Crooks and Nannies, Self-titled LP

When I asked Jay (the mad percussionist in what seems to be a changing lineup for frontman Walt Liquor's Crooks and Nannies) where the name came from, he pointed out that if you switch the opening consonants of each word, you get a more familiar expression. He told me it was called a spoonerism, which is pretty cool.

Listen to Crooks and Nannies on our compilation.

Sometimes a singer can come at you with such a unique style that he or she immediately occupies a place of their own in the minds of all who hear them. I think that Tom Waits is one such artist--impressions abound but the man is inimitable. Banjo / Accordion / Fiddle-playing frontman Walt Liquor is another of these fully realized singers whose voice and style is all his own, although he lives on that same plane of jazz-influenced hobos locked in a constant battle with their own livers for control of their bodies.

I was thrilled to trade Walt for a copy of his record in New Orleans last month. Nina C. Nichols, who has since parted with the project to go to school, wrote half the songs on this album. But it's Walt's songwriting I believe really catches your ears. Within ten seconds of "Burning down the house" (the opening song) you have three of the main characteristics of this music: lightning quick banjo fingers, a bass made out of a washtub, and a trotting brushed snare drum courtesy of APVR's Kid Twist. I've played this record at five parties already.

One of my favorite of all Walt's songs is "Cirrhosis." When I first heard them do it at Melvin's, he didn't have his fiddle so they all just sang "la la la la LA...LA..." for the choruses and it was awesome. It's all about atrophy and liver deterioration and it makes you want to stomp your feet and start a barfight. Be sure to read the interview with Walt where he ominously predicts the floods that every New Orleans native knew enough to fear. Crooks and Nannies are on tour for the rest of the month, and you can learn more about them on their myspace page.

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