aaamusic | On 24, Jan 2011

‘If You Can’t Smoke ‘Em Sell ‘Em’ is the brilliant debut album from Swedish-French outfit Rodeo Massacre. It is released on the 31st January 2011 by Smoky Carrot Records and Inspired by the sixties garage scene. Their sound is psychedelic blues for the 21^st Century, think Jefferson Airplane fronted by Nancy Sinatra with The Mamas and The Papas on backing vocals.

As the album unfolds we hear echoes of great bands from the psychedelic era such as The Seeds, The Castaways and 13^th Floor Elevators. Rodeo Massacre deliver a contemporary take on this vintage genre with authenticity and class. In Izzy Lindqwister they have an arresting front woman whose incredible voice and formidable stage presence completely mesmerises. Her formative years and musical persuasion was formed by the Swedish blues scene and her mentor, Johnny Thunders’ guitarist Stevie Klasson.

The album will be preceded a single on the 24^th January, the exhilarating ‘Mama Told Me So’.

Rodeo Massacre began in Paris, when Izzy, freshly arrived from her native Sweden, found herself lonely and broke, trying to find a way of expressing her musical ambitions. She formed the band whilst helping design a range of clothing for the fashion label April77, who subsequently released Rodeo Massacre’s first record, considering it to be the perfect embodiment of their approach to fashion: original, colourful, bold, and playful. Rodeo Massacre retain this preoccupation with their overall aesthetic, from everything they wear, to the design of the artwork and posters, all of which Izzy herself carefully designs and oversees.

Rodeo Massacre’s co-founder is Zorba, who as a fully qualified pharmacist is sometimes seen turning the tour bus into a portable apothecary. On stage he simultaneously plays his home modified hands free drum kit and guitar. Zorba is a strict vegetarian who does not even wear leather. As well as loving animals he also loves his Ludwig and Gibsons.

After having been ripped off and disappointed by some dodgy French producers, the band relocated to London. There they found a new home for their sound, signing to Smoky Carrot Records. Izzy and Zorba then hooked up with multi-instrumental solo artist Pat Dam Smyth, who plays bass, organ, piano and sometimes banjo.

Zorba and Pat’s multi-instrumental musicality has enabled Rodeo Massacre to streamline their actions and remain a three piece for the live shows. However, when it came to recording their debut album, the band took a collective approach to proceedings, calling upon their talented friends including Marco Pirroni (Adam & The Ants), Chris Constantinou (Adam & The Ants), Preston Heyman (Kate Bush) and Kevin Robinson (Simply Red) to add flute, percussion, bass, electric guitar, trumpet, organ, piano, harmonica and backing vocals. The album is co-produced by Rodeo Massacre and label boss Paul Perrelet.