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Kassy Key & the Raindoggs

A shot of Tom Waits with a twist of Snoop

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Hometown	Austin, TX
Genres	R & B / Soul, Rock
Band Members	Kassy Key: Vocals; Dom: Percussions/Vocals; Rob Huntley... » more
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Upcoming Shows	None

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About the Artist

Picture Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a 68 Camaro driving from New Orleans to LA, and it’s all being filmed by David Lynch.The sound you hear is theRaindoggs’ beat-heavy, darkened mix of R&B/Soul with an array of influences ranging from Tom Waits,...

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DON’T WANNA BE GOOD by Larisa Montanaro voice is all bedroom eyes
I think Oscar Wilde was onto something, and I’ve stopped fighting the feeling of this sultry track. In the end, there is nothing quite as habit-forming as good music. The song “Don’t Wanna Be Good” by The Raindoggs is akin to something sultry laid out before your ears just begging a listener to indulge unto you get your fill. The Austin, TX-based, The Raindoggs have perfected a bluesy rock that just makes you want to do all sorts of unmentionable things you’ve only dreamed about but never had the courage to put into motion. And the vocals of Larisa Montanaro are all bedroom eyes and bright red lipstick on your collar. Their latest release is as come-hither as a song can get and still remain dignified in the morning. All this good music is leading up to a righteous 2012 for The Raindoggs. Peace.

My Medicine Reviews by it encases your spinal column in voodoo smoke..
According to their website The RainDoggs describe themselves as follows,“The RainDoggs are a collaboration of musicians from Austin TX. Their sound is a mix of R&B/Soul & Blues with a David Lynch movie.” I don’t disagree with their description at all. However, they are so much more too. This Austin, Texas collective of superbly talented musicians refuse to be static or limited on where they can take or interpret a song. Rest assured, when they get together there is no telling where they are going to take you. But, it is exactly that kind of suspense, daring and intrigue which makes the music they conjure up so damn irresistible. Their latest is a ballsy take on Snoop Dogg’s “My Medicine,” and it encases your spinal column in voodoo smoke and arrests your ears in utter surprise. It’s also a case of contradictions, of taking something that by all accounts shouldn’t work, but lo and behold it works just fine. Like a heroin addict becoming a nun or a hardcore gangsta becoming an environmentalist. Yes, strange and wonderful music is made when The RainDoggs come raining down on you. Peace.

SCANDALOUS REVIEWS by Deviating from that recipe is genius
There’s a mad scientist in a music lab somewhere in Austin, Texas. Stitching together a little bit of R&B/Soul with some kind of funky ska vibe, a euphonious animal is created. It’s alive! Alive! You’ll have to pardon the old monster movie analogy but that’s the image that always comes to mind when I hear a unique and unlikely blending of various music styles. That’s not a bad thing. Following a tried and true musical formula is easy. Deviating from that recipe is genius. Enter The Raindoggs, a six-member band described by one member as Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a 69 Charger driving from New Orleans to LA being filmed by David Lynch. The RainDoggs’ are the kind of band you might discover while on vaction exploring the night spots off the tourist map’s beaten track. Fronted by Larisa Montanaro, a siren whose voice will draw you into dark cavernous sidestreet bars, this ensemble features a top notch rhythm section and a mini-horn section as well. All of this is on display on their single Be My Man, a mid-tempo number with a certain mod groove to it. In it Montanaro asks her guy to drop his acts and pretention and just be her man. Who could refuse that?

SOUP OF THE DAY by Larisa's voice is like rum tainted honey...
Picture Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a 68 Camaro driving from New Orleans to LA, and it’s all being filmed by David Lynch. This is the voo doo smoke that seeps from The RainDoggs’ jaws and paws. The journeymen Doggs are now led by the vocals of Larisa Montanaro and she’s just what these guys needed. “She is the proverbial cherry on top, the icing on the cake, the Bonnie to all these rough neck Clyde’s, get my drift? But make no mistake, she’s no damsel in distress. She stands firmly on her own two feet and belts out song like a steam engine belts out smoke. Her voice– god damn! It’s like rum tainted honey or 100-proof white lightning cut with star dust, and like her fellow sirens of old, she’ll lead you onto the rocks if you ain’t careful.” Here is their take on Snoop Dogg‘s “My Medicine” off of his 2008 album, Ego Trippin’. This cover is both brave and wanton, as Larisa captures the lure and sexiness of nature’s greatest medicine. You can download My Medicine and four other tracks on The RainDogg’s latest 2012 release, One Armed Bandits, which is available as a free download.

ArenaCast by The songs were written from the heart...
I can say for sure that The Raindoggs is one of the most exciting and original indie bands I have come across over the last year. And the thing is not only in the stunning arrangements, harmoniously combining a variety of styles and genres, in personal professionalism of each of the musicians and in the incredible charisma of the vocalists Larisa Montanaro and Ali Holder, there is something more. Undoubtedly, a great amount of money and time were invested into the recording of this album – but when you listen to it, you feel that it’s the soul that makes this album sound so well! The songs were written from the heart and the arrangements were made under the meticulous supervision of the mind. In my opinion this is why “One Armed Bandits” has a unique charm. The album sounds sometimes vintage, sometimes mod but always “right”, holding the listener’s attention from the first to the last song. You can purchase the album, “One Armed Bandits” from Amazon and iTunes, you can listen to it and buy it at the Raindoggs bandcamp page, as well as at Soundcloudand R&R World profile! And also, we would like to remind you that The Raindoggs together with R&R World have launched a very exciting contest to distribute the new Raindoggs LP “One Armed Bandits” for free among the most active and attentive fans!

“R&R” News ‘The Raindoggs’ by “Reminiscent of the smokey R&B Clubs of NY, spring
“Reminiscent of the smokey R&B Clubs of NY, springs a fresh sound from the Austin based band “Raindoggs” with their new album “One Armed Bandits”. With driving tracks like the singles “Slight of Hand” and “My Medicine” the album takes the listener on a journey to The Blues Highway with a sprinkling of NY Jazz along the way. “One Armed Bandits” mesmerizing hooks and inspirational vocal melodies complete the album with an honest swagger and its set to stand the tests of time.” ~ Damien V

Popa’s Tune Review by With all its cohesive range, “One Armed Bandits”
In a previous lifetime I lived in Baltimore and I had this friend named Bean. He lived in apartment 1B. Since I lived in apartment 1A, that made us neighbors. We’d often go out to dinner with his wife or friends and we made it a point to never visit the same restaurant twice. Bean knew me well, and as soon as we would sit down, the lanky wise-ass would say, “I know exactly what Moose is going to order!” and he would pick the most unusual item on the menu. And damned if he wasn’t always right. Variety is the spice of life, they say. And who am I to disappoint an audience? Much is similar in The Raindoggs’ new release “One Armed Bandits”. This is a multi-faceted menu, with each song having a distinctly different influence and flavor from the next. There are wide variations, from the funky “Stuck in RED”, to the ethereal “My Medicine”, to the highly danceable “Slight of Hand” & “But You’re Mine”, the dirge-like “Daddy May I”, and the rockin’ “Ain’t the Madonna, Ain’t Your Whore”. However, even with this wide a palette, the group never loses its own cohesive, identifiable sound. It remains consistent across the board, with wah-wah guitars, saucy horns, liberal use of electronics and samples, and sultry vocals. With all its cohesive range, “One Armed Bandits” delivers. The production is lush and layered, and, at moments, I get hints of influences of Dr. John, Tom Waits, and even…Timbuk3? There’s something dark at times, and other times it’s a full on party. They even include an instrumental track “black”, and it brings home they would fit properly on a soundtrack. With all the horns, sometimes cacophony, plentiful vibe, and steady beat, perhaps we’re all marching in a spectacular and angular Mardis Gras parade across the sun-drenched desert of humanity’s collective soul? I could go for that, and here we are, seated at the table. So, what would I order from this menu? I might have to call up Bean and ask him, because I’m often indecisive and this menu is varied and delicious

Render Entertainment by returns to the days of infectious foot tapping
The RainDoggs returns to the days of infectious foot tapping, soulful music. “My Medicine” from their album, One Armed Bandits, made me feel like I was in a speakeasy bar sipping on a martini while I gazed at the musicians through the swirls of smoke. This image couldn’t be more perfect considering it is a creative remake of Snoop Dogg’s song. They had an interesting marketing strategy to release each song as a single on the first Tuesday of 2012, in honor of Snoop’s “puffpuffpasstuesdays”; however was probably eager to get it out due to popular demand, so you can now find the whole album on iTunes. Their funky feel and high energy grooves makes it hard to sit still. It’s as if old school meets new school. I think the mixture of the vocals, funky rhythms and unique sound of the saxophone really hits home! Definitely give their album a listen! If you like what you hear get their album from iTunes and support them by giving ‘em a LIKE on facebook :) Keep updated with these guys..they definitely have something good going on!

Soundiac Music Blog by a well-blended cocktail
“The creation of an album can be a long proces and the journey from concept to sound difficult. The inspiration for The RainDoggs album “One Armed Bandit” comes from pain, that origins from Rob Porta own experiences. Rob is the primary power behind the project. The band describes it sound as Tom Waits and Snoop Dogg in a ’68 Camaro. But let us hitchhike on the backseat of this album. All-in-all the album is a dark and downplayed mix of R&B and Soul, with some elements of Jazz. Imagine a James Sallis-book as a Film Noir movie. First exit on this roadtrip is “My Medicine”, which is a succesful reinterpretation of Snoop Doggs song with the same title. Never has such a serious theme been so cool and relaxed. The song features Larisa Montanaro as lead singer, which since has been replaced by the equally gorgeous Kassy Key. The album is a well-blended cocktail of up- and downbeat songs, with space for experiments and nuances. Whilst “Ain’t The Madonna, Ain’t Your Whore” is dominated by elements of the genre rock, contrarily you’ll meet trumpets and scratches on “Slight Of Hand”. Even though the musical focus shifts, the album sticks to its main theme. As a listener, you’re never bored with this release. “One Armed Bandits” absolute strength is also the albums weakest point. The dark and heavy interpretation of the genre isn’t everybodys taste, but definitly a must-have for any afficionado.”

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