Tony Zuzulo, Chen Longo, Orien Longo
Past_members =
Notable_instruments = theremin, slide mandolin

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is a Hudson Valley New York based bandCitation
title = Best Band
last = Staudter
first = Thomas
newspaper = Hudson Valley Magazine
date = October 2004
url = http://www.hvmag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=B5549CFD24E64BAC93E11938AD51A18C&nm=Archives&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=6B105DAE281A4595B566CC0C85225F99 ] , which was founded in Sleepy Hollow in 1998. The band's music is a form of Folk rock and is sometimes described as "Hillbilly Pink Floyd,"Citation
title = The Gospel of Gandalf -Catch the spiritual rhythms of the Slambovian Circus
last = Kocher
first = Chris
newspaper = Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
date = November 22, 2006
url = http://www.slambovia.com/htdocs2/press-archives.php?page=29 ] or "Punk Classical Hillbilly Floyd." Their latest album, The Great Unravel, was released nationally in the United States on August 5,2008, and internationally on August 8, 2008. Citation
title = Circus tries to 'Unravel' life's secrets
last = Kocher
first = Chris
newspaper = Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
date = March 7, 2008
url = http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080307/ENT/803070308 ]

The band regularly plays the major folk music venues, coffeehouses and music festivals in the Northeastern, and East North Central United States often to sold out crowds. They also tour in other regions of the United States, including California and Florida. In August 2008 they made their first appearance outside of North America, at the Rhythm Festival in England.

The flavor of the band is best captured by a live concert, or by one of their live recordings. The band is noted for the dedication and support shown by their fans.Citation
title = At the Wheeler: Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams
last = Oksenhorn
first = Stewart
newspaper = The Aspen Times
date = January 11, 2008
url = http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080111/AE/480014660&SearchID=7331014672562 ] Some fans travel hundreds of miles to attend concerts. [http://groups.google.com/group/circusfans] A high point of the year for many fans is the Grand Slambovian Hillbilly Pirate Ball, an annual costumed event held near Halloween.

Members

The band's current lineup is:
*Joziah Longo - lead vocals, guitar, harmonica
*Sharkey McEwen - lead guitar, backing vocals, mandolin
*Tink Lloyd - accordion, cello, flute, piccolo, theremin, backing vocals.
*Tony Zuzulo - percussion
*Chen Longo - bass guitar
*Orien Longo - cowbell, synthesizer, backing vocals

Musical Influences

The Band's MySpace page lists a variety of musical influences, many of which are evident in the music they perform.

* The original song "Flapjacks From the Sky" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZME1rSWqujk] is reminiscent of Pink Floyd and includes references to The Dark Side of the Moon. The original song "Syd" is a tribute to Syd Barrett.
* The original song "Circus of Dreams" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV2hXMGH9H4] is usually introduced as "a hat-tip to those early Folk Pioneers - The Who".
* The original song "Talking to the Buddha" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhzZ1cnmEHU] is usually introduced as being "reminiscent of King Crimson, on the album "Court of the Crimson King".
* The original song "End of the World" is reminiscent of Jethro Tull.
* A Circus concert often includes a Bob Dylan cover, usually either "Gates of Eden" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUUT3VQ65o8] or "Subterranean Homesick Blues" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0xGnju7abA] .
* Occasionally a Circus concert will include a cover of a Beatles song.
* Occasionally a Circus concert will include the The Waterboys' song "Fisherman's Blues" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsaXwLc9HwI] .
* Occasionally a Circus concert will include Hank Williams' song "Long Gone Lonesome Blues".
* The 2007 Pirate Hillbilly Ball concert included a song derived from the Incredible String Band's "Black Jack Davy".
* A number of songs show the influence of Joziah's upbringing in Philadelphia PA, including "Alice in Space" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKTJpEujVHo] , which is usually described as a Mummers song, and "The Yodel Song" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ytBH-om0HM] which is based on yodelling that Joziah heard at weekly song sessions in his parent's basement

Band History

In the late 1980s and early 1990s Joziah, Tink, and Sharkey were members of a progressive rock band called The Ancestors, which released 3 albums.
*"The Ancestors" (1988)
*"The Enemies Dance" (1991)
*"Brigadoon" (1994)

Tracks on Brigadoon were produced by Eddie Kramer.

Other members of The Ancestors included Bob Muller (of the Trey Gunn Band), Brian Hardgroove (currently of Public Enemy), and Alistair Farrant. [http://cdbaby.com/cd/gandalf5]

The Ancestors had some degree of success but the band broke up in 1995, and they took a hiatus from the music industry. During that hiatus Joziah and Tink took courses in computer graphic design and video production at the Westchester Arts Workshop [http://www.sunywcc.edu/extension_sites/west_art_workshop/west_art_workshop.htm] and met Tony, who was one of their instructors. In 1998 they formed The Circus and added Tony when they discovered that he had been a bar band drummer.Citation
title = From Gig to Gig, a Band Draws Loyal, Local Fans
last = Staudter
first = Thomas
newspaper = The New York Times
date = April 18,2004
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E1D6143BF93BA25757C0A9629C8B63 ]

Discography

:

Band Trivia

* The band's song "My Girl" was featured on the CBS television show Joan of Arcadia episode number 20 [http://www.tv.com/joan-of-arcadia/anonymous/episode/282016/summary.html] .
* Tink's name is derived from 'Tinkerbell' [http://circusfans.googlegroups.com/web/05-GMSCoD-Band%20Intros.mp3?gda=Q6Sq-0oAAADTRHYYWFJimLeiDkyAemGELQqaH3I0qIGJpqzZKU0GbmG1qiJ7UbTIup-M2XPURDQyrhxVHCxAOl1BGCMSqGuxRPZ4eL2ZUhKL3iNADYYnJw] .
* Tink and Joziah are married to each other and have 5 children.
* Chen and Orien are twins, and are Tink and Joziah's sons.
* In the early years of the band Tony split his time between gigs and working on video games as Art Director and Animator [http://www.answers.com/topic/2-games-in-1-double-value-monster-trucks-quad-desert-fury?cat=entertainment]
* The band has their own coffee brand 'Slambovian Coffee'

External links

* The band's official webpage is [http://www.slambovia.com http://www.slambovia.com] . A collection of downloadable tracks, including a number of bootleg concert recordings, can be found on the [http://www.slambovia.com/radiofree.html Radio Free Slambovia] page.
* Band Tour Dates from the band's [http://www.slambovia.com/calendar.html calendar page] and from [http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?By=All&Content=Gandalf+Murphy+and+The+Slambovian+Circus+of+Dreams&go_green.x=11&go_green.y=19 Pollstar.com] .
* The unofficial [http://group.circusfanclub.net CircusFans] fan discussion group on Google Groups and the associated [http://myspace.circusfanclub.net page] on MySpace
* Reviews of Flapjacks from the Sky on [http://www.chronogram.com/issue/2004/05/backbone/earwhacks/cdreviews.html Chronogram.com] and [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:anfqxq8ald6e~T1 Allmusic.com] .
* [http://www.playnewhaven.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15944721&BRD=2639&PAG=461&dept_id=550696&rfi=6 Article] in New Haven, CT's Play magazine.
* [http://gandalfmurphy.jukeboxalive.com/ Gandalf Murphy JukeboxAlive Page] with sample tracks and tour events

References