Circus Contraption: Music


	Big Top : Music Contraption cacophony

photo by David Adam Edelstein

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Festive and eclectic

In classic circus fashion, Circus Contraption performances feature live, original music. The Circus Contraption Band plays quirky-jerky loony-croony gypsy carnival opera music, both to accompany our full-circus shows and to aurally ambush patrons at finer musical establishments far and wide.

You want us to describe what we sound like? Sometimes spooky, sometimes strange, sometimes raucous, and sometimes sweet. Imagine an off-kilter carousel accompanied by Halloween music gone wrong. At any given moment, you could hear accordion, banjo, clarinet, musical saw, trumpet, marimba, trombone, tuba, guitar, bass, theremin, 3 lead vocalists, washboard, violin, saxophone, drums, beer bottles, rusty junk and elbow grease.

Our CD collection

We have released four albums. Click the album covers below to get details, including links to audio samples!


The Half-Wit's Descent (2008) We're All Mad If I Told You Once Raining Pianos 23 Beers Goodbye Honky Town Shneykoyl Spook-O-Rama Insectavora Pink Elephants On Parade Queen of the Bees RHP! Circle, Circle, Dot, Dot Good To Know Ya New, new, new! Our fourth CD is waiting for you! Rather than featuring music from a particular circus show, this album sets the band loose to wreak its own havoc, with stellar results. Immerse yourself in tales of narcissistic crooners, lascivious hussies, Coney Island sideshows, and parading pink pachyderms. Lots of songs by Shmoozti on this one. Grand American Traveling Dime Museum (2005) Wicked Fascinations Charmed, I'm Sure Nickelodeon Hoochie Coochie Girls The Race Is On Red Noodle French Postcards Drunkard's Dream Hot Potato Mendel the Magnificent Hot Coals The Odditorium Loligo's Pickled Punks Acrophelia's Lament Throw the Bones The Bird Girl Over the Rails Xylem and Phloem Lucifer and Luminitsa Carousel Filled with warped crooners, old-time piano, bombastic horns, and a beer bottle orchestra, Grand American Traveling Dime Museum evokes the sights and sounds of a dingy curiosity museum from the turn of the 20th century. Our third album delivers 75 minutes of music from the circus show of the same name. When the show debuted in 2004, it earned glowing praise and sellout crowds in Seattle and San Francisco. In 2005 and 2006, the show drew even bigger Seattle crowds and packed the house during summer runs in New York City. Gallimaufry (2004) Baby Aardvark Music Box Wooly Hat Lover's Trapeze Who's The Man? Klezmerde Entertain Jenny Tonight Stilt Faeries Ode To My Employer Drunken waltzes, blazing klezmer, and more! This EP contains music from our show, Gallimaufry, which toured throughout the western United States in 2002 and 2003. As a special bonus, this CD also includes a video of our acclaimed "Opera Diva" act, which won first place in the "Pizzazz!" talent show at Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival in 2003. Thanks to Jack Straw Foundation's Artist Support Program for making this CD possible. Our Latest Catalogue (2001) March in A minor Come to the Circus Marshmallows and a Holy Bible The Slaughter's Promenade Down to the Devil You Go Coming Attractions Solemn's Midway As the Children Laugh Marshmallows - Reprise Ballad of the Coprophage July Like a Dog Egg Tooth Toy Shop Armageddon The Animals Are Behind Bars Circus Contraption Theme Our debut album! Lots of songs from our band-only shows, primarily featuring vocals by Armitage Shanks.

A copy of your very own

Have we hooked you? Need a copy of one of our albums? Here's how to get them:

Buy through CD Baby. You can order CDs online for fast delivery. They offer MP3 downloads if you need instant gratification. And if online shopping still makes you paranoid, you can even order by phone: 1-800-BUY-MY-CD.

Visit a Seattle-area record store. Sonic Boom and Easy Street are usually well-stocked, and some albums can also be found at Cellophane Square, Everyday Music, Silver Platters, and Wall of Sound.

Buy a digital copy. Our music can be found on CD Baby, iTunes, eMusic Rhapsody, Napster, and over 40 other online stores.

Buy directly from us. Come get one at the next show, or email us about mailing you a copy. (But be warned -- this is the slowest option!)

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