Steampunk Hands Around the World 2017 – Music

Image Courtesy of Mr. XPK

While music  has come in nearly countless forms since the beginning of mankind, its multi-faceted affects are well documented. Music can inspire, it can narrate, and it can be backdrop. Iconic music moves people to emotional heights, energize the weary, and calm the stressed.

It may be accompanied by dance, or words, or images. It can enhance the experiences of what we perceive, and color what we believe. It may indeed be the music of the soul.

Music, including steampunk music, enhances our lives by giving another dimension to how we express ourselves. We may empathize with a tale being told, shout out loud in solidarity with a message, or move like we are possessed until we drop to floor.

For myself, music gives me energy when I’m tired, motivation to keep moving forward, a story to enjoy, and earworm to repeat and share.

In our steampunk community, music is as varied as it was in the 1800s. Dance, instrumentals, and ballads, and all the other forms can bring us together.

Almost everyone has heard of Abney Park, and older groups like Vernian Process. There are groups all around the world, entertaining us at conventions and other events.

How does music make your life better? Who are the groups you follow and listen to?

 

This is one of my all time favorites. Great ‘old’ sound, perfect steampunk story.

The Doctors Wife by The Clockwork Quartet

 

Here’s a great high energy song from that amazing duo, Frenchy and the Punk

Frenchy and the Punk – Hey Hey Cabaret – Steampunk World’s Fair 2014

 

This one from Alkaline Trio has engaging graphics with their song

Alkaline Trio – Help Me

 

The League of Steam participated in this video

Panic! At The Disco: The Ballad Of Mona Lisa [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

 

A bit of opera?

A Steampunk Opera, New Albion 1

 

And for a bit of lighthearted humor

Just Glue Some Gears On It (And Call It Steampunk)

 

Follow along each day as new entries are added to the Official Link List and join the discussions on the Facebook event page.

 

Press Release – Lies of The Machine New Album – Freakshow

Let us introduce you to the twisted world of Lies Of The Machine, the band bringing the psychocircus to your stage!

 

We have just released our first album ever, and would like you to give it a listen!

The album, labelled FREAKSHOW whilst containing brand new songs exclusive to this release, also has some reimagined ones from the last three years of our psychocircus.

The 9 track album was released digitally on 08.20. for completely free of charge, along with an interactive digital booklet, allowing deeper immersion to our wicked way of storytelling.

 

Tracklist:

1 First, it rings…

2 Psychocircus

3 Z-Waltz

4 Railnomads

5 The dishonorable death of the honorable Captain Vasilij

6 Lick my Cog

7 Rise!

8 The last flight

9 …then curtains fall

 

The album will have it’s live debut in Brno (CZ), during the Nemám Páru 2 festival. After that we’ll return for some gigs and shennanigans to Hungary, but fret not, for we are already making plans for foreign events next year….

 

Also, if you happen to be in Germany, or northern Europe, get ready for some possibility of madness descending on your little town: our band has just signed a contract with Funkelglanz events & booking, who we have already worked together in the past, during the first Steamtropolis (Bochum, DE).

 

Press toolkit:

YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWx53Wauslumq-j7yl8PPh5OTnkrsvxIB

Interactive digital booklet: www.lotm.hu/Freakshow

Bandcamp: https://liesofthemachine.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiesOfTheMachine/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liesofthemachine

Steampunk Music – Response

The following is reposted with permission.

The original post on Facebook is here.

 

By Paul Alborough

NON STEAMPUNKS AND NON NERDY MATES CAN IGNORE THIS POST, IT WILL CONTAIN NOTHING OF INTEREST TO YOU.

Everyone else, read on…

I don’t usually weight in with things like this, but I can’t resist on this occasion. After the internet based kerfluffle regarding Abney Park, BB Black Dog whoever else- I was fascinated to watch Steampunk get it’s knickers in a twist yesterday (no easy task when those knickers likely made out of brass plates and cogs).

I feel it’s only right to say that I don’t think Robert Brown was laying into the music of Dale Rowles and the like- In his defence, I saw he was more aiming to create a distinction between the vintage sound of some bands, compared to other groups who go their own path. Robert is a really nice bloke by the way, (he gave me loads of advice when I was starting out as the Prof) so don’t have a go at him personally. Yes, he has a reasonably large ego, but then again, so do I- and anyone else who fronts a massive rock band should have. Dont get too upset if he is outspoken, I don’t want my musicians to be shy and retitiring, I want them to shout loudly about things. Even when they might be wrong. A bit of hearty debate is totally healthy for Steampunk says I.

Of course, one could equally argue that it’s not the influence of vintage music or even subject matter that creates a Steampunk band. I’d argue that I couldn’t give a toss if you are singing about Steamships and Victorian frocks, so long as your attitude is right and you have a connection to Steampunk, however tenuous. it was Dale‘s band who stepped up and organised an amazing Steampunk event in Wales after a music festival got cancelled and has done loads for this little community including booking the likes of me and encouraging new folks to join the scene. That is, as far as I’m concerned all that Steamy Punks should be about.

Loads of my fave SP bands don’t really have a lot of cogs or a vintage sound: Frenchy and the Punk, Gaslight Troubadors, Mysterious Freakshow, even Nathaniel Johnstone don’t seem that vintage sounding. Who cares? They are all awesome.

I should also say, for the record, that I never set out to make steampunk music. Far from being a purist, I am a chancer who happened upon a comedy character just at the right time and it opened up a world of lovely new friends and amazing artists of all sorts to collaborate with. I don’t have any particular interest in historial Victoriana or creating a vintage sound. I don’t really listen to much Steampunk music or live in a house made of cogs (although I dearly love the bands when I get to see them live). I am more interested in telling stories, creating Hip Hop for nerds, making people laugh and ensuring that I can make a living by appearing at parties in a silly hat. Professor elemental and Steampunk in general is a lovely way to do that and long may it continue…

Huge respect to anyone putting on events, making stuff, volunteering dressing up as Steampunk Boba fett, or making weird music that doesnt really fit in anywhere else. Steampunk is where you belong and you are totally welcome.

Right. That’s enough of that. I’ll pop the kettle on. Who fancies a cuppa?