Darling New Neighbors: “Mr. Ahmadinejad”
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The accordion has largely been relegated to novelty status in most American music, but for Austin’s Darling New Neighbors, it’s the driving force.
Forming in 2004, the trio is built around lead singer Elizabeth Jackson’s impressive accordion dexterity, with help from violin, electric guitar, bass, and drums. Despite the instrumentation, this is hardly tame folk music. The group draws most of its influence from the Pixies, displaying a harder edge than what you’d expect from an accordion-driven band. The songs are irreverent and eclectic without being novel, punctuated by Jackson’s understated voice and the bouncy rhythm section of Amy Moreland and Karl Lundin.
The group’s 2006 debut, Every Day Is Saturday Night, introduced the world to their punk-folk sound and appeared on the Austin Chronicle‘s best-of-year list. In 2009, Darling New Neighbors scored a major national accolade by winning Carrie Brownstein’s “Monitor Mix Theme Song” contest, and this Saturday marks the release of their new EP, Freakers On The Spazmanaut Train.
Sadly, the EP’s release party will be the final show for the group. They’re moving on, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Cheer them on tomorrow night at Skinny’s Ballroom, and in the meantime, take a listen to a cut from the EP. Here’s “Mr. Ahmadinejad” by Darling New Neighbors.
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