music for a steampunk club night!

[lilibat]

I just don't think there is enough music that would classify as steampunk to fill up a whole night, but what else can you pair it with so people will actually dance to it? Other than AP & VP there really isn't much of it I want to dance to. Yes I am one of the people frustrating poor VernianProcess  but I like what I like and the more folksy sounding stuff I just plain do not like. The real problem is just not having a defined music style all of us love, like pretty much every other subculture out there. People are pulled into SP from so many places and other than mostly being able to settle on a visual aesthetic, the aural aesthetic is all over the place.

I don't see how this is going to be resolved, really, without there being a lot more good steampunk classified groups out there so you can try to do a pure steampunk night, but I have no idea how popular that would ever be or if it would be sustainable. I know, for myself, I wouldn't be going most likely because I would expect it to mostly be the folksy stuff. My husband is the same way. I know we are a part of the problem but we just don't have the patience to try and learn to like music we don't.

[Rockula]

I just don't think there is enough music that would classify as steampunk to fill up a whole night.

I'm afraid I'd have to disagree, Lilibat, as I have at least 60 hours of Steampunk friendly music and at least a third of it is danceable. You might not be able to 'rave' to it but dancing is something quite different.

[WickedPenguin]

I've been thinking of doing some club-style remixes for a couple of the songs I've been working on for the new EtC album. After reading this thread, it seems like there may be a market for that kind of thing.

[Josh of Vernian Process]

I just don't think there is enough music that would classify as steampunk to fill up a whole night, but what else can you pair it with so people will actually dance to it? Other than AP & VP there really isn't much of it I want to dance to. Yes I am one of the people frustrating poor VernianProcess  but I like what I like and the more folksy sounding stuff I just plain do not like. The real problem is just not having a defined music style all of us love, like pretty much every other subculture out there. People are pulled into SP from so many places and other than mostly being able to settle on a visual aesthetic, the aural aesthetic is all over the place.

I don't see how this is going to be resolved, really, without there being a lot more good steampunk classified groups out there so you can try to do a pure steampunk night, but I have no idea how popular that would ever be or if it would be sustainable. I know, for myself, I wouldn't be going most likely because I would expect it to mostly be the folksy stuff. My husband is the same way. I know we are a part of the problem but we just don't have the patience to try and learn to like music we don't.

The ironic thing is that of the few big Steampunk themed events (cons, etc) I've been to where the majority of attendees would totally dig all of the Steampunk oriented music (including the more folk based stuff), was that most of the DJ's there spun mostly Trancey/Goth/Industrial/etc music, with very little old world influenced stuff. Then of course all you hear later is the patrons complaining about the music.

But when I try to do a very Steampunk friendly set at a smaller night such as Clockwork, very little of it goes over well, because the core audience there are all related to the Goth/Industrial scene (with very few non-goth oriented Steampunks in attendance), and they don't seem too interested in hearing new music.

Kind of a "your damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation there lol.

[Tenlo]

Well it would seem your all quite correct. After discussion with the night runner, the steampunk on the ebm/industrial night has been removed. It might be as I made my usual scathing remarks about EBM fans getting confused if the main beat changes once every 3 hours! However he is holding a dark alternative retro night, full of songs form the 70's 80's and 90's, such as Sisters of Mercy, Gary Numan, Nephilim, so we're going to try it with that instead. Personally I feel this will work a lot better than trying to mix it with dance music.

Lilibat has certainly broached one important matter though, which we also discussed. Steampunk seems to attract people from all walks of life, not necessarily the alternative crowd and hence why there is no direct 'steampunk sound'. What tends to happen is that established genres are used with a steampunk tinge from hip-hop to folk, metal and goth. Personally I think this is a much better approach. Victorian culture was a very diverse culture and this range of music reflects this. I feel steampunk would essentially lose something if it ended up with a certain style.

[lilibat]

I guess there might be enough stuff I have no interest in listening/dancing to but it sounds alike to me and I have no need to find out about it. I'd be happy to hear new stuff, as long as it's in a style I like, and done very well. I hate Dr. Steel which confuses people because they think I should like it based on the styles I go for, but I just think it's crap. Clockwork Dolls, like the music don't care for the vocals. There are others, but you get the idea. I am fussy, picky & down right cranky about this stuff, and I know it.

I guess they really should play that stuff at cons/gatherings and I will go look for room parties or just take the night off unless they also offer a dance with music I like. I'm ok with that though I suppose. Can't have everything.

I don't do 'rave' by the way. 

[Sepiachord]

Here's my last actual djing steampunk at a club playlist:

Roll Up- Tiger Lillies
Airship Pirate- abney park
Belleville Rendez-vouz- Triplets of Belleville soundtrack
Everyday is Halloween- Demonika & the Darklings
Ubiquitous Mr Lovegroove- Dead Can Dance
Girl Anachronism- Dresden Dolls
This is My Life- Firewater
Hoofer Loud!- Harlem James Gang
Dead Man's Party- Oingo Boingo
Because We Can- Fatboy Slim from Moulin Rouge soundtrack
If I should Fall from Grace with God- Pogues
Antique Highheeled Red Doll Shoes- Rasputina
Peek-a-Boo- Siouxsie & the Banshees
Hell- Squirrel Nut Zippers
Golden Brown- Stranglers
Puttin on the Ritz- Taco
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- They Might Be Giants
All You Want- Unextraordinary Gentlemen
The Industrial Revolution- Voltaire
Friggin in the RIggin- Sex Pistols
Moutn Wroclai- Beirut
Too Drunk to Fuck- Nouvelle Vague
Winter Garden- Waves Under Water

[lilibat]

Here's my last actual djing steampunk at a club playlist:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Roll Up- Tiger Lillies
Airship Pirate- abney park
Belleville Rendez-vouz- Triplets of Belleville soundtrack
Everyday is Halloween- Demonika & the Darklings
Ubiquitous Mr Lovegroove- Dead Can Dance
Girl Anachronism- Dresden Dolls
This is My Life- Firewater
Hoofer Loud!- Harlem James Gang
Dead Man's Party- Oingo Boingo
Because We Can- Fatboy Slim from Moulin Rouge soundtrack
If I should Fall from Grace with God- Pogues
Antique Highheeled Red Doll Shoes- Rasputina
Peek-a-Boo- Siouxsie & the Banshees
Hell- Squirrel Nut Zippers
Golden Brown- Stranglers
Puttin on the Ritz- Taco
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- They Might Be Giants
All You Want- Unextraordinary Gentlemen
The Industrial Revolution- Voltaire
Friggin in the RIggin- Sex Pistols
Moutn Wroclai- Beirut
Too Drunk to Fuck- Nouvelle Vague
Winter Garden- Waves Under Water

See there is enough in that list I would certainly dance to, and I am difficult to say the least!

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Here's my last actual djing steampunk at a club playlist:

Roll Up- Tiger Lillies
Airship Pirate- abney park
Belleville Rendez-vouz- Triplets of Belleville soundtrack
Everyday is Halloween- Demonika & the Darklings
Ubiquitous Mr Lovegroove- Dead Can Dance
Girl Anachronism- Dresden Dolls
This is My Life- Firewater
Hoofer Loud!- Harlem James Gang
Dead Man's Party- Oingo Boingo
Because We Can- Fatboy Slim from Moulin Rouge soundtrack
If I should Fall from Grace with God- Pogues
Antique Highheeled Red Doll Shoes- Rasputina
Peek-a-Boo- Siouxsie & the Banshees
Hell- Squirrel Nut Zippers
Golden Brown- Stranglers
Puttin on the Ritz- Taco
Istanbul (not Constantinople)- They Might Be Giants
All You Want- Unextraordinary Gentlemen
The Industrial Revolution- Voltaire
Friggin in the RIggin- Sex Pistols
Moutn Wroclai- Beirut
Too Drunk to Fuck- Nouvelle Vague
Winter Garden- Waves Under Water

Have you heard "Helpless" by Boingo? That is a totally Steampunk appropriate song. The music is all mad circus waltz too. Oh and Waltzinblack, Duchess, Midnight Summer's Dream, Restless, North Winds, and Outside Tokyo by The Stranglers all work too.

Dead Can Dance have a surprising number of tracks that work in this theme as well. But my favorite's are "The Carnival is Over", and "In the Wake of Adversity".

[Sepiachord]

Have you heard "Helpless" by Boingo? That is a totally Steampunk appropriate song. The music is all mad circus waltz too. Oh and Waltzinblack, Duchess, Midnight Summer's Dream, Restless, North Winds, and Outside Tokyo by The Stranglers all work too.

Dead Can Dance have a surprising number of tracks that work in this theme as well. But my favorite's are "The Carnival is Over", and "In the Wake of Adversity".

Helpless is a great song! But everbody always dances to Dead Man's Party, it's one of my go to songs while djing.

I also agree on the Dead Can Dance thoughts, great band with some wonderful songs.

[Josh of Vernian Process]

Have you heard "Helpless" by Boingo? That is a totally Steampunk appropriate song. The music is all mad circus waltz too. Oh and Waltzinblack, Duchess, Midnight Summer's Dream, Restless, North Winds, and Outside Tokyo by The Stranglers all work too.

Dead Can Dance have a surprising number of tracks that work in this theme as well. But my favorite's are "The Carnival is Over", and "In the Wake of Adversity".

Helpless is a great song! But everbody always dances to Dead Man's Party, it's one of my go to songs while djing.

I also agree on the Dead Can Dance thoughts, great band with some wonderful songs.

I think I got burned out on Dead Man's Party. But that's probably because I'm a huge Boingo fan, and they were one of the very first bands I got into that were even remotely dark and spooky. They were kind of my goth gateway band, followed by The Cure and DM.

[Sepiachord]

See there is enough in that list I would certainly dance to, and I am difficult to say the least!

Cheers!

[Sepiachord]

I think I got burned out on Dead Man's Party. But that's probably because I'm a huge Boingo fan, and they were one of the very first bands I got into that were even remotely dark and spooky. They were kind of my goth gateway band, followed by The Cure and DM.

Goth Gateway band. Nice!

[Vorpal Bandersnatch]

A couple things I found recently:

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sw61oITuts

Also, there are a few new bands I've found that are worth your consideration... Sweet Hollywaiians, the Rum Drum Ramblers, and most especially Weasels Exist:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.myspace.com/weaselsexist

. My aunt is friends with the trombonist from Weasels Exist, and their look/sound/style just reeks of steampunk to me.

[Sepiachord]

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

An *amazing* song!
Sadly it doesnt qualify as -club music- as it's not a song that
people can dance to

[Josh of Vernian Process]

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

An *amazing* song!
Sadly it doesnt qualify as -club music- as it's not a song that
people can dance to

I know that Emmet and Klaude from Clockwork Cabaret spin it at every one of their events. It's basically their last song.

[neon_suntan]

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

An *amazing* song!
Sadly it doesnt qualify as -club music- as it's not a song that
people can dance to

I know that Emmet and Klaude from Clockwork Cabaret spin it at every one of their events. It's basically their last song.

Isn't there some kind of whale dance to go along with it?

[Josh of Vernian Process]

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

An *amazing* song!
Sadly it doesnt qualify as -club music- as it's not a song that
people can dance to

I know that Emmet and Klaude from Clockwork Cabaret spin it at every one of their events. It's basically their last song.

Isn't there some kind of whale dance to go along with it?

Yes there is! LOL I've seen the whole crowd at their events do that lol.

[Vorpal Bandersnatch]

Isn't there some kind of whale dance to go along with it?

This is something I absolutely MUST see...

[Sepiachord]

Isn't there some kind of whale dance to go along with it?

This is something I absolutely MUST see...

Agreed! We must have the footage!

[Thor]

I've never seen a dance for the Mariner's Revenge Song, but I've taken part in some audience participation    When we last saw them they got the whole audience to scream when Chris Funk moved around the stage making biting motions with his arms.  We did a practice scream and Colin told us it was like the Germans, 10 seconds of polite screaming and then silence!  So we all took umbrage at the slight (The good old English, being compared to the Hun?  Preposterous!) and screamed our lungs out.

[dnbsdizzy]

mariners revenge is one of my favorite songs ever!

A couple things I found recently:

First of all, the Decemberists have an epic song/poem that is well worth several listens - The Mariner's Revenge

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sw61oITuts

Also, there are a few new bands I've found that are worth your consideration... Sweet Hollywaiians, the Rum Drum Ramblers, and most especially Weasels Exist:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

http://www.myspace.com/weaselsexist

. My aunt is friends with the trombonist from Weasels Exist, and their look/sound/style just reeks of steampunk to me.

[Thairyn]

I very much like the idea behind this. And those that suggested Gogol Bordello / Voltaire / Dreseden Dolls have my utmost respect.
I always find Jason Webely quite steampunk-esque myself, debatable though it may be. I'm not sure what kind of dancing you could get out of it, though x3
[I'd give it a damn good try]

Dance While The Sky Crashes Down	LQ | HQ

There's Not A Step We Can Take That Does Not Bring Us Closer	LQ | LQ+ | HQ | HQ+

Mmm

[jadedeath]

All of these bands, and no mention of Johnny Hollow or Faith and the Muse?

For shame!

Logan

[Josh of Vernian Process]

All of these bands, and no mention of Johnny Hollow or Faith and the Muse?

For shame!

Logan

F&TM is an amazing, amazing group, and Monica and William are super awesome, nice people. But I wouldn't consider them Steampunk in any way shape or form.