Tag Archives: The Kissers

embalmed ones

The Greatest War – Sneak Peek

On November 11, 2019, The Viper & His Famous Orchestra will be in Madison to perform as part of The Greatest War: a multi-band, multi-media, multi-mood exploration of the legacy for Wisconsin and the world of the first World War and it’s subsequent, uneasy Armistice that also features The Kissers and The November Criminals.

The Greatest War: World War One, Wisconsin, and Why It Still Matters | Monday, November 11, 2019 7:30 PM | Shannon Hall, 800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI | https://thegreatestwar.org/

Here’s a taste of what to expect — from us at least — based on what we did at last year’s first, centenary edition of this event.

We’re lucky: we get to cover both the beginnings and endings of everything. The first shots fired happen somewhere between the closing notes of “It’s A Long Way To A World War” (to the tune of “Tipperary” with some new lyrics by show organizer Ken Fitzsimmons and The Viper)…

It’s A Long Way To A World War
Live! Nov. 11, 2018

…and the first banjo-string-flams on a bit of wishful thinking from the 1914 pen of Alf “Paddy” Ellerton called “Belgium Put The Kibosh On The Kaiser.” (Fans of Richard Attenborough’s 1969 musical Oh! What a Lovely War will recognize this song.)

Belgium Put The Kibosh On The Kaiser
Live! Nov. 11, 2018

Then it’s all about Paris 1919, as the Midwest welcomes back some young fellers who may have learned a thing or two overseas in “How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm (After They’ve Seen Paree)?”

How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm
(After They’ve Seen Paree)?
Live! Nov. 11, 2018

And we wonder whether there might be any long term consequences to the way Mr. Weelson and the other world powers gathered in Versailles, Sèvres , and Lausanne to divvy up places like, oh, say, Iraq, Palestine, or Kurdistan as we wrap up our set with “They All Made Peace (What Is Peace).”

They All Made Peace (What Is Peace)
Live! Nov. 11, 2018

On all of these recordings, the performers are The Viper, Rob “Rose Brass Bell” Henn, and Riley “Riley” Broach. But this year, we’ll up the ante with guest Irene “Vipersdottir” Jerving on the violin for the second set. If you listen closely, you can almost hear her wistful grace notes now…

So listen in, enjoy, and then come out and see the show!

those that from a long way off look like flies

Upcoming shows: Fall 2019

People of earth, we have two shows to announce for the Fall 2019 season that find us back among some favorite places and friends in Madison, Wisconsin. They’re both kind of event-y, meaning you get a lot more than just The Viper and His Famous Orchestra. Can you handle it? Are you ready for this jelly?

On Friday, September 20, 2019, we play as part of the bi-monthly Adult Swim event at the Madison Children’s Museum (100 N Hamilton St #100, Madison, WI 53703 | (608) 256-6445). Because grown-ups are people too, you know! There we are in those pictures above from the last time we did this, sailing over a cardboard sea.

This time around, the theme is Downtown Abbey (yes, the movie opens that night as well). And between 6:00 – 10:00 p.m., The Viper & His Famous Orchestra join a cast of scores for “a special aristo-radical themed twist! General admission includes access to museum exhibits, live music, games, plenty of arts and crafts, and a little bit of friendly upstairs-downstairs competition.” $15 cheap ($12.75 advance).

Then, on Monday, November 11, 2019, we return for more of The Greatest War: a multi-media look back at WWI and its impact on Wisconsin and elsewhere, organized and led by The Kissers, and featuring music, photographs, and readings by us, Sean Michael Dargan, John Wedge, The November Criminals, and others. https://thegreatestwar.org/

This is a command repeat performance of the one staged at the Barrymore Theatre to a sold-out crowd on the November 11, 2018 centenary of the War’s armistice. And I don’t know if everyone who was involved in last year’s show is returning, or who might be joining the fray anew, but the show was spectacular and moving and really quite an experience and might be even more so in this year’s location at the Memorial Union’s Shannon Hall (800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI 53706 | (608) 265-3000). Just look at this press from last year!

The title for this video is a little ominous, no?