Chicago's Blues/Soul/Punk Band The Claudettes, Address Harassment with Exclusive Live In Studio Video for DECLINED

On the heels of the recent release of the exclusive video for "24/5", Chicago's blues/soul/punk band The Claudettes unveil the video for "Declined", the second video of a series of three exclusive in studio videos for new songs that will not be on their forthcoming album, which will be released in 2018.

Featuring Johnny Iguana, who mashes the piano, alongside singer Berit Ulseth, bassist/singer Zach Verdoorn, and drummer Matt Torre, Iguana, who has toured for years with his cult-favorite rock band oh my god, is a member of the Grammy-nominated groups Chicago Blues--A Living History, and the Muddy Waters 100 Band, in addition to touring/recording with Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, among many others, says this about "Declined". "I wrote this song a good while before all the workplace sexual-harassment stories started dominating the news. Suddenly it's particularly timely, this song wherein a woman responds to a very undesirable come-on in the form of an official letter of rejection (Putting it in language this businessman will understand): 'Dear sir: I appreciate your interest in working with me. And I wish you the best in all your future endeavors, but sir: There is no interest whatsoever. You have been declined. Please do not apply again. DECLINED. As I've outlined: DECLINED. Enclosed please find: You're DECLINED. Delivered, sealed, signed...DECLINED.' You know, nice and polite: but, make no mistake: final. Official. Go away.'"

You can check out the video for "Declined" here:

Described by "New City" as "Chicago's own neo-vaudeville Barnstormers!" and "Downbeat's" Frank Hadley as "...a mash-up of Otis Spann blues, Albert Ammons boogie-woogie, Ray Charles soul and 'Fess' Longhair New Orleans R&B", The Claudettes fuse Chicago piano blues with the full-throttle energy of rockabilly and punk and the sultriness of '60s soul. After two mostly instrumental albums on Yellow Dog Records, 2013's debut album, "Infernal Piano Plot...HATCHED!" and 2015's "No Hotel", Johnny re-formed The Claudettes with Berit, Matt and Zach in early 2016 and earlier this year, the band released an EP, "Pull Closer To Me: Live in the Piano Room". The band just recorded their forthcoming album with producer Mark Neill (Black Keys, Paladins, Old 97's).

Band website with the band's back story, videos, tour dates and more:

http://theclaudettes.com/

The band's first three releases on Yellow Dog Records:

http://yellowdogrecords.com/theclaudettes

Facebook: The Claudettes
Twitter: @theclaudettes

To post a comment, you must register and login.