White Ghost Shivers haunt Sherman Hall
Ian Davis
Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: The Edge
Imagine the Squirrel Nut Zippers, a modern band that played 30's and 40's style swing and jazz. Add to that a touch of Texas bluegrass, hokum lyrics and mix it all together with the production of a Tim Burton film. Well, what you have now is the White Ghost Shivers.
The group delighted the audience on the third floor of Sherman Hall last Friday night, brought to Western by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs.
"I thought that with Halloween coming up, a band like them would be excellent to have perform here at the school," said Cultural Events Coordinator Mike Musick.
A high-energy, raucous act from Austin, Texas, The White Ghost Shivers is a band of varied members and talents. Featuring a lineup of five performers, each member brings multiple skills to the table.
Weston "Shorty" Borghesi is the tall, lanky, almost skeletal leading man. Playing banjo, singing, dancing and being suave are all a part of his repertoire, and he combines them all flawlessly into a hilarious persona.
On main vocals is Cella Blue, who steals the stage on many occasions. A powerful voice compliments her boisterous and animated presence during songs, and the addition of her handing out treats and sweets during the intermission brought more life to the show.
Curtis "Hot" Thomas plays the violin, and he plays it extremely well. With complicated songs, and even more elaborate solos in almost all of them, his skill with the bow is nothing to be scoffed at.
Playing the double bass is Ma Poppitt, an extremely talented musician. Unfortunately most bass players are cursed to obscurity, but Poppitt breaks the mold somewhat with his skillful playing. He drives the songs, and on multiple occasions switches between playing with his fingers and with a bow during the same song.
On guitar is Jeremy "Smokebreak" Slemenda, who also provides vocals on some of the songs. He is skilled in both fields, and with an unmistakable vibrato his voice is hard to forget.
The group delighted the audience on the third floor of Sherman Hall last Friday night, brought to Western by the Bureau of Cultural Affairs.
"I thought that with Halloween coming up, a band like them would be excellent to have perform here at the school," said Cultural Events Coordinator Mike Musick.
A high-energy, raucous act from Austin, Texas, The White Ghost Shivers is a band of varied members and talents. Featuring a lineup of five performers, each member brings multiple skills to the table.
Weston "Shorty" Borghesi is the tall, lanky, almost skeletal leading man. Playing banjo, singing, dancing and being suave are all a part of his repertoire, and he combines them all flawlessly into a hilarious persona.
On main vocals is Cella Blue, who steals the stage on many occasions. A powerful voice compliments her boisterous and animated presence during songs, and the addition of her handing out treats and sweets during the intermission brought more life to the show.
Curtis "Hot" Thomas plays the violin, and he plays it extremely well. With complicated songs, and even more elaborate solos in almost all of them, his skill with the bow is nothing to be scoffed at.
Playing the double bass is Ma Poppitt, an extremely talented musician. Unfortunately most bass players are cursed to obscurity, but Poppitt breaks the mold somewhat with his skillful playing. He drives the songs, and on multiple occasions switches between playing with his fingers and with a bow during the same song.
On guitar is Jeremy "Smokebreak" Slemenda, who also provides vocals on some of the songs. He is skilled in both fields, and with an unmistakable vibrato his voice is hard to forget.
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