Broadside Electric

Infobox musical artist
Name = Broadside Electric


Img_capt = l-r: Helene Zisook, Jim Speer, Joe D'Andrea, Tom Rhoads, Amy Ksir
Img_size =
Landscape = no
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Genre = Electric folk
Years_active = 1990 – present
Label = Clever Sheep Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.broadside.org/ broadside.org]
Current_members = Joe D'Andrea
Amy Ksir
Tom Rhoads
Jim Speer
Helene Zisook
Past_members = Melissa Demian
Rachel Hall

Broadside Electric are an American electric folk (self-described as "Folk Music with Teeth") band from Philadelphia. Formed in 1990, they are still active in 2008. Audiences expect an erudite and eclectic mix of traditional material, including Child Ballads, foreign-language songs, and the humorous, obscure and sometimes absurd.

Introduction

The Broadside in their name is taken from the single-side printed song lyric sheets which became popular in the 16th century.

The band was formed in 1990 by Haverford College and Bryn Mawr College students and alumni Rachel Hall, Tom Rhoads, Jim Speer and Helene Zisook.

Current band members

*Joe D'Andrea 1997-present (Drums and assorted percussion, vocals).
*Amy Ksir 1997-present (Accordion, tin whistles, flute, oboe, vocals).
*Tom Rhoads 1990-present (Lead vocals, guitars, Appalachian dulcimer, cittern, harmonica).
*Jim Speer 1990-present (NS/Stick, Chapman Stick and electric bass guitar; wind instruments including recorders, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, crumhorn and rauschpfeife; backing vocals).
*Helene Zisook 1990-present (Acoustic and five-string electric violins, viola, mandolin, backing vocals).

Previous band members

*Melissa Demian 1991-1994 (Lead vocals, Appalachian dulcimer, occasional percussion, police whistle, siren). Left to pursue a Ph.D in social anthropology.
*Rachel Hall 1990-1991 (English concertina, piano/keyboards, recorders, tin whistle, accordion, vocals, occasional percussion). Left to pursue a Watson Fellowship.

Discography

*"Black-edged Visiting Card"
(1992)
Clever Sheep

*"Amplificata"
(1995)
Clever Sheep

*"More Bad News ..."
(1996)
Clever Sheep

*"With Teeth"
(1999)
Clever Sheep

*""
(2002)
Clever Sheep

External links

* [http://www.broadside.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/broadsideelectric Broadside Electric on MySpace]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Broadside+Electric Broadside Electric on last.fm]
* [http://www.virb.com/broadsideelectric Broadside Electric on Virb]