Rasputina

 
            There’s something so amazing to me about cellos. In the right hands they are capable of making the most rich, beautiful sounds known to man. The only thing that could possibly be better than a cello recital is take them out of the traditional symphony orchestra environment and do exciting new things with them like Melora Creiger and her band do with Rasputina.
            Rasputina has existed for over twenty years now. It began with founder Melora Creiger writing a manifesto and placing an ad in the Village Voice seeking women who play the cello but want to make rock music in period costumes. The rest, as they say, is history.
            The music of Rasputina is full of heavy riffs typical in rock music, but produced entirely by cellos. The two cellists are accompanied by a single drummer and are quite frankly awesome. Melora Creiger is both lead singer and cellist. Her lyrics blend her interest in history with her sense of humor, culminating in songs about opium addicts, 16th century papal ordinances, and adultery. For example:
This next one is about a 16th century ruling by the Pope declaring capybaras, the world’s largest rodents, fish so that Bolivians suffering from a famine could eat them during lent. The chorus always makes me chuckle. “We thank the Pope for granting us this wish. When Friday comes, we’ll all call rats fish. We catch them with a net, kill with the gun. We’ll call it all forgotten when we’re done.”
This last one chronicles a strange young girl who bakes cakes entirely out of salt. I confess I have no idea where the inspiration for this song came from but I love the instrumentation. Stunning musicianship.
If you have a taste for dark humor, steampunk, or edgy cellos I highly recommend you listen to more of Rasputina.