Asylum Street Spankers

Asylum Street Spankers

Re-Assembly DVD (Spanks-a-Lot)

How many groups have former bandmates play milestone shows? Perhaps Austin's Spankers wanted to add solidarity to their list of unusual band traits: adept at 1920s parlor songs and futuristic originals, fluent in both gospel and bawdy, international grassroots tourists. Forgetting to bring a PA to their first gig in 1994, ASS has grown into one of the peaks of River City's sonicscape. All stops were pulled out for their decade anniversary, employing demon electricity to capture two sold-out shows at UT's Union Theatre in August 2004. Their 12th overall release follows the Sideshow Fez DVD, which documented the stage mandarins at a 2003 Portland, Ore., gig. Hometown energy fuels 29 favorites here, with ideal editing for the band – warm and present. Audio is equally great, even without a microphone horde attempting to grab the waves of acoustic finery, especially when the 21 former and current Spankers imbue musical chairs with new meaning. Crests: Stanley Smith's clarinet and vox in "Since I Met You Baby," Christina Marrs' sultry realization of "Sugar in My Bowl," and Wammo and Guy Forsyth's mouth organ duel in "Harp Rumble." Special features aren't needed with these many select cuts, but hardcores will chuckle and blush at the band's commentary, historical photos, and backstage antics. Re-Assembly is the collective's crowning achievement, and a well-written chapter from Austin's musical biography. Time is indeed on the Spankers' side.