The Claudettes

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Timothy Hiatt

The Claudettes (left to right): Zach Verdoorn, Michael Caskey, Berit Ulseth, Johnny Iguana.

(2018 pick) What’s better than jazz, blues or rock ‘n roll? How about a band that fuses all three? The much-acclaimed Claudettes are coming to Madison, bringing their multifarious sound with them in the form of songs from the new album, Dance Scandal at the Gymnasium! It’s produced by Grammy-winning producer Mark Neil (Black Keys, Old 97’s), and their old-school sound is getting universal raves. Guaranteed to rock the house.

$15.

Billboard -- "The 12-song set... showcases a different lineup of the band, one that's been honed via live performance during the past two years and that showcases vocalist Berit Ulseth. But that's only made the Claudettes' distinct and idiosyncratic blend -- punk, blues, R&B, rockabilly, some jazz -- more potent."

The Second Disc —  "The sound is raw and immediate – with a piano, bass guitar and drums core – thanks to the band’s use of vintage equipment and instruments.  This Scandal boasts punk spirit, earworm melodies, and a neo-retro sound that’s loaded with appeal."  

No Depression -- "I hear touches of Jerry Lee Lewis at his most manic (which fits, considering that Johnny sometimes pounds those keyboards to freaking smithereens), of cinema (some of the vocal overlays are freaky as hell), of rock 'n' roll (and not the standard rock 'n' roll but the rock 'n' roll you might have heard at some of them house parties Chicago and the Deep South are famous for), of multiple genres wrapping around one another until you cannot recognize any one of them. It must be fun as hell to play in this band."

The Vinyl District -- "They’ve been tagged as punk-blues, but on this CD immediately connect as something other/ more than growled out Willie Mabon covers slathered in amp gristle. This is partly due to the piano of founder-constant member Johnny Iguana, who’s played with Junior Wells and Otis Rush. But if steeped in tradition, The Claudettes aren’t a replication (or as said, a mere dirtying up) of it, instead exuding comfort with contemporary motions (Mark Neill produced) as new vocalist Berit Ulseth shines, especially on “Pull Closer to Me” and “Death and Traffic.” Iguana’s skills are fully showcased on the title track. A-"